5 Critical Lessons Iron Chef Taught Us about Being a Chef
If you are an aspiring chef, there's no doubt that you probably love the show Iron Chef on The Food Network. In every episode, some of the best chefs in the world battle it out in the kitchen to decide which chef gets to earn or maintain the coveted Iron Chef title. It's the show that a chef's dreams are made of, and it's television shows just like this one that drive many to pursue a future as a chef. You've most likely learned a lot about cooking from this popular show, and there are many lessons that can serve you well while you're in culinary school and beyond.
Lesson #1: If you're worried about a particular dish, just add bacon.
Bacon has an incredibly savory taste to it, and it's easy to see how it's become a staple in most kitchens in America. In fact, it's possible that the very mention of bacon has caused your mouth to water. Bacon is amazing when it's added to meat, potatoes, vegetables, and practically anything else. Keep a few pounds of bacon on hand and you'll be able to instantly transform any dish that requires you to (in the words of Emeril) "kick things up a notch." In addition, anyone you're cooking for will be so pleased just to hear that bacon is one of your ingredients that you will instantly earn Iron Chef status in their eyes.
Lesson #2: Deep frying is a great way to make sense of a strange ingredient.
When you're watching Iron Chef, or Chopped, or any of those great cooking shows on The Food Network, you'll notice that they frequently turn to deep frying ingredients that just don't seem to fit in with everything else they've been given. You can turn any strange ingredient into a masterpiece by giving it a few minutes in the deep fryer. People love it because it adds a new dimension to the dish and it's usually simply delicious. To make your deep frying efforts even better, take the time to research and create an amazing batter that's fairly universal when it's used with a lot of different types of foods. You may be glad you did.
Lesson #3: Avoid turning everything into ice cream.
Many potential Iron Chefs have made the mistake of thinking they can create ice cream out of just about any strange ingredient they've been given. This is a big no-no, in most cases. Some ingredients should just never be made into dessert. If you're not sure what to do with asparagus, anchovies or tomatoes, it's best to try and steer yourself away from the temptation to turn heads with an ice cream creation. They just don't work well, and you'll end up with a dessert that no one wants to eat.
Lesson #4: Don't be afraid to get a little creative in the kitchen.
When you've watched Iron Chef, have you ever noticed how creative the chefs are when they're preparing their dishes? They rarely stick to a specific recipe, and they're always eager to add their own personal flair to everything they make. Some of them use one or two "secret ingredients," which are specific to their own creations while they're cooking. Creativity is awesome, of course, but it's also a lot of fun. While it might be important for you to follow a recipe at the beginning of your cooking journey, take note of the things that really seem to make your dishes stand out. Don't be afraid to add a few new vegetables into your line-up, and never shy away from trying something you've never tried before. Creativity is the part of cooking that makes it the most fun.
Lesson #5: Presentation is the key to excellence.
Once everything is said and done and you've exhausted your creative talents in the kitchen, the last job you have as a chef is to make a beautiful presentation out of the meal you've just slaved over. The right presentation sets the mood for the dish you're about to serve, whether it's for a customer in a restaurant, or it's for your own family. Also, keeping up with the way presentation trends are always changing can be good for you as a professional chef. A perfectly presented plate should get people salivating before they even take a bite, so taking a few extra minutes to get it just right is important.
Do you want to expand upon what you've already learned? At ECPI University, our Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts degree program offers you an exceptional opportunity to make your dreams of becoming a professional chef come true. There may even be an Iron Chef status in your future! If you would like more information about our program, please contact us. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
Watching Hells Kitchen. Someone from ECPI culinary arts school in VA Beach is going to be on here.
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