What’s the best way to make somebody hungry? Stick them in a theater with three all-star chefs and talk about food for two hours – that’s how! A few nights ago, I had the pleasure of listening to Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Per Se, Ad Hoc), Michael Mina (Michael Mina restaurant, Aqua, RN74), and Traci Des Jardins (Jardiniere, Mijita, Public House) talk about “the way they eat now” (or at least that is what the program was titled). I loved seeing these chefs out of their comfort zone and on stage! Michael was surprisingly docile, while Thomas – unsurprisingly – bossy and opinionated. Traci held back most of the time.
One topic that got them all talking, however, was the differences between East and West coast cuisine – which felt especially pertinent now that Farm & A Frying Pan is bi-coastal. All of the chefs, who have experience working on both coasts, agree on a few key points:
- Northern California has the best produce in the country – hands down. Thomas Keller especially believes the “product” (aka fruits, vegetables, etc) available in the region contribute to and “inspire” amazing cuisine.
- East coast restaurants focus more on technique and presentation, while West coast restaurants care more about the “soul” of the menu. A good example of this is Napa. Where else in the world do people solely visit just to drink and eat? It’s not like Napa holds an annual jazz festival or something; people come just for the pleasure of dining.
- West coasters cook more than their East coast counterparts and, as a result, demand higher quality ingredients. Traci argues that this is because West coasters shop for ingredients and have a closer relationship with their food.
Any East coast peeps out there who disagree? I don’t want to misrepresent.
Towards the end of the discussion, one audience member asked the chefs for tips on how to improve his cooking. Thomas Keller gave interesting advice: repetition. Instead of trying new dishes every night, try cooking the same thing over and over again until you perfect it and then move on to something new. Personally, it sounds a little boring, but then again I think Thomas has a pretty good track record so I might take his advice on this one.
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