Mid-March brought a sudden end to everybody dining out. And the start of everyone staring at their refrigerators wondering what in the hell they were going to make next.
Instead of leafing through another celebrity chef cookbook or flipping on the Cooking Channel, you can learn how to cook straight from the masters themselves.
Many of our region’s—and in fact, the world’s—best chefs have been taking their acts straight to Instagram to teach you how to prepare their best dishes.
It’s free, it’s fun and when the action is live, you even get to participate, if only to throw a few fire emojis at them when the feeling strikes. After all, one of the few good parts of this whole quarantine is the ability to learn new skills and eat a lot.
So let’s take a look at who you should be following if you want to make restaurant-quality dishes at home. Most of these videos can be found in the chefs’ feeds or by clicking on the tiny TV tab up top of their accounts.
Good luck on following along!
First up, the home team
Who: Ludo Lefebvre
How you know that name: Legendary L.A.-based, Burgundy-bred chef-and-owner of Petit Trois, Trois Mec and LudoBird, also known for his role on The Taste.
What you’ll learn: Regional and time-tested French classics like sole meuniére, escargots, jambon Chablisienne, and chocolate soufflé, as well as fan-favorite dishes like fried chicken and buttery, slow-cooked omelets.
Who: Leslie Durso
How you know that name: The luminous vegan chef, consultant and wellness expert was also previously the co-host with Bill Nye, the Science Guy.
What you’ll learn: Maple-roasted brussels sprouts, vegan pasta alfredo, pumpkin pie smoothies, peanut butter-stuffed chocolate-covered dates, crispy chipotle cauliflower tacos.
Who: Walther Adrianze
How you know that name: The Peruvian chef behind Culver City’s acclaimed Lonzo’s, which earned critic Jonathan Gold’s admiration, as well as the city’s for his bold flavors, great ingredients and modern presentations.
What you’ll learn: Peruvian staples like leche de tigre, arroz con mariscos, blood clams, and seco de cordero.
Who: Jet Tila
How you know that name: His appearances on Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Iron Chef America, where he lends his extensive range to comfort dishes stretching from the States to China and Southeast Asia.
What you’ll learn: Orange chicken, poke, sashimi and kung pao chicken.
Who: Evil Cooks
How you know that name: For its edgy adaptations of Mexican favorites like black pastor, chilaquiles burritos, and flan tacos. Yes, flan tacos.
What you’ll learn: The chef has over 30 instructional videos covering such skills as nixtamalizing your own corn for tortillas, making queso fresco cheesecake and LAUSD-style coffee cake, and bacon-wrapping your hot dogs.
Who: Mei Lin
How you know that name: The China-born, Michigan-raised and newly James Beard-nominated chef behind Downtown’s Nightshade and champion of Top Chef: Boston.
What you’ll learn: Step-by-step recipes include scallion noodles, biscuits and sausage with morel gravy, ramp quesadillas, pierogis, and mapo tofu.
Who: Chris Oh
How you know that name: Founder of Seoul Sausage, owner of Um.Ma.San Francisco, Chingu Hawaii and Kamu Las Vegas, as well as a frequent T.V. personality.
What you’ll learn: Donburi, loco moco, shrimp ceviche, and handmade noodles.
Now cooking, the away team
Who: Massimo Bottura
How you know that name: The perpetually-lauded Italian chef (including 3 Michelin stars for his Osteria Francescana in Modena) was the subject of the first episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table.
What you’ll learn: Through the chef’s numerous “Kitchen Quarantine” episodes on Instagram, you can learn recipes including pasta al pomodoro, green curry, paciugo mascarpone, chocolate mousse, orange marmalade, and Parmigiano Reggiano sauce, among the many.
Who: Eric Ripert
How you know that name: The modern French master behind New York’s Le Bernadin who is also familiar for his frequent T.V. appearances beside friend Anthony Bourdain.
What you’ll learn: Hummus, tomato “croque sel,” eggs-polenta, broth prepared from your store-bought roast chickens, potato gratin, duck breast with apple and pear.
Who: Padma Lakshmi
How you know that name: The model-cum-author-cum-Emmy-winning Top Chef host, recently seen on Netflix’s Ugly Delicious, schooling chef David Chang on Indian cooking.
What you’ll learn: Under Padma’s Instagram TV tab, you’ll find recipes for sambar, roasted fennel salad, cast-iron chicken, dosas with coconut chutney, meatballs, stuffed peppers, and lasagna with white ragu, just to start.
Who: Jose Andres
How you know that name: The Spanish chef behind experiences like The Bazaar and Jaleo, who is increasingly known for his humanitarian work that helps to feed the world’s hungry and displaced.
What you’ll learn: Paella Valenciana, strawberry-tomato salad, blowtorched eggs, Catalonian cremate cocktails, and migas with chorizo and grapes.
Who: Vitaly Paley
How you know that name: The James Beard-winning Portland chef who infuses traditional Russian and Ukrainian influences into the contemporary dining experiences at his Imperial, The Crown and Paley’s Place.
What you’ll learn: Blackened sablefish, ricotta gnocchi with Dungeness crab, spiced chickpea stew with noodles and charmoula, grilled lamb chops. Past episodes can be watched on the Paley’s Place website.
Who: Tom Colicchio
How you know that name: The chef behind the Craft empire who also hosts Top Chef, in addition to serving as an advocate in the fight against childhood hunger in the U.S.
What you’ll learn: On the chef’s Instagram TV tab, you’ll find lessons in stretching your existing food supplies into recipes like lamb with eggplant, roasted tomato and yogurt relish, as well as mojo ribs, salmon with asparagus and yogurt chutney, and a crispy chickpea crouton salad.
Who: Christina Tosi
How you know that name: The James Beard-winning pastry chef behind the beloved “Crack Pie” and compost cookies at her Milk Bar locations.
What you’ll learn: The chef’s online “Baking Club” on Instagram has covered such vital subjects at Ritz Cracker cookies, grilled cheese with sweet-sour jam, DIY frosted flakes, ice box cake, “kitchen sink” quiche, and Payday pie, among the many things we’re trying to now avoid after 75+ days in quarantine.
Who: Ming Tsai
How you know that name: The Newport Beach-born, Dayton-raised chef behind Boston’s Blue Dragon is known for his Asian-U.S. fusion cuisine and many years of T.V. appearances.
What you’ll learn: From the Instagram of PBS Food, you’ll find the chef demonstrating recipes for both edible and drinkable stuff like piña-ritas with shrimp satay, lamb-filled scallion pancakes, a Makers Mark 5-spice syrup, and chicken noodle hot-and-sour soup. These can be found on his Instagram and also at the website Ming.com, where you can see more demos from his show, Simply Ming.
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