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7 Things You Need to Know About Finding Your Inner GourmetBy: Chris Gonsalves7 Things You Need to Know About Finding Your Inner Gourmet |
1. Surfin’ Safari
When buying and cooking seafood make sure fish eyes are clear and the scales still shiny and firmly attached. Head to Fort Myers Beach, where you can find the local bounty being proffered from pickup trucks. Rest assured, if it’s flapping, it’s fresh. And these guys often have some old-school cooking tips as well; most involving steam and a can of Old Bay seasoning.
2. Taste Tests
If it’s time to expand your skillet skill set, Lee and Collier counties both offer cooking classes in their adult education programs. Serious home chefs should check out the "Naturally Nutritious" cooking classes at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples. The really adventurous can also benefit from sitting at the feet of the master, Tony Ridgway—he of the eponymous bar and grill—for his targeted classes on everything from grilling to baking to wine pairing.
3. That Certain Something
There are truisms in gourmet cooking and one of them is that you cannot serve Korean bulgogi without kimchee. Specialty ingredients make the difference when whipping up trendy Asian fusion dishes. In Naples, Kim Davis at Asian Pok Market on Pine Ridge Road can guide you through aisles of Thai peanut sauces, dried Japanese seaweeds and delicate Korean noodles. And the staff at Young’s Asian Market in Fort Myers are kin to the owners of Origami restaurant, so they can share preparation pointers as well.
4. Friends in Hot Places
Love the food at your favorite restaurant? Then go straight to the source and ask the chef for pointers. Chefs Wade Lowe and Javier Vasquez at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion are both experts on Asian seasoning and ingredients and fresh seafood. Wade in the Bonita Springs Roy’s can tell you how to cook mahi-mahi or press Javier in Naples for cooking tips with chili peppers.
5. Work Wear
There’s no shame in turning out your culinary creations on a Spartan, stainless steel Viking or Jade Waldorf, but the real heat today comes from more beautiful functionality like Germany’s Poggenpohl kitchen gear. Let Tony and Patricia Mammoliti over at the International Design Center show you how well these things can cook.
6. Building Blocks
Great chefs obsess over the ingredients at the foundation of their dishes. The farmers’ markets found across the Gulfshore make a great source of produce, though the selection and quality at places like Fresh Market are impressive as well. And when it comes to cheese, EVOO and the Wine Merchant, along with the Cheese Nook in Sanibel, are masters of
the craft.
7. Simply Fabulous
The best way to ensure success, our experts say, is to minimize complexity. Remember, culinary school graduates don’t have all the knowledge, but most grandmas do. Here’s what they’ll tell you: Don’t overthink a dish. Tuna should be served rare. Rubbing mayonnaise over swordfish will keep it moist when grilling. And finally, always keep a Chinese takeout menu handy. Even the best gourmets experience last-minute disasters.
