CHIC Podcast

CHIC Podcast #202: The Buffalo Guys

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:40:29 -0800

CHIC Podcast #202: The Buffalo Guys Buffalo is one of the most flavorful and nutritious foods you can consume. I talk with Ken Klemm on what is great about buffalo. He's one of the buffalo guys. He is very knowledgeable about everything buffalo. He's a true Western gentlemen. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #201: Wrapped Foods

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:16:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #201: Wrapped Foods This week two of my best students join me to talk about tamales and pierogis. These are some of the best wrapped foods you can enjoy. Sergio and James bring a special perspective to talking about their respective foods. What are your favorite wrapped foods? Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #200: Chef Herve Chabert

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:59:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #200: Chef Herve Chabert Chef Herve Chabert joins us this week for the CHIC podcast. He has a strong resume in pastry and education. He gave us demonstrations on brioche and puff pastry. We talk about his upbringing and his career. He also tells us what to look for when visiting Chicago. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #199: Tango Sur

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:40:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #199: Tango Sur This week we visit Argentina at a restaurant called Tango Sur. It's on Chicago's North side. The order of the day is meat and plenty of it. Wook Kang and I talk about what to order at an Argentine restaurant. I loved the intestines! We also take on some listener mail from Singapore. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #198: Southwestern Food

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:08:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #198: Southwestern Food Just back from Santa Fe, New Mexico we talk about Southwestern food today. We ate some great food and had some great hospitality from the folks of New Mexico. We had everything from street food to the finest dining experiences. Come with me as we explore everything with green chiles. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #197: Pumpernickel Bread and More

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:01:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #197: Pumpernickel Bread and More This week I had a request for pumpernickel bread. Normally, I would send the requester to the bakery to get a proper one but I thought I would try my hand at it. It was easy but it took 3 whole days to make it. I'll tell you all about it. Plus we talk about some great restaurants here in Chicago. I guess they weren't enticing enough for the Olympic committee. We love them though. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #196: Let's Eat More Fish

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:17:09 -0700

CHIC Podcast #196: Let's Eat More Fish We kept talking about it. This week we do it. We select, bone, fillet and cook our fish. We prepare flounder meuniere. It's a beautiful presentation by Chef Wook. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #195: Chef Wook is Back From Ottawa

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:34:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #195: Chef Wook is Back From Ottawa Chef Wook is back from Ottawa. He was visiting the chefs there and learned quite a bit. We also talk about kosher challah, chicken feet, Chef Jean Joho and so much more. We're all over the map today. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #194: Cookies and Brioche

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:28:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #194: Cookies and Brioche That title, Cookies and brioche sounds pretty good huh? This week I talk about how to make the most of your cookie and brioche budget. Why have boring cookies or bread? You don't have to. By using techniques I describe, you can make the best cookies and brioche. I also talk about a new restaurant on Chicago's North side, Fianco. It was delicious! Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #193: Order the Right Thing

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:04:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #193: Order the Right Thing When you go to a restaurant, I want you to have the best possible time you can. To that end I offer a review of “Bandera” here in Chicago. I also talk about what to order in what kind of restaurant. Do your homework to find out what the restaurant is known for. Order their best thing! I’ll show you how this week. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #192: The Culinary Student Experience

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:08:06 -0700

CHIC Podcast #192: The Culinary Student Experience This week I talk to Cameron Riggs, a new student at CHIC. He has been a listener to the CHIC Podcast for some time now. He had written to me asking questions about food and cooking school. He was so intrigued that he enrolled in school. We talk about his interest in food and what it's like for a new student at CHIC. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #191: Stretching the Culinary Dollar

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:01:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #191: Stretching the Culinary Dollar Everybody wants to save money on food but we still want to eat well. This week, Chef Wook Kang and I talk about how to stretch every dollar you have to spend on food. This involves thinking like a chef. You can do it very easily but just thinking about what you are going to cook for the week before you go shopping. We give you tips on cooking smarter too. You may learn something. Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #190: Pulled Pork and Brined Chickens

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:56:13 -0700

CHIC Podcast #190: Pulled Pork and Brined Chickens Chef Wook and I talk about all the great happenings in and around CHIC, our beloved school. This week I am expecting guests from out of town. I am cooking brined chicken for them. Along with that, we will serve garlic mozzarella toasts. Wook helps me make each of these itmes better. And we talk about pulled pork and its sauce along the way. Enjoy! Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #189: Ethiopian Restaurant

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:42:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #189: Ethiopian Restaurant Chef Wook and I talk about all the great happenings in and around CHIC, our beloved school. We visited an Ethiopian restaurant and had a lot of fun. I also had a chance to go to a dinner and movie. The movie was Julie and Julia and the dinner was inspired by the movie. Enjoy! Thanks for listening and we will see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #188: Cake Exploration Society

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:57:50 -0700

CHIC Podcast #188: Cake Exploration Society This week I have a guest who loves to decorate cakes and work in the garden. It's Marilyn McNabb, a chef at our school. She attended the International Cake Exploration Society in St. Charles. There, she displayed a cake that was 6 feet in diameter! She talks about that cake and her work in the garden here at school. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #187: Summer Foods

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:07:16 -0700

Wook Kang is back this week. We talk about what excites us in the summertime. We talk of grilled fruits and pizzas. We also explore all the possibilities that summer holds for foods and beverages. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #186: Home-made Wine

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:50:17 -0700

CHIC Podcast #186: Home-made Wine This week we talk with Chef Karyn Hobfoll and Mike Willison about teaching wine at CHIC. Karyn talks about her philosophy of wine while Mike tells us about his progress on the sommelier certification. They both have been working on making great wine in their classes. We have a taste and then the real fun begins. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #185: National Restaurant Association

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:11:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #185: National Restaurant Association It’s the CHIC podcast at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. I've been going to this show for many years now. It’s the largest show of its kind in the US. I love to go to look at the new equipment, taste a lot of great new food. But I also like to people watch. See if you can find some famous faces in the podcast this week. I’m just going to let you take a look at what it’s like going to the NRA show. At the end of the podcast are some demonstrations of pastry and cooking by Chef George Jack and Chef Wook Kang. I hope you like it. Thanks for watching. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #184: Old Fashioned French Foods

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:30:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #184: Old Fashioned French Foods In cooking school we make many dishes that have hard to pronounce names. Sometimes they don't even have recognizable counterparts here in the states. Today I explore some of the weirder parts of French cooking that are quite delicious. I talk about croque monsieur and croque madame, the financier, croquembouche and many more. I can just taste the duck confit now. Stay with me, have fun and thanks for listening. I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #183: Summer Music

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:34:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #183: Summer Music Have you ever heard of music to soothe the savage breast? Well, I'm just coming off a very long semester at school. I need music to soothe me. I hope these few tunes from the internet help to soothe you too. these are all from the podsafe music network. Check it out at Mevio.com. Have fun and thanks for listening. I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #182: Puff Pastry

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:03:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #182: Puff Pastry We've been working on making puff pastry and related doughs this week in class. I explain how to make them, what products they're used for and how to store them. It's pretty easy to make the dough and you can make some great desserts and dinners using the dough. Think of beef wellington and napoleon. Yum! Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

HIC Podcast #181: Allen Bros. Meats

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:24:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #181: Allen Bros. Meats My friend, Craig Goldwyn and I took a trip to see Chef Rich Naglich at Allen Bros. Meats down on the South side of Chicago. Chef Rich gave us a great tour and we had some time to talk about meat and where he sees it going in the future. Its a fun discussion and tour of the best meat in the country. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #180: Korean Bar-Be-Que and Service

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:14:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #180: Korean Bar-Be-Que and Service Chef Wook Kang and I talk about our recent visit to a Korean bbq joint. There's hundreds of them on the upper west side of Chicago. You should check one out. We went to Hae Woon Dae on California Avenue. The food was great and the service even better. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #179: The New Deck Oven in Action

Sat, 30 May 2009 04:29:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #179: The New Deck Oven in Action In the last couple of months we have taken delivery of a new steam injected Bongard deck oven. What does that mean for our baking? It means crusty, flavorful bread! We have been making bread that I never thought was possible. Watch as our faculty learn how to use the oven and how it affects our students.Thanks for watching and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #178: National Restaurant Association

Sat, 23 May 2009 04:07:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #177: National Restaurant Association Some weeks are just jam-packed with fun stuff to do and taste. This is one of those weeks. On Sunday, I went to the NRA show and saw many interesting things. The show was still very large but there was not much growth since the last time I attended. I also talk about what's coming up in the next few weeks on the CHIC podcast. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #177: Happenings

Sat, 16 May 2009 04:55:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #177: Happenings This week Wook Kang and I are getting ready for the National Restaurant Association show here in Chicago. We talk about what we're looking forward to at the show, farmer's markets and our current classes. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #176: Freezing

Sat, 09 May 2009 04:08:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #176: Freezing Freezing is an integral part of pastry and I think it can be of cooking as well. As we endure hard economic times, we need to find ways to preserve our food and make the grocery dollar go farther. I tell you how to put your freezer to work for you. Along the way, I give you tips to ensure the food you put in and take out of the freezer is safe and wholesome. Thanks for listening, see you next week!

CHIC Podcast #175: Mailbag

Sat, 02 May 2009 04:48:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #175: Mailbag This week we open up the CHIC podcast mailbag. I cover questions from listeners and students including how to make a good crust for pie and quiche, pretzel rolls and looking for a great beginning bread baking book. We also look into gluten free baking. The lotion bars that Renee from California sent us are tested and discussed. Lots to talk about this week. Thanks for listening, see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #174: Crawfish Etoufee

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:19:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #174: Crawfish Etoufee As I mentioned in last week's podcast, we recently visited New Orleans. We brought back some great memories and some crawfish. Wook Kang and I took some time this week to put that crawfish to good use. We love etoufee, a smothered dish from New Orleans. I think you'll learn a lot from the way Wook cooks. The ingredient list is below. Thanks for watching and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #173: All Around CHIC

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:27:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #173: All Around CHIC This week we're all around CHIC. We cover a lot of ground, from Chicago to New Orleans and back. We spent last weekend with my in-laws in the crescent city. Wook Kang and I talk about NOLA cuisine and so much more. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #172: Professional Techniques for the Home Cook

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:54:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #172: Professional Techniques for the Home Cook Chef Wook and I have probably talked about professional techniques before but they bear repeating. Renee from California, a loyal listener asked if there were things that she could do in her kitchen that we do in our kitchens. Today we answer her question. Yes, there are many things you can do to improve your cooking quickly and safely. If you have some ideas that you would like to add to the discussion, feel free to drop us a line. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #171: Kosher Wines

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:35:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #171: Kosher Wines Karyn Hobfoll and I talk about all things kosher today, specifically kosher wines. We explore where kosher wines have come from and where they are going. It's not just Mogen David or other sweet wines anymore. Find out how to make your seder table even better by using great tasting kosher wine. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #170: Cake

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 06:05:24 -0700

CHIC Podcast #170: Cake Cake is the subject today. Why don't more folks make homemade cake anymore. Well, it's easier than you think. You just have to be prepared. I know you can do that. Join me as I talk about the delicious Bourbon Rosemary Cake and a simple Sponge Cake for a Jelly Roll filled with raspberry jam. Is your mouth watering yet? It will be after this podcast. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #169: Sushi

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:24:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #169: Sushi Wook Kang and I talk about one of our favorite subjects: sushi. Wook has great knowledge of sushi and shares it with us on this podcast. We talk about the rice, fermenation and lots of fish. The training and ritual is a large part of sushi making. You can make it yourself at home. We give some pointers in finding a great sushi bar near your home. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #168: Nutrition Safety

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:57:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #168: Nutrition Safety It’s time to talk nutrition again. Hey, wait, it’s always time to talk nutrition. My good friend, Pat Plavcan and her associate, Ashley Roffe, both registered dietitians, visit with me in the podcast studio this week. It is National Nutrition Month in the United States. We talk about keeping your food safe and wholesome. It’s a fun conversation and you might learn something. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next week.

CHIC Podcast #167: Eclairs,Cheesy Bread and Vinaigrette

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:21:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #167: Eclairs,Cheesy Bread and Vinaigrette What do Eclairs,Cheesy Bread and Vinaigrette have in common? Very little except that they all taste great. This week my class was full of questions. I thought I would share the answers and some good food with my listeners. I'll give you simple instructions on how to make all three of these items. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #166: Quiche and Other Custards

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:35:56 -0800

CHIC Podcast #166: Quiche and Other Custards Did you know that quiche is a custard. It's a savory custard. Today I talk about baked custards including creme brulee and creme caramel. There are some very simple guidelines that will make your custards the best they can be. We also cover making that pesky caramel for your creme caramel. Let's get baking! Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #165: Around the World with Wook

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:38:56 -0800

CHIC Podcast #165: Around the World with Wook Wook Kang is back this week and he's talking about his international cuisine class. We also talk about nut alternatives to peanuts. There are many varieties. The porters who used to work on the railroads were given a tribute last week. I share my experiences riding the rails with these fine hard working gentlemen. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #164: Romantic Dinners

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:59:57 -0800

CHIC Podcast #164: Romantic Dinners Happy Valentine's day from Chicago. Today, I talk about how you can make Valentine's day special for your special person. Making their favorite food, taking them somewhere special are just some of the ideas I cover in the podcast. Love each other! Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #163: Sanitation Nation

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:40:50 -0800

CHIC Podcast #163: Sanitation Nation This week I traveled to Springfield, Illinois to take the instructor exam to teach sanitation. I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about food safety and what our government is doing about it. I have a piece of audio from Senator Tom Harkin talking about food safety in the United States. We should all pay more attention to our food safety to reduce the incidence of food borne illness. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #162: Chef Tom History

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:21:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #162: Chef Tom History I talked with two students separately this week that expressed interest in how I got to this point. They wanted to know more about how a person gets into the field of teaching cooking and baking. I talk about going to cooking school, my first jobs and my road to cooking school. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #161: Tech Kitchen

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:40:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #161: Tech Kitchen The very fact that you are listening to this podcast says you have some level of technical sophistication. I talk about how to get the most out of your technology in the kitchen. Use your smartphone, laptop and iPod to their fullest. Make them work for you in the kitchen! Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #160: Soups and Stews

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:34:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #160: Soups and Stews You may not live in a cold climate. But those of us that do rely on soups and stews to get us through the coldest winter days. Today, Wook Kang and I talk about soups and stews. We tell you about our favorites, some tips on making good one and a hint towards next week’s podcast. We’ll be making video beef stew for you. Get your stock ready, bundle up and come with us as we talk about soup and stew. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #159: Chef Mark Seaman's Pastry Trip

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:12:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #159: Chef Mark Seaman's Pastry Trip My friend, Chef Mark Seaman, owner of Marked for Dessert, is directing a trip to Paris and Lyon, France in April. He's taking 12 lucky people with him. There, they will explore the pastry shops and wonderful food available. Mark and I talk about his trip, Paul Bocuse and everything French! Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #158: Basic Kitchen Techniques part 2

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:45:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #158: Basic Kitchen Techniques part 2 Wook Kang and I talked about basic kitchen techniques a few weeks back and we only covered a few. This week I talk about a few more. We cover breading, vinaigrette and roux. These three techniques can bring your level of cooking up quite a bit. Employ them and see how your food stands up and people take notice. Learn something new for yourself and your dining guests. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #157: Music for Winter

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 06:40:17 -0800

CHIC Podcast #157: Music for Winter Twice a year I take some time to go back to what I did years ago, be a D.J. Yup, I used to spin tunes on a local radio station. I still like to do that from time to time. We'll get back to the food next week but here's some food related tunes for you to enjoy on your Christmas/New Year's holiday. Have fun! Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #156: Steakhouse

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:28:15 -0800

CHIC Podcast #156: Steakhouse Once a year, 4 male friends and I get together to partake of a meal of steak. We have been to the best and worst steakhouses in Chicago. I talk about what to look for in a steakhouse, what to stay away from and how to have a good time dining out. We'll be back with more kitchen techniques in the following weeks. Right now I'm on break from school. The shows will continue but you may be surprised by them. Hang in there. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #155: Top Ten Kitchen Techniques

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:07:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #155: Top Ten Kitchen Techniques Wook Kang and I talk about an article in SFGate, the San Francisco Chronicle's website that talked about the basic techniques that all good cooks should posess. We take just a few this week but we will be back in the coming weeks with other techniques for you. Here's the link to the site and the article.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/08/FDTA11HHDM.DTL

Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #154: Christmas Cookie Alternatives

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:42:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #154: Christmas Cookie Alternatives I love Christmas cookies, you know the traditional rolled out Santa Claus type cookies that have colorful frosting on them. I also like the alternative ones. I talk about almond macaroons, dried fruit sablees and little hazelnut morsels. These are easy cookies you can make for your guests that they may never have had. Take some time to try something new for Christmas. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #153: Thanksgiving Roundup

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:45:44 -0800

CHIC Podcast #153: Thanksgiving Roundup It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Have you had enough turkey yet? I haven't! I talk about a variety of topics all related to Thanksgiving day; sort of a roundup of all the great ideas we have for that one meal of the year that everyone has a comment on. Give me your thoughts on how you can make Thanksgiving better. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #152: Whole Wheat Bread

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:04:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #152: Whole Wheat Bread I received a note from a listener named Renee. She asked about how to make her whole wheat bread have a better crust. I think it's great that more folks are making whole grain breads and adding them to their diet. They taste better than ever and they are great for your health. I offer some tips on making better whole wheat bread and tackle that crust question as well. Thank you Renee for the question and thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #151: The Big Picture

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:52:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #151: The Big Picture Chef Wook Kang and I got talking about how some students of food have a hard time seeing the big picture. They sometimes focus on little details that have very little to do with the finished product. We try to offer some suggestions to cooks to be able to look at the big picture. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #150: Vitamin D

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:18:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #150: Vitamin D Our resident nutrition teacher, Pat Plavcan stops by to talk about Vitamin D. It's an interesting subject because it's a vitamin we produce in our own bodies. We need the sun to activate it. You'll learn about where to get more and how it helps the body. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #149: Entre Amis, between friends

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:38:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #149: Entre Amis, between friends Nancy Monk is one our English teachers at CHIC. She has a special job that includes administrating the literary journal, Entre Amis. She and I talk about how she integrates general education principles in a cooking school. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #148: Food Photography

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:15:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #148: Food Photography I met a very nice man recently who loves to photograph food. In fact, it’s his job. What a great thing to be able to do. Brendan Lekan and I took some time to talk about food and look at some pictures. We talk about his work with food and photography. We also talk about what excites us about photography and how you can make yours better. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #147: Maui Dining

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:53:20 -0700

CHIC Podcast #147: Maui Dining The restaurants in Maui are some of the best in the world. We sampled quite a few and I talk about our dining experiences there. We stayed at the Marriott Wailea near Lahaina and the food was exceptional. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #146: Live from Maui

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:26:41 -0700

CHIC Podcast #146: Live from Maui This week I talk live from Maui, Hawai’i. Wow is it beautiful! I talk about airline food. I know, there is no more airline food but we were in business class. There is still food up there and it is worth examining. I talk about the days I used to work on the airline myself. Next week, we’ll have a podcast about the food here on the island. It should be a little better than the airplane....I hope. Thanks for listening. See you next week!

CHIC Podcast #145: Knives

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:17:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #145: Knives Wook Kang and I talk about knives. A chef's knife is the first thing I usually reach for when I go into a kitchen. They help us in so many ways that we don't even think about. We give you some tips on selecting, using and caring for knives. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #144: Travels with Chef Tom

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:47:29 -0700

CHIC Podcast #144: Travels with Chef Tom I'm back, your weary traveling chef, to give you the account of my trip to Ottawa, Canada. I traveled to visit the Le Cordon Bleu chefs at the school there. What a great time we had. I also got to converse with chefs from around the country from our sister schools. We learned so much. Check out my website, letsbake.frostbitten.org for pictures from around Ottawa and all the food we produced and ate. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #143: Garde Manger

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:42:56 -0700

CHIC Podcast #143: Garde Manger Wook Kang and I talk about garde manger. What's garde manger, you ask? Well, it's just one of the most interesting parts of a professional kitchen. It's all the cold salads, sandwiches, terrines, pates and many other items. We also talk about what's coming up for each of us. It's an exciting time at CHIC and we want to share it with you. Check out Chicago Gourmet coming up next weekend at Millennium Park. CHIC will be represented there. I will be there on Sunday, September 28th. One more thing; I will be traveling to Ottawa, Canada for a conference with other pastry chefs from around the country and the chefs from Le Cordon Bleu North America. What a week this will be! Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #142: Rainy Day Podcast

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:53:55 -0700

CHIC Podcast #142: Rainy Day Podcast Today we cover a myriad of topic. I talk about great friends and meals, wine tasting lunches and supporting your local restaurants, the ones worth saving. I also tackle a listener's question about cooking sugar so it doesn't crystalize. We cover a lot of ground but I think you will like the variety this week. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #141: Fried Video Chicken

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:57:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #1410: Fried Video Chicken Wook Kang loves fried chicken. I think that is a sentiment that is echoed all across this country. On this week's CHIC Pocast, we make fried chicken. In addition, we look at French fries and cole slaw. We hope you enjoy the video podcast this week. Chef Wook and I thank Chef Carrie Osmer for helping out and eating some of the chicken. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #140: Great Wines with Value

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:27:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #140: Great Wines with Value Chef Mike Skuca and I were talking about the excellent wines you can get for under 10.00 at Trader Joes. We decided to do a podcast on, not cheap wines, but wines that have great value. We are joined by Chef Karyn Hofoll, a great wine lover in her own right. We talked about a lot wines on the podcast but we drank a bottle of King Shag from Trader Joes. I think you'll like the wine and the podcast. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #139: Meringue and Whipped Cream

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:28:02 -0700

CHIC Podcast #139: Meringue and Whipped Cream Today's creamy episode concerns meringue and whipped cream. These two items that we make almost every day in the bakeshop, are responsible for keeping America and the rest of the world smooth and creamy. I talk about how to make all the different variations and how not to screw them up. It's a quick episode recorded at the Lincoln Park Zoo again. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #138: Kitchen Disasters and More

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:43:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #138: Kitchen Disasters and More Wook Kang and I talk about all the things that can go wrong in a kitchen. We have both worked in many restaurants and hotels and lots has happened there. Most of the stories are fun but you can learn from our misfortune. We also talk about blogs, websites and books that we are currently interested in. Let us know about your favorite food blog. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #137: Rolling Pizza

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:22:04 -0700

CHIC Podcast #137: Rolling Pizza Chef David Hirsch and Chef Jim DeWan join me for a talk about their new venture into wood-fired pizza on the road. They own a trailer that doubles as a pizza oven. It's an oven that gets to 900 degrees and cooks the pizzas in just 3 minutes. Join David, Jim and myself for a lively discussion on what it is that makes pizza great. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

CHIC Podcast #136: Steamed or not steamed?

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:14:33 -0700

CHIC Podcast #136: Steamed or not steamed? Live from Lincoln Park Zoo overlooking Cafe Brauer, it's the CHIC podcast. This week I commune with nature as I podcast about food. I recap last week's chicken chausseur episode. I talk about how not to steam your chicken, pork, potatoes and all the things you want crispy. I also talk about the upcoming pizza bread guild meeting. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #135: Chicken Chausseur with Chef Wook

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:17:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #135: Chicken Chausseur with Chef Wook This week's it's a video podcast. Chef Wook Kang prepares a dish you can prepare at home with just a chicken and few more ingredients at home. I will get the recipe for you soon but until then, just sit back and watch as Chef Wook prepares chicken chausseur. It is delicious way to prepare chicken. He gets some help from Chef Gerard and myself. This is a glimpse into their "Saucier Club" and how our student kitchens work. I hope you like it and as always, thanks for watching. See you next week.

CHIC Podcast #134: Herbs

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:49:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #134: Herbs Herbs are great with most foods whether they are dry or fresh. Wook and I talk about how to grow them, how to use them and what to pair them with. Be sure to check out Wook's blog at www.kangskorner.blogspot.com Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #133: Citrus Flavor and Equipment Roundup

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:45:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #133: Citrus Flavor and Equipment Roundup Wook Kang and I decided to talk about our favorite flavors today. We both love citrus in all it's incarnations. Of course we love lemons but limes are what really blow us away. We even give equal time to grapefruit. Then we take some time to talk about specialty pans one might buy. Do you have an omelette pan? How about a scone pan? We navigate through our favorite types and brands of pans. Thanks for listening. Also, check out Chef Wook's blog at Wookie Cookie

CHIC Podcast #132: My Parents and Food

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:02:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #132: My Parents and Food For the independence day holiday, we traveled East to visit my parents, Joe and Sally. They infused a love of food in me and I wanted to know a little bit about their experience with food. I talk to them individually in their home and on a walk with my mother. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #131: Summertime Music Podcast

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:19:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #131: Summertime Music Podcast Sometimes you just have to take some time out to listen to some music. This year I dip into the Podshow.com bag of music to bring you what I'm listening to. Podshow has attracted some very up and coming bands. Secret Machines, British Sea Power and Midlake are newly added to the roster. They are bands that I have heard on NPR on shows like Sound Opinions with Greg Kot and Jim De Rogatis and All Songs Considered with Bob Boilen. Let me know what you think of the music. This is stuff I love to listen to. I hope you do to. We'll be back next week with some more food related items but right now, it's time to rock. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #130: Flavor Enhancers

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:05:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #130: Flavor Enhancers A listener recently wrote the show about some ideas for upcoming podcasts. She mentioned that she wanted ot know what “chocolate extract” is and how she would use it. There is no such thing as real chocolate extract unless you count cocoa powder. This got Chef Wook and myself thinking about all the great flavor enhancers professional chefs use everyday without thinking about it. Wook and I talk about infusion, reduction and myriad flavor enhancers that every home cook can take advantage of. Thanks for listening. Also, check out Chef Wook's blog at Wookie Cookie

CHIC Podcast #129: News and Mailbag

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 06:00:54 -0700

CHIC Podcast #129: News and Mailbag I have gathered up several questions that students and listeners have posed over the last few weeks. There are questions covering all different kinds of cooking plus I talk about accuracy in cooking and how it can improve your food experience. I also take some time to reminisce about my time in college and thank folks that make this show possible. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #128: Let's Talk Sandwiches!

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:00:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #128: Let's Talk Sandwiches! How about a sandwich? I always love to get that question. I think you know my answer to that question as well. Wook Kang and I got together this week to talk about that subject. What started our discussion was that one of our listeners asked about the famous Cuban sandwich. Wook is something of a sandwich afficianado. We talked about the bread used, the condiments used and how these sandwiches got started. Wook also has quite a body of knowledge of sandwiches from around the world. Did you know there were sandwiches in Thailand and Japan? I didn't either. Keep the questions coming and thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #127: What's Happening?

Sat, 31 May 2008 05:15:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #127: What's Happening? Sometimes it’s just good to sit down and talk with friends. There have been so many things happening around CHIC lately, I wanted to take some time to talk to our friend Wook Kang. He and I talk about the recent graduation, our classes, black boxes and how we approach our teaching. We also talk about how we got started in professional cooking. If you have any questions, just drop us a line. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #126: Buffet and Graduation

Sat, 24 May 2008 04:57:13 -0700

CHIC Podcast #126: Buffet and Graduation I am privileged to attend so many fun and exciting events in food and peoples lives. This last week I attended two really fun ones. First was the buffet put on by our advanced baking class for culinary students. As I talked about last week, Chef Amy Wolf and myself presided over 25 hard-working students. They put out a buffet I thought you would enjoy seeing. The CHIC graduation was also this last weekend. 200 graduates crossed the stage at the Downtown Marriott on Michigan Avenue. What an experience that was! I brought my camera to both events. Let me know where else you would like me to bring my camera. I can get into events that a lot of folks won’t ever see. I realize the quality is not perfect but I think you will have fun. It runs just over 8 minutes. Thanks for watching.

CHIC Podcast #125: Culinary Student Questions

Sat, 17 May 2008 06:50:11 -0700

CHIC Podcast #125: Culinary Student Questions My friend Chef Amy Wolf and I just completed teaching the second baking course for culinary students on Thursday. We had a great time working together and with the students. They had some questions that I though needed answering. They had some insightful ones and I tell about an old cooks story that I think you will find amusing. I also take you on a little sound tour of my neighborhood in Lincoln Park. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #125: Culinary Student Questions

Sat, 17 May 2008 06:19:57 -0700

CHIC Podcast #124: Meathead: AKA, Craig Goldwyn

Sat, 10 May 2008 04:09:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #124: Meathead: AKA, Craig Goldwyn Yes, my friend Craig is known as Meathead in the circles he travels in. Those circles would be those of bar-be-que afficianados. Craig is a renaissance man but his real passion is meat and mostly the smoked variety. He is well verse in photography, wine, art and so much more. We talk for a bit about all of those things but mostly...meat. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #123: Fried Chicken with Chef Wook

Sat, 03 May 2008 05:58:00 -0700

CHIC Podcast #123: Fried Chicken with Chef Wook Hard to believe but Chef Wook’s favorite food is fried chicken. He and I talk about the best fried chicken, what to look for and how to make it yourself. We also examine some of the best offerings of fried chicken in Chicago and around the country. Be careful, don’t burn your fingers but you can lick them clean.

CHIC Podcast #122: Barry Sorkin of Smoque

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:51:17 -0700

CHIC Podcast #122: Barry Sorkin of Smoque Bar-be-que is one of lifes singular pleasures. Anyone can do it but it take a real master of the smoker to make it special. Barry Sorkin has opened a new restaurant here in Chicago that my friends and I visited this week. Mr. Sorkin was a most gracious host and he even took some time from the busy kitchen to sit down and talk with us about B-B-Q. Along for the ride was a good friend, Craig Goldwyn. Craig is a B-B-Q god himslef. Sorry about the noises in the background but that's a busy restaurant for you. Enjoy the conversation. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #121: Passover Madness!

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:09:31 -0700

CHIC Podcast #121: Passover Madness! Today begins the holiday of Passover. This is the Jewish holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. It also means a lot of delicious and very traditional food. Chef Karyn Hobfoll and I talk about what the holiday means to her and how she prepares for it. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #120: Europain with Chef Nancy

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:52:05 -0700

CHIC Podcast #120: Europain with Chef Nancy Chef Nancy Carey has been teaching at CHIC for over 5 years. She is well versed in all areas of breadmaking. She has also recently rekindled her interest in sugar and chocolate sculpture. Nancy and I talk about a convention in Paris, France called Europain. She visited that convention last week and she is here to talk about it. It is one of the biggest conventions in the world dedicated to pastry and baking. We talk about her exploits with her traveling partner and what she learned in France. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #119: Chef Christian Visit

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:17:54 -0700

CHIC Podcast #119: Chef Christian Visit The Le Cordon Bleu sends chefs from Ottawa, CA to work with the students and faculty of CHIC. We always love a visit from Chef Christian. He has such a great sense of humor. In this video we see him working with the pastry chefs, my students, ice carving and producing a grand buffet. Thanks for listening (watching)!

CHIC Podcast #118: Time and Temp with Tom

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:35:48 -0700

CHIC Podcast #118: Time and Temp with Tom Too often my students don’t have a good grasp of how to use time and temperature in a kitchen. I am thinking you may have the same confusion. Today I take a solo moment to talk about how important time and temperature are to good cooking and baking. I talk about how to use your freezer to its best ability and why you should get to know your oven...well! I hope these hints help you. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #117: Trends in Food with Wook

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:35:23 -0700

CHIC Podcast #117: Trends in Food with Wook Chef Wook Kang and I sat down this week to talk about trends in the food industry. We also talk about what we are reading and what we are looking forward to food-wise this coming spring. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #116: Let's Visit the Cooking School!

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:08:54 -0700

CHIC Podcast #116: Let's Visit the Cooking School! I have heard recently that some folks wonder what it's like in a classroom of a cooking school. Really it's quite fun and exciting. I take you in the kitchen of my class from last week. You will see them making tarts, scones, and biscuits. I ask my students to give a lot of themselves and in the podcast I ask them what was the most important thing they learned in the class. I think you'll be surprised by some of the answers. Again, thanks for listening and watching.

CHIC Podcast #115: Allen Bros. Meats

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:51:04 -0800

CHIC Podcast #115: Allen Bros. Meats Rich Naglich, the executive chef from Allen Bros. Meats stopped by to talk steaks and good food. He and I are joined by one of our best instructors at CHIC, Chef Jimmy McGuinness. Jimmy, Rich and myself have a great time talking food. We also touch on sanitation and home aging of meat (don’t try it, leave it to the pros!). Rich is also heavily involved with the American Culinary Federation, the ACF. We talk about how important it is for young cooks to get involved with the organization. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #114: The Beckman Interview: Whole Grains Class

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:39:22 -0800

CHIC Podcast #114: The Beckman Interview: Whole Grains Class The tables were turned on me this week. Pat Plavcan, our nutrition teacher interviewed me on my class at the French Pastry School with King Arthur Flour chef Jeffrey Hamelman. We talk about the health and flavor benefits of using whole wheat flour and specialty flours. Thanks for listnening.

CHIC Podcast #113: Me Sick

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:45:51 -0800

CHIC Podcast #113: Me Sick We get it every year. Yes, I am sick today. I did want to say hi to you folks so I recorded a quick podcast early in the morning after feeding the kitties. I answer a question on salt and yeast and then I’m back to bed. See you next week and thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #112: Welcome to our New Instructors-part 3

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:52:18 -0800

CHIC Podcast #112: Welcome to our New Instructors-part 3 Continuing in our series of introducing the newest in our midst, we welcome Dina Alteri. She is our new Culinary Department Chair. She comes to us from New England Culinary Institute and our Le Cordon Bleu school in Pasadena. She grew up in a food family so she has plenty to add to the CHIC mix. We talk about our favorite foods and what she sees for her future at CHIC. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #111: Valentine's Madness

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:03:27 -0800

CHIC Podcast #111: Valentine's Madness This Valentine’s day I wanted to do something special with a friend. I invited Chef Karyn Hobfoll to join me to talk about Valentine’s desserts and chocolate. We talk about what to expect from restaurants on Valentine’s day and how to look for good chocolate for your sweetheart....or yourself. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #110: Potpourri or something like it

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:54:23 -0800

CHIC Podcast #110: Potpourri or something like it I have a variety of subjects I wanted to cover in this multifaceted podcast. I talk about U2, Red Lobster, biscuits, cooking techniques and the great folks that work here at CHIC. I hope you like the variety. Thanks for listening!

CHIC Podcast #109: Korean Food with Wook Kang

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:50:00 -0800

CHIC Podcast #109: Korean Food with Wook Kang Wook Kang is one of our best new instructors and when I say new, I mean three years. I was surprised to learn that Chef Wook has been with CHIC for three years. He teaches a variety of culinary classes but his background is in Korean cooking. He and I talk about great Korean food from bar-be-que to kim chee. I think you'll learn something. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #108: Welcome to our new Instructors

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:23:05 -0800

CHIC Podcast #108: Welcome to our new Instructors Continuing with our series of introducing you to our new instructors, this week, we talk with Patte Borg. Patte comes to CHIC from a varied career in pastry and food. I enjoyed talking with her very much and I think we can all learn from her experience. She teaches all over Chicago. Join us, won’t you? Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #107: What's the Deal with Puff Pastry?

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:08:42 -0800

CHIC Podcast #107: What's the Deal with Puff Pastry? Puff pastry is one of those things you see in the grocery store but may not know how to use it. Perhaps you have wanted to make it. Well, I had a listener ask me a question about making puff pastry. He was actually making something closer to a very flaky pie dough. Join me this week as I talk about puff pastry, quick puff pastry and how to make them both. I also talk about what you can use it for. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #106: Trends in Food

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:02:04 -0800

We have a great group of faculty, administrators and staff at our school, The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. Heading up that terrific bunch of folks is Lloyd Kirsch. Lloyd is very interested in and knowledgeable of what is happening in education and in food. Plus he’s just a lot of fun to talk to. He and I sat down this week to talk about what we can expect to see happen in the coming year. Join us as we take a stroll through food trends for 2008. Thanks for listening.

CHIC Podcast #105: Happy New Year!

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:26:02 -0800

CHIC Podcast #105: Happy New Year! As another great year draws to a close this coming week, we take a break from talking about food for a musical interlude. And this is a pretty rockin’ one at that. I have chosen some tunes from the vast library of music at Podshow.com. You can check out more of their great independent music at Music.Podshow.com. I think you will enjoy the music I have chosen for you. We’ll be back next week with more discussion of food. Happy new year!

CHIC Podcast #104: Christmas Breads(audio)

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:19:00 -0800

Oh what fun we had making Christmas breads at bread guild this month. We made pan d’oro, pannettone, christosomo and stollen. All these breads are quite rich and require attention and time. Join me as I describe how we came to make these breads of the season. Here’s a link to the recipes and our monthly newsletter. Merry Christmas! This podcast is also available in a video and audio only format coming soon. Thanks for listening.