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    Home » This and That » Cook Gourmet on Any Budget. Inspiration Secret.

    by Kathy Patalsky · updated: Mar 14, 2020 · published: Sep 8, 2009 · About 3 minutes to read this article. 1 Comment

    Cook Gourmet on Any Budget. Inspiration Secret.

    There is an easy way to cook gourmet meals, without breaking your budget or going to culinary school. You’re foodie chops, will be in-step with the world’s top chefs. Find out my fool-proof secret to cook gourmet, and I’ll even give you a jump start list to help you impress your guests. Here’s one of my tricks to get inspired…Chefs hat not included…

    In-laws visiting? Celebrating a special birthday or anniversary? So this time you want to cook a gourmet meal, “Martha Stewart” “Tom Colicchio” or “Ina Garten” style by dining in and playing host or hostess. Sounds great right? But your everyday menus need to be jazzed up a bit to impress those with ‘fancy palates’ at your table. Including that worldly aunt of yours who is always bragging about her lunches at Per Se in New York or her dinner at The French Laundry in Napa.

    What’s the Secret to Cook Gourmet?
    Foodie trends and seasonal ingredients! You don’t need expensive caviar, white truffles, Valrhona cacao or a 2000 Bordeaux wine to cook gourmet. Most of the ‘key ingredients’ I’ll list are wallet-friendly. Example: who knew almonds were a current on-menu gourmet trend? Almonds are budget friendly indeed.

    The world’s top chefs use produce and flavors that are in season or just plain ‘trendy’ to accessorize their pricey menus. Simple ingredients including herbs, spices, fruits and veggies turn into gourmet spotlights on the menu. Pair the key ingredients with anything from tofu to pasta, and you will turn your ‘everyday menu’ into a gourmet meal. (And just like in the fashion industry, the foodie/chef trends change every season, so the inspiration is never-ending.)

    Trendy, Seasonal Ingredients.
    Figuring out the trendiest, hippest, most seasonably tasty ingredients is as easy as this: peruse the pricey tasting menus of your favorite Michelin star restaurant. It’s kinda like in the fashion industry, when J.Crew borrows a trendy new color or style from a Prada design.

    Last season I posted this article featuring a list of the trendy seasonings and vegetables being used on the tasting menus of the world’s best restaurants. This was the overall list of top ingredient trends: Roasted Figs, Creamy Parsnips, Tamarind, Watercress, Kumquats, Candied anything, Poppy Seeds, Earl Grey Tea Desserts, Sunchokes, Exotic Peppercorns (Green and Pink), Retro Soda flavored sorbet, Flavored Caramel, Cauliflower, Pomegranate, Lime-Salt, Exotic Grains (beluga lentils, couscous and quinoa)

    But that was LAST SEASON, so I’ve done it again!
    Here’s what I found is trendy in the gourmet restaurant scene right now:

    Top Trends on Top Menus Now:
    Purple Foods (Purple potatoes, purple basil, purple mustard)
    Sour or tart cherries
    preserved lemon
    bean cakes, (ex. chickpea falafel)
    exotic peppers and chilies
    roasted (anything)
    almonds (curried, toasted)
    bitter or wilted greens (ex. wilted arugula)
    pumpkin
    pickled foods (ex. pickled onions, watermelon rind)
    radish (spicy, thinly shaved)
    infused herb oils (ex. dill oil)
    avocado
    tapioca pearls
    classic herbs: rosemary and thyme
    savory-spiced desserts (ex. black pepper ice cream)
    mint
    ginger
    exotic mushrooms (ex. woodear)
    *do exotic mushrooms ever go out of style though???

    Specific Menu Ingredients featured on a few Top Restaurants:

    Daniel, NYC:
    fresh almond
    bing cherry
    purple mustard
    radish, shaved
    dill oil
    purple potato chips
    rosemary-vegetable relish
    ovoli mushrooms
    figs
    falafel
    minted zucchini
    sweet garlic
    saffron rice
    wilted arugula
    chickpea falafel
    roasted plum
    poblano pepper

    Gordon Ramsey at The London
    pumpkin
    candied cranberries
    gingerbread desserts
    black figs
    candied ginger

    Tom’s Tuesday Dinner at Craft Restaurant:
    lemon thyme
    exotic chilies
    sour cherries
    black pepper desserts
    mint
    fruit chutneys
    bitter greens

    Blue Hill, NYC
    preserved lemon
    pickled onions
    smoked eggplant
    curried almonds
    roasted potatoes
    beans

    The French Laundry, Napa CA
    Pearl Tapioca
    Marcona Almonds
    Red Radish
    Arugula
    Sugar Snap Peas
    Pine Nut-Maple Puree
    Mango-Chili Relish
    Cocoa Nibs
    TelliCherry Pepper Cream
    Cilantro
    Greek Basil
    Hass Avocado
    Mache Sweet Garlic
    Rosemary-Olive Oil Sable

    Jean Georges, NYC
    floral infused cherries
    spicy radish
    dill
    Ginger Marinade
    Papaya
    Peppermint
    Nuts and Seeds
    Chili Glaze
    Fresh Garbanzo Beans
    crunchy potatoes

    Le Bernardin, NYC
    aged citrus vinegar
    sea beans and potato crisps
    hazelnuts
    sweet peppers
    toasted almonds
    ginger
    avocado
    sunflower sprout
    garlic chips
    purple basil
    woodear mushrooms
    rosemary
    thyme

    Double Crown, NYC
    pickled watermelon rind
    mustard oil
    basil seeds
    roasted peanuts
    garlic-chili-lime dressing
    cloud ear mushrooms
    pickled eggplant
    mint
    cilantro
    green chili relish
    spiced yogurt
    pickled lime mustard
    chamomile tapioca
    black peppermint ice cream
    cherry granita

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    About Kathy Patalsky

    Hey there! I'm Kathy, lover of kitty cats, weekend baking, 90's movies, travel, beach fog and foamy lattes. Since 2007, I have been sharing my vegan recipes and photos. My goal is to make your cooking life a little easier, delicious - and plant-loaded - while sharing some LIFE and conversation along the way.

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