Season 3, Episode 1:
Set Yourself Up for Cooking Success
Set Yourself Up for Cooking Success
Let’s talk about the basics. What are the keys to a successful evening in the kitchen? Hint: It’s not fresh ingredients or the perfect recipe. Chef, kids cooking class instructor and owner of Palate Culinary Services Debbie McGiffin shares her advice. This is what she teaches her young students on the first day of cooking camp.
MEET OUR GUEST
Chef Debbie McGiffin
Debbie McGiffin is a chef, cooking instructor and caterer who has been in the business for over 25 years. She has been on the nationally syndicated NBC Daytime show several times and co-authored a cookbook titled It’s All About the Food.
Of all the various aspects of her career, teaching kids to cook is her very favorite thing to do! She has led a popular Kids Summer Camp in the Kitchen program for 24 summers.
She truly believes that if you let the kids cook, they will impress!! Learn more about Debbie and her business.
Follow Debbie on social media:
Facebook: @PalateCulinaryServices
Instagram: @palate_culinary_services
Instagram: @chefdebbies_culinary
Episode highlights
0:45 – Meet Chef Debbie McGiffin
2:27 – About Chef Debbie’s Cooking Camps
6:23 – Day 1 lessons
8:13 – What Is Mise en Place?
11:38 – Kitchen Questions
12:21 – What is blanching?
13:29 – Why do people add milk or cream to scrambled eggs?
14:20 – Closing Thoughts
OUR FAVORITE QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE
“My very favorite part of my job is teaching the kids cooking classes. They're so fun to be with in the kitchen.”
“Parents will come back later and say, ‘Oh my God, I can't believe he ate fish and asparagus.’ And a lot of that I think has to do with being in a completely different environment, where everybody is trying different things.”
“You have to eat your whole life. You may as well learn how to cook. And this is a basic life skill that you'll use forever. Learn how to use a knife. That's first.”