THE CHOPPING BLOCK – CHEF PROFILES
Linnzie Pandel
Favorite class to teach:
Any grilling classes outside during the summer-my favorite place to be
Training/education:
Texas Culinary Acadamy Austin Texas
Cooking since:
I can remember first starting after getting a recipe from my 5th grade teacher!!
Favorite childhood food experience:
My mom and dad taking me out for ice cream when I received good grades
What made you want to become a chef?
Passion
What is your signature dish?
I've always disliked this question-one dish to define you is impossible
What are the 5 ingredients you can't live without?
Salt, pepper, olive oil, vinegar, mustard
What do you love about cooking?
That you can never be wrong
When you're creating a new recipe, what influences and inspires you?
Turn of the seasons and the food from them. Also looking forward to making it and getting friends to try it and enjoy.
What advice would you give a new cook?
Get as much different and varied experience in everything. Eat out as much as you can and read books and magazines. Food changes are fast.
What are you doing when you're not cooking?
Eating out and reading books and magazines
Describe your perfect evening.
A dinner out with great food and with my husband who is my favorite cook!
If you had friends in from out of town, where would you take them to eat?
The Bristol of course!
Where are you from?
Texas
What was your favorite vacation?
Traveling out to the quiet island Isle Mujeres Southeast Mexico
What are your hobbies?
Eating
What is your favorite band?
Too many to choice one
Who is your favorite celebrity chef?
I love Michael Symon. What a funny laugh.
What 5 tools should every new cook have in the kitchen?
Cutting board, Sharp knife, wisk, rubber spatula, microplane. And love of what you are doing.
List/describe three of your favorite tips or techniques you use in the kitchen.
I love the idea of salting your meat at least 2 hours before cooking them. Reverse osmoisis to remove the unflavored water and add flavoring throughout the entire piece of protein.
So many people don't know this but leaving the hairy portion on the onion while you are cutting it will eliminate any crying.
The idea that you are in charge of how fast, slow, how perfect, ect. anything you are cooking. Cooking is controlling all aspects of how a dish comes out!!!