What one famous chef would you choose to emulate?
I have so been waiting for the Julia Child Chefography. I'm watching it as I type. Everything I have read and watched about Julia has enthralled and intrigued me over so many years. A passionate food lover who blazed the trail for women in the culinary arts, particularly French cuisine, she is the epitomy of femme chef perfection. I would dare to guess that Julie Powell, author of "Julie and Julia", an extremely entertaining and hilarious relating of 365 days to prepare all the dishes in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, may agree.
I choose Julia. Who is your "personal chef" alter ego?
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28 Comments:
Easy!
Jacques Pepin!
Then I could cook with Julia.
srhcb at 9:51PM on 04/07/08
@fred - It just ended and I could have watched hours more of her! I remember so many years ago, my mother talking about French cooking and Julia. I come from a family of food lovers and my desire to be in the kitchen has been lifelong. She was truly perfection and class. I have to choose Julia as well. Don't mean to copy you, but for years I have talked about Julia and can actually do a pretty good imitation. ;-O She is my food idol!!
crazyspice at 10:11PM on 04/07/08
Ferran Adrià. This man seems to have an extraordinary sense of humour and freedom when it comes to food - whether in terms of form, or flavour or texture, and I find it fascinating. Besides, I absolutely love the idea of "playing with your food"!
brooke29 at 10:18PM on 04/07/08
Mario Batali or Rick Bayless. They both know the history of the cuisines they specialize in, the geography, the people. It makes it so much more interesting to cook a dish and know (even if I only retain it long enough to explain it the first time I serve it) what parts of the dish are indigenous to the region, which were brought over in trade/conquest/whatever. They also realize that they're explaining all this to American cooks, so if there's some ingredient that isn't going to be readily available, they will offer substitutes.
dbcurrie at 10:49PM on 04/07/08
@crazy - I know! What an amazing and inspiring woman. I think there are a few other Julia "groupies" out there, huh?
frederika at 11:05PM on 04/07/08
Who doesn't love Julia? I mean, how could you not?! I had a huge smile on my face while watching her Chefography (I hate that title) and I wish I didn't have so much to do on the weekends so that I could watch her on PBS.
To answer the question...Julia (of course!) for her huge love of and extreme joy while cooking, Alice Waters for her connection to the food she makes, and Homaru Cantu for his science lab on a plate ("Ferran Adria lite" is what I like to call him ;). And because I like to pretend that I am a pastry chef, the inimitable Pierre Herme as well as Elizabeth Falkner for her modern and innovative takes on the classics.
raspberry eggplant
charm city cupcake at 11:07PM on 04/07/08
I still associate fun and cooking with a little bit of Julia and a little bit of Jeff Smith (from The Frugal Gourmet) for those who remember it. I really loved his show, and was so sad when the scandal came about. Scandal or no- I love his show, his books, and his cooking.
EtherMaiden at 12:09AM on 04/08/08
Gabrielle Hamilton. Whenever I read/hear anything from her, I think that she sounds so down to earth and off the cuff regarding Prune and her menu. I like that she is humble AND inventive about her craft. Plus, I remember seeing something on the menu once that I had made recently for myself, in some incarnation: it was a "sandwich" of green tomato jam with bacon. I was jealous and admiring at the same time!
Littlebluesiren at 12:25AM on 04/08/08
Julia for her talents and knowledge, Rachel Ray for her energy and smile, Giada for her looks (who cares if she can cook...), Bobby Flay for his BBQ secrets, Anthony Bourdain for his humor, gut and courage, Ina for her kitchen and life without a husband during the week, Nigella for her beauty...................
Hunnyoil at 3:06AM on 04/08/08
If I had to pick only one, it would be Lidia Bastianich for her knowledge of Italy, her obvious cooking prowess and her inclusiveness about bringing everyone to the table.
Of course, I'd also love to have a bit of Julia Child worked in - as she was not only a phenomenal cook but a trail blazer as well.
chiff0nade at 5:11AM on 04/08/08
My alter ego in the kitchen is Alton Brown, yes I'm a geek and want to know Why and How things work not just that they do.
huney_bumper at 7:40AM on 04/08/08
Ina....I love to entertain as much as she does, and she makes it look like so much fun & effortless...she encourages me to continue!
mepolo at 8:07AM on 04/08/08
Wow... tough one. As dbcurrie said above Mario Batali seems to know so much about his food and I'd like to have that kind of knowledge. I love Alton Brown's approach. But if I had to pick solely based on the food I'd probably say Tom Douglas.
deeoh1 at 8:33AM on 04/08/08
It depends on the cuisine, but overall.......Jacques Pepin and Julia Child for French, Baking, and Technique. Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali for Italian, and Ina Garten, Tyler Florence and Alton Brown for many of my favorite dishes including comfort food. Sorry, can't choose just one.
PerkyMac at 9:43AM on 04/08/08
Julia, of course...
... and then Thomas Keller. I think he's a mad genius. Or Dan Barber, of Blue Hill fame -- I love his food, and also how he has prioritized not just using local ingredients, but actually raising them himself. (If you're in the NY area, his restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns is not to be missed!)
CookiePie at 10:01AM on 04/08/08
@honey_bumper, I think that I would have to have at least half of Alton Brown, and the other half chef Morimoto. That way I would know the ins and outs of everything, have the fun that they both have, the dedication, and the exacting nature all in one...oh, of a little of Julia, just to have some of her effervesence!
Traveller at 10:54AM on 04/08/08
Like mepolo, I would love to be Ina Garten. Her recipes are so elegant. I really enjoy watching Barefoot Contessa and would like to think that some day I'll live a fabulous life in the Hamptons, with a huge herb garden and plenty of hydrangeas.
LiveToEat at 11:06AM on 04/08/08
I like the barefoot contessa too!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 12:06PM on 04/08/08
Bear Gryliss
Stiv61 at 12:22PM on 04/08/08
I can't possibly choose 1...There's just too many, so I will decide upon a few:
For the women: Julia Child, Lidia Bastianich, and Mary Ann Esposito
For the men: Mario Batali, Alton Brown, and Gordon Ramsey (does anyone else love this guy???)
A great mix of the old school and new school-with a heavy concentration on the Italian side..:) MMmm...
Butrflygirly at 12:31PM on 04/08/08
Julia, hands down. My admiration of her is less about her kitchen prowess than who she was as a person. She had her flaws, but I'm not interested in somebody perfect, or with whom I agree 100% on everything. Her overall view of life and how to live it is so deserving of respect. She is an excellent role model whom I hold up to my children (male and female alike), and I try to keep her lessons in mind for myself as much as possible. Such an inspiration to me.
When you factor in her sex, and the time in which she lived, the respect factor goes up exponentially. Who wouldn't love to impact as many people as she has, and in such a fantastic way?
Oh. And I must admit to loving Alton's geek factor. I'm such a "why" girl, so analytical, so anal-retentive... he's good for my self-esteem! I'd like to be able to pay that forward to somebody else.
LoCo at 2:00PM on 04/08/08
Jacques Pepin
schnitzel at 3:18PM on 04/08/08
I want to add Emeril Lagasse to my list. I have learned so much from The Essence of Emeril and I will be very sad when they force him out. He is a wonderful chef and every recipe I've made of his was perfection.
PerkyMac at 4:05PM on 04/08/08
John Folse
1stmakearoux at 5:12PM on 04/08/08
Although this doesn't quite fit the question, I would choose MFK Fisher. While I realize she wasn't technically a "chef", her passion for food and the artistry with which she communicated that passion deserve the ultimate praise.
But, OK, if I'm playing by the rules, I'll pick Rachel Ray...that way I could make a crap load of money for making up acronyms, carrying a balancing act of groceries around the kitchen, and rolling my eyes at everything I eat....That's an attainable dream I think I'm fully qualified for without having to bankroll tuition at the CIA.
vinovamp at 11:48AM on 04/09/08
Bear Gryliss????
frederika at 6:51PM on 04/09/08
Yep good old Bear is a concept minimalist chef. He usues only the freshest ingredients though well aged meat is also a specialty.
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/manvswild/manvswild.html
Stiv61 at 7:07AM on 04/10/08
Paul Prudhomme minus his girth that requires a scooter.
ontheleftwing at 3:43PM on 04/11/08