Here’s a quick guide on how to roast hazelnuts properly with an easy trick to peel them. I’m using raw, unpeeled hazelnuts here but you can also use peeled and blanched hazelnuts. Roast Them Extra Dark Just like how Parisian bakers like to bake their bread extra dark, the flavour of the hazelnuts will be…
This limoncello spritz is the definition of refreshing. My love for limoncello was born during my time spent cooking in Italy and this drink always reminds me of being there, and overindulging in heavenly Italian food. The after-dinner limoncello was the perfect remedy to bring you back to life after a long day (and night)…
How about a board of fork-tender, bite-through smoked chicken thighs this weekend? Or for Father’s day? You might as well because I’m giving away the blueprint to my ultimate BBQ spice rub for free. You’re welcome. These chicken thighs are marinated first in my BBQ spice blend and then sit overnight in a mixture of…
It’s no wonder ancho chili powder is one of the secret weapon spices in a lot of award-winning chilis. It’s rich almost chocolatey flavour is hard to replace. But the best part is, it’s so easy to make! The solution is to buy whole ancho chiles in bulk and blend them in batches whenever you…
This is one intensely flavoured rhubarb sauce… I don’t know about you, but I like profoundly flavoured sauces, especially when it comes to fruit sauces. Many people add water to their sauce when it’s really not necessary. This recipe has no added water, so the flavour of the rhubarb is strong and intense. And there…
Who doesn’t love soup? It’s that smooth and silky texture of any soup that’s so desirable. And this soup is a genius way to use up any leftover white asparagus trim. That’s especially important when you are paying top dollar for it too. You can save the trim from the other white asparagus recipe and…
If you grew up loving Dr. Seuss as a kid then you’ve probably wondered at some point in your life if it’s actually possible to make green eggs at home. But the real question is not how do you make green eggs but how do you make a very green spinach purée. In this green…
These are seriously dangerous vanilla brownies and I could easily eat these every day. They’re that good. I did my research and after many tests, crafted the best techniques to make a rich, dense and chewy blondie sans chocolate, also known as blondies. Why They’re Good They’re super dense and rich with a slightly chewy…
I’m usually pretty skeptical of new twists on classic recipes, but this bbq bloody mary is an exception to the rule. It’s a delicious but strange mix of ingredients that somehow come together to make one magical beverage. It’s actually better than the original. This recipe is inspired by Jamie Oliver’s bbq bloody mary and…
Want free probiotics? Then you’ll definitely want to try these probiotic-packed, fermented carrots. As a bonus, they’re super tasty too. I know fermentation may sound scary to some but it’s actually really simple. As long as you follow these crucial steps highlighted below, you’ll be fermenting like a pro in no time. Grab that mason…
After many trials of vegan brownies (8 to be exact), I’ve finally come to a recipe I’m happy with. Making normal brownies is easy but making 100% plant-based, vegan brownies is a completely different game. These vegan brownies are incredibly soft, intensely chocolatey and so good you won’t miss the dairy or eggs. A great…
Wondering how to thicken sauce the right way? Here are 6 of my favourite ways to thicken a sauce. As a Chef, it’s paramount to know how to make sauce properly. There are tons of thickening options out there but I’m going to share with you the methods that have worked for me in professional…
This is indisputably, my favourite white asparagus recipe. The simplicity of this recipe means the true taste of the white asparagus is unmasked. During the months of March to June, white asparagus is exploding in the markets here in Maastricht and for good reason – it’s gold! If you’re lucky enough to find this treasure…
I already know what you’re thinking – beef cheeks? No thanks. But trust me on this, they’re one of the best beef cuts you can buy. Once you try these, you’ll understand why chefs love em’ so much. It’s traditional to braise these in red wine but I was feeling a little festive for the…
For those of you looking for a quick recipe on how to make instant pot basmati rice, I’ve got two options for you below in the next heading. The question is should you soak the rice or not? I did a taste test of the two methods to find out for myself what was actually…
What is broccolini, baby broccoli or broccolette? They’re all just fancy relatives of broccoli. I love broccolette (fancy broccoli) because it’s slightly sweeter and quicker to prepare than normal broccoli. It’s an easy weeknight dinner side dish that I cook when I want something healthy but delicious. And I’ve got a really quick method for…
These vegan chocolate truffles are an easy Valentine’s day gift and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to make them. Chocolate hazelnut is a classic (think Nutella), but there are tons of other delicious variations. I had some extra dates and pistachios lying around at work so I did some experimenting to see…
Valentine’s day? Date night? Or just feelin’ fancy? This stuffed chicken leg should do the trick. Stuffed chicken legs can be intimidating for the home cook, but fear not as I’m about to walk you through it, step by step, picture by picture. The bacon in this dish adds a ton of flavour and also…
This is no quick and easy, 5-minute chili recipe. No. This is my recipe to completely knock it out of the park, grand-slam, best-chilli-you’ve-ever-had-in-your-life. Even with the time-saving instant pot this recipe still takes quite a bit of time. Although once you taste this unctuous, fork-tender, flavour-packed chili, everything will make sense. So plan it…
Have you ever wondered how to make vegan Nutella at home? It’s actually quite easy and not as difficult as you might imagine. All you need is an oven and a food processor and you are good to go. Why Not Just Buy Vegan Nutella? Well of course you can, but this chocolate hazelnut spread…
I used to make really bad coffee. I didn’t think about it too much, just grabbed my trusty french press, packed it full of ground coffee, filled to the max and that was that – job done. Over the years my coffee ended up extremely bitter and I would counteract this with loads of milk…