I was amazed to learn of a French Tomato sauce (Sauce Tomat) as a young, CIA students many years ago. It's very different than the Italian sauce my mother made each week for Sunday dinner. I enjoy purchasing cases of inexpensive, local tomatoes in late summer called 'seconds'. These tomatoes are generally ripe, bruised tomatoes which I wash, chop and freeze to invite a taste of summer in my kitchen during the cold, winter months.

Choosing Garlic: For the best flavor, select firm, heavy heads with tight skins. Hardneck garlic varieties (such as Music or German Red) offer more complexity and a cleaner heat than most supermarket softneck varieties. Preventing Bitterness: Garlic burns quickly. Add minced garlic to warm—not scorching—fat, and cook just until fragrant. Overcooking turns it harsh and metallic. Balancing Butter & Olive Oil: A blend of butter for richness and extra-virgin olive oil for aroma delivers a more nuanced flavor and prevents the butter from over-browning under the broiler. their color and freshness.

There is a large variety of Pears available to cook with. I remember peeling and poaching tiny, Seckel pears for garde manger presentations-challenging! Pears, like apples vary widely in texture, flavor, and culinary performance, making selection an important step in recipe development. Bartlett are juicy and great to eat ripe or for purees and sauces. Bosc are a little more dense and good for cooking. Red and green Anjou are more versatile and can be eaten fresh in salads as well as cooked in baked goods or savory dishes.

Butter, spices, and traditional family recipes bring us together in the simplest—and most meaningful—ways. Christmas cookies are more than nostalgic treats; they’re a celebration of childhood memories, and maybe cookies help to make us all a little more patient, thoughtful & friendly each holiday season. I remember driving with my father to the city each Christmas to pick up Aunt Flora. She would send us out with decorative plates of homemade, Italian Christmas cookies to deliver to the local relatives. It was always snowing-we would spend a few minutes visiting each family, have a few cookies and a glass of sweet wine or coffee. My mother and aunts began bakin cookies the day after Thanksgiving. They filled the freezer with shoeboxes of cookies lined with wax paper for protection... frozen cookies are pretty delicious!

With just a few delicious ingredients and a little attention, you can turn an everyday sandwich into something crisp, gooey, and deeply satisfying... delicious. Try topping the melted cheese sandwich with fresh basil or sun-dried tomato or prosciutto as you take it from the oven-amazing.

Chefs aspiring to become CIA Instructors are often tested on a variety of egg dishes. Omelettes and poached eggs are a little tricky unless you are using your own pan and have practiced and practiced and practiced! Scrambled eggs are more civilized; Escoffier writes about scrambling eggs with a clove of garlic stuck on the end of a paring knife-I do this sometimes for the amazing flavor... Try flavoring scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, shaved truffles, smoked ham, veggies or herbs, scrambled eggs with buttered toast is the perfect comfort food.

Nowadays there is a large variety of Apples available to cook with. Apples vary widely in texture, flavor, and culinary performance, making selection an important step in recipe development. Firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Northern Spy hold their structure during baking and bring bright acidity to pies and tarts. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Jazz offer a balance of sweetness and crunch, ideal for salads, slaws, and fresh applications. Softer, aromatic varieties such as McIntosh or Cortland break down more readily, making them perfect for sauces, compotes, and purées.

Fresh citrus juice delivers more than bright flavor and acidity—it’s a concentrated source of vitamin C, folate, potassium, and a range of phytonutrients that help support immune function and overall health. Unlike shelf-stable juice, which loses volatile aromatics and some heat-sensitive vitamins during processing, freshly juiced citrus retains its natural enzymes and vibrant flavor compounds.

Microplanes—or any fine rasp-style grater—has become the tool of choice for Chefs to remove the outer, aromatic layer of the peel without dragging in the bitter white pith. With the right technique and a sharp Microplane, zesting becomes a quick, precise way to layer in fresh, volatile citrus oils and bring refinement to any dish. Microplanes are much more efficient than graters or peelers and save time.