Chef Zambini- What is the best recipe for....

[underrated29]

What is your best recipe you want to share with me for seducing a girl. So lets say I get a hot date (not likely in this damn desert) and after a few dates I bring her back to my place to cook a nice romantic dinner.

What you got for me? Something that tastes really good, but also falls under the romantic side...whatever that means i guess. Im a fairly good cook so it can be harder to make. Dont worry about vegan crap because I could never date one. (if she wont put regular meat in her mouth then I know she wont put my meat in her mouth and it just wont work out).

Hit me with your best shot sir!

[NightTrainLayne]

My suggestion would be Steak Au Poivre.

Practice it first, and make sure you're not going to burn down the kitchen, but when you light the brandy/cognac while deglazing your skillet, you will look like a pro (less so if you singe your eyebrows off, or set off smoke alarms i.e. do this at least once beforehand).

Plus it's delicious.

Here's Alton Browns recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/steak-au-poivre-recipe/index.html

If you google it, I think there are videos of him making this as well on youtube.

[underrated29]

Nice NTL.

Zam what do you think. Can you top this? Might be hard to do.

[slim]

Zam, tell U29 the bullfighting story.

[BeefStew25]

Zam, I just bought a knife set. Can you tell me if it is good or not?

[Chef Zambini]

for dessert, strawberries romanoff.
fresh strawberries real whipped cream and grand marinier.
its late in the season for fresh strwaberries so let me know if you can find them and i will walk you thru the recipe.

surf and turf seems to be the favorite for pleasing women. lobster, crab or shrimp for the surf side.
filet mignon, NY strip or prime rib om the turf end, but I would allow pork tenderloin to fill in !
ask her what she likes, unless you want to keep it a surprize.
some women like being consulted,other prefer the mystery, how the F should I know what kind of women you got/ !!!

asparagus for the veg, an easy cook and I can also walk you thru a hollendaise sauce for the presentation as well, even a bernaise to go with the MEAT !
I will give you a recipe for shrimp madagascar
or a cooking method for crab legs or lobster tail.
let me know what items you want on your romance menu !

[Chef Zambini]

Zam, I just bought a knife set. Can you tell me if it is good or not?
not unless I see it !

[Chef Zambini]

Nice NTL.

Zam what do you think. Can you top this? Might be hard to do.steak au poivre is a classic, i often made one tableside back in the '80s when i was a maitre D'. I added mushrooms, sliced, to the presentation and sliced the NY for presentation .
I sauteed the steaK IN AU JUS, THIS TOOK SOME OF THE bite OUT OF THE PEPERCORNS.
if you do the au poivre, the shrimp madagascar is the perfedct accompaniment, also done with GREEN pepercorns, degalzed with either tequila or vodka and finished with cream.

[BeefStew25]

not unless I see it !

Zwilling JA Heckels

[Chef Zambini]

henkels mkaes nice knives, but several styles, quality, kinds, henkels have always been difficult to masintain/ sharpen. what kind of handle/
what kind of edge?
bade composition?
can you post a picture or item detail from where they were purchased/ model # ?
henkel stuff is usually expensive but often great quality.

[BeefStew25]

henkels mkaes nice knives, but several styles, quality, kinds, henkels have always been difficult to masintain/ sharpen. what kind of handle/
what kind of edge?
bade composition?
can you post a picture or item detail from where they were purchased/ model # ?
henkel stuff is usually expensive but often great quality.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009RUZ86/ref=ox_ya_os_product

[WTE]

My Henkels needed constant sharpening after the first year or so.

[BeefStew25]

My Henkels needed constant sharpening after the first year or so.

This set comes with an Eagle Scout.

[Chef Zambini]

great knives! triple rivet,
full tang
ergonomic handle, but you cant put them in the dishwasher! henkel steels usually suck too !
get a nice diamond steel from amazon. also when you store those knives in the block, put them in UPSIDE DOWN ! that way you wont dull the blade during storage and when you pull them in and out !
a hickory or bamboo cutting board will be better for your knives too! take good care of them and you should never have to buy another set!

[underrated29]

for dessert, strawberries romanoff.
fresh strawberries real whipped cream and grand marinier.
its late in the season for fresh strwaberries so let me know if you can find them and i will walk you thru the recipe.

surf and turf seems to be the favorite for pleasing women. lobster, crab or shrimp for the surf side.
filet mignon, NY strip or prime rib om the turf end, but I would allow pork tenderloin to fill in !
ask her what she likes, unless you want to keep it a surprize.
some women like being consulted,other prefer the mystery, how the F should I know what kind of women you got/ !!!

asparagus for the veg, an easy cook and I can also walk you thru a hollendaise sauce for the presentation as well, even a bernaise to go with the MEAT !
I will give you a recipe for shrimp madagascar
or a cooking method for crab legs or lobster tail.
let me know what items you want on your romance menu !



Well thanks, but I do not have a women and it would be a surpise thing i guess. Let me re-run you through the scenario. If I want to make a dinner for a date (any woman, if she doesnt like it I can make a mean mac and cheese or sammich). But it needs to be an impressive dinner (not super expensive like surf and turf though). You know, I want to know what is that secret weapon recipe I can conjure up to make a nice dinner date end up being a little nicer, if you know what I mean. Like your strawberris, I can find those at any store. Now I just need the entree.

[Chef Zambini]

I took another look at your set, the knives go in sideways so the block compensates for the old style when the knife was stored on its edge, thats good. I also looked at the details of the knife variety. no clever, no fish filet knife. these would be nice additions to the set.
BTW, its the WOOD handles that precludes you from using your dishwasher for the knives, mostly because during the heated drying cycle, those handles will dry out and crack. if your dishwasher has a quality epoxy finish on the racks and you can set the DW for a non heated drying wash cycle, you could get away with washing them in the DW on occasion, but a quick wipe from a cloth in a sanitized solution and a hand dry with a clean cloth towel is easy enough to maintain your blades.
a light oil rub on handles and blade, as well as the wood block will also help maintain your knives as well.
follow the instructions provided with the set.

[BeefStew25]

The knives I have now club my food instead of cutting. I am truly pumped to get them.

[Chef Zambini]

Well thanks, but I do not have a women and it would be a surpise thing i guess. Let me re-run you through the scenario. If I want to make a dinner for a date (any woman, if she doesnt like it I can make a mean mac and cheese or sammich). But it needs to be an impressive dinner (not super expensive like surf and turf though). You know, I want to know what is that secret weapon recipe I can conjure up to make a nice dinner date end up being a little nicer, if you know what I mean. Like your strawberris, I can find those at any store. Now I just need the entree.

poirk tenderloin!
buy it whole almost no waste, looks like a giant uncircumcised penis, makes a nice impression before she puts it in her mouth!

wash and dry the tenderloin with paper towel.
trim away the silver skin, take your time, use your thinnist sharpest knife, take your time, may be a video for you to watch (alton smith).
season the outside with powdered garlic (not salt) ground ginger , and ground corriander.
add fresh cracked pepperecorns, mixed is my reccomendation.
if you have a cast iron skillet or grilling pan, get them hot and quickly brown or grill the outside of your tenderloin, noit to cook, just to brown the outside, the tenderloin should stillbe RAW inside.
set your oven for 425 degrees.
set the browned tenderloin in the oven for 8 minutes.
remove, let resat for 2 minutes, slice and serve.
asparagus:
remove bottom half, roll in same seasoning mixture you used for the pork along with a light cooking oil.
place them on the cast iron pan or grill and cook them in the same oven at the same time
OR
throw them into boiling water for 3 minutes, drain emmediatly. sautee them for service in butter and add seasoning as desired.
strawberries romanoff.
big, plump, fresh strwaberries.
get a bowl of cold water.
plung the whole fresh strwberries in the water filled bowl, agggitate and remove to a poabercloth surface to dry, stemside down.
when dry, remove stem and stem core. slice in HALF. refrigerate for service.
whipped cream ()chantilly cream)
best if you make your own, but if you buy some i n the store, be sure its REAL whipped cream and best in pouch instead of aerosol can.
when ready to serve straWBERRIES REMOVE SIX HALVES of the strwaberries place in a bowlcrush them with two forks and make a paste.
add 2 ounces of grand marinier and one cup of whipped cream, combine.
pour over remaining strawberries and serve.
if the berries are not super freah and full of flavor( taste them) you can soak them in grandmarnier and powdered sugar for 20 minutes before you combine them in the recipe.

for a starch you can do a rice dish or gemstone baby potatos
or you can add that killer mac and cheese , great comfort food.

[Chef Zambini]

I reccomend a petite syrah or pinot noir for this dinner.

[Chef Zambini]

I reccomend a petite syrah or pinot noir for this dinner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFVYcfyd_S8
a web site video for trimming the silver skin, there are others.

[BeefStew25]

Zam, I know you have a cool gauc recipe. let me have it.

[Chef Zambini]

guac is easy. fresh avocado, add a spoonfull of your favorite salsa! a guac always needs an acid to keep iut from oxidizing and turning brown.
lime
citrus, tquilla, they will all work, especially in combination with each other.
diced red onion, peeled and de-seeded tomato, garlic, salt pepper tobasco you can add these instead of a commercial salsa, but the commercial salsa will have stabilizers and hogonizers that will keep yopur guac looking fresh and green.
adding a touch of commercial mayo will do the same.
I have a roasted corn salsa that I buy and add that to my avocado along with diced red onion, tobasco and garlic powder.

[NightTerror218]

I want to make some chicken wings, looking for a good sauce that is not hot......but i can make hot easily. so i can make 2 batches of wings, hot and not hot.

[Chef Zambini]

I ROAST my wings.
brown them first in a hot oven 450
length of time depends on if they are fresh or frozen.
if fresh, toss in oil first, if frozen just oil the pan. a simple sauce of tomato sauce with vinegar and seasonings can serve your purpose.
fresh should take about 8 minutes
frozen closer to 20 minutes.
I like garlic powder, cummin, corriander seed and chili powder along with fresh cracked pepper medly.
use the seasonings you enjoy.
after the initial browning, mix your seasonings with a tomato sauce, something right out of the can or even catsup.
toss your browned wings in a bowl with this seasoned sauce to get a nice coating and then back in to the same hot oven to roast nice and crisp.
I like sweet and spicy so I add honey or maple syrup to the sauce
an acai syrup will also work if you have it.
brown sugar an excellent option too !
this second roasting period should be around 8 minutes as well.
if you add a sweet component to the sauce the SUGAR content will burn so you should turn DOWN the oven to 400, not 450. and keep an eye on them!
now jus add the HEAT to HALF of the remaining sauce (tobasco, hot sauce, salsa etc.) and you have one sauce kid friendly and another for the adults.
Hope this helps, enjoy.
you can always do those wings 'naked"
season them without any sauce they roast up nice and crisp, then just dip in sauce rather than guessing how many to do spicy and how many kid friendly.

[SR]

Or if you have a deep fryer or a turkey fryer you can do that then toss them in whatever kind of sauce you want...skip all the bullshit.

[NightTerror218]

I ROAST my wings.
brown them first in a hot oven 450
length of time depends on if they are fresh or frozen.
if fresh, toss in oil first, if frozen just oil the pan. a simple sauce of tomato sauce with vinegar and seasonings can serve your purpose.
fresh should take about 8 minutes
frozen closer to 20 minutes.
I like garlic powder, cummin, corriander seed and chili powder along with fresh cracked pepper medly.
use the seasonings you enjoy.
after the initial browning, mix your seasonings with a tomato sauce, something right out of the can or even catsup.
toss your browned wings in a bowl with this seasoned sauce to get a nice coating and then back in to the same hot oven to roast nice and crisp.
I like sweet and spicy so I add honey or maple syrup to the sauce
an acai syrup will also work if you have it.
brown sugar an excellent option too !
this second roasting period should be around 8 minutes as well.
if you add a sweet component to the sauce the SUGAR content will burn so you should turn DOWN the oven to 400, not 450. and keep an eye on them!
now jus add the HEAT to HALF of the remaining sauce (tobasco, hot sauce, salsa etc.) and you have one sauce kid friendly and another for the adults.
Hope this helps, enjoy.
you can always do those wings 'naked"
season them without any sauce they roast up nice and crisp, then just dip in sauce rather than guessing how many to do spicy and how many kid friendly.

sweet thanks. what are the portions for seasoning to tomato sauce/vinegar. The reason I am need one with out spice is that due to the wife's crohns disease spicy does not do well with her digestive system but I still want it. I have franks Hot sauce i would add for the spicy.

SR I do not have a fryer, trying to avoid "fried" food at home.

[SR]

sweet thanks. what are the portions for seasoning to tomato sauce/vinegar. The reason I am need one with out spice is that due to the wife's crohns disease spicy does not do well with her digestive system but I still want it. I have franks Hot sauce i would add for the spicy.

SR I do not have a fryer, trying to avoid "fried" food at home.

Gotcha. And Crohn's sucks...a good friend of mine at work here has Crohn's so I get to hear allllll about it.

[NightTerror218]

Gotcha. And Crohn's sucks...a good friend of mine at work here has Crohn's so I get to hear allllll about it.

we only talk about it at home. We are focusing on making 90% of our meals from scratch so we know exactly what is in it. She has this idea of making meals and freezing them on the weekends and then we can finish them when we want them. They are assembled and frozen partially or fully cooked. We made chicken enchiladas, taco soup, shepard pie like thing, honey-lemon chicken, and tacos all in 1 day and froze them so we can pull out after work pop in oven for like 30 minutes and we are done.

[Chef Zambini]

sweet thanks. what are the portions for seasoning to tomato sauce/vinegar. The reason I am need one with out spice is that due to the wife's crohns disease spicy does not do well with her digestive system but I still want it. I have franks Hot sauce i would add for the spicy.

SR I do not have a fryer, trying to avoid "fried" food at home.my gal also suffers from intestinal issues. I wish you and your wife well.
go with the NAKED gameplan. the wings will be more crispy and dipping is just as good as cooking in the sauce.
after the first browning, you can season the wings directly, with no sauce, just make up a spice mix that you enjoy and sprinkle it on the wings before the second browning session.

youy know whats best, but I would think the VINEGAR represents a strong ACID that might also affect the crohns issue.
high fructose another villan to consider.
if honey is not one of her diet restrictions I would reccomend just seasoning the wings and using plain honey for dipping.
( or maple syrup)

[shank]

lol AIDS

[MOtorboat]

lol AIDS

I wonder what the best recipe is for AIDS?

[Chef Zambini]

I wonder what the best recipe is for AIDS?COMBINE mO AND sHANK

[SR]

I wonder what the best recipe is for AIDS?

My best guess would be to ask Tracy Porter!

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Jsteve01]

I wonder what the best recipe is for AIDS?COMBINE mO AND sHANK I think its similar to the recipe for trolls

[BeefStew25]

Zam,

I have cut three of my fingers off so far. That is how awesome my knives are. And since my daughter is a cutter, she really enjoys the utility knife. down the traintracks, not across them.

[Chef Zambini]

change your moniker to lefty!
are you taking good care of those knives?
and watxh a video about how to handle a knife ! the hand that holds the food should make an O with the tips tucked in and the blade of the knife rest agaiinst the sides of your fingers!
this way, you know where the blade is, the side of the knife goes up and down along your knuckles which helps to control the blade and keep the actual edge away from the hand.
warch a video 'lefty" !

[BeefStew25]

No I haven't been doing that and my guests have complained my food has a heavy iron taste.

[Chef Zambini]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMzeko-cu5E
a video, there are others.