Kitchen Reflection #1

06/12/2025

Let me start this first week by quickly saying what my goals are for these posts and what I hope to accomplish. I would like this to be an ongoing source for myself and others to get quick tidbits or helpful pieces of information. I plan on incorporating things from cookbooks I am reading, things I learn at work, notes from The Cook's Book, and other outside sources that translate into a benefit in the kitchen. You would be surprised at how many there are. Share some of your tips and tricks with us, and you might be featured in next week’s Reflection!

This past week I finished reading Salt, Acid, Fat, and Heat (stay tuned for our post recommending books for chefs and home cooks) and was reminded of loads of helpful information. The book condenses cooking into the previously mentioned elements of salt, fat, acid, and heat. I wholeheartedly agree with Samin Nosrat, the author of the book, in that controlling those four elements allows anyone to create a delicious meal, but it’s just a starting point. More specifically, the starting point is taste. As a cook, you need to start thinking about salt, fat, and acid as you taste things. Take note of how acidic, salty, and how the fat affects flavor, and you will really begin to become a better cook.

Applying this to the kitchen, it is so important to taste everything. We keep a bain (tall open metal cylinder) of plastic spoons on our stations to taste dishes as we cook them. It is paramount to consistency and representation to taste your dishes. It prevents customers from getting over-seasoned dishes, whether it be the salinity or the acidity of the dish. Tasting also gives the customer the most consistent experience. You should have your station’s dishes down to the point that you can adjust your seasoning as needed, so that when they come back and order the same item, it will taste the same.

That’s all for this week. Check back next week for more, and please share any tips and tricks with us on our Instagram or Facebook pages for a potential feature!