Cooking Class by Chef Lorenzo

Simple tips and tricks for planning virtual cooking parties or getting together to cook and enjoy a meal with friends.

BY VICKI MARTINEZ

lorenzo cooking

Cooking Class by Chef Lorenzo

Simple tips and tricks for planning virtual cooking parties or getting together to cook and enjoy a meal with friends.

BY VICKI MARTINEZ

 

If there’s one positive we can take from the last 20+ months, it’s the fact that we’ve all become much more comfortable with everything virtual. Here we get tips and tricks from Barilla’s Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni on how to pull off a coordinated cooking collaborative.

 

menu planning

Menu Musts

To give everyone time to gather or purchase the ingredients they’ll need, share the recipe or menu with your fellow chefs at least a week before cooking day.

IDEA: Choose a dish or two everyone will enjoy, but probably won’t ever cook at home.

    lorenzo circle

    Chef Lorenzo: “For a successful virtual cook-along or virtual dinner, it is very important to highlight the critical points of the recipe.” (See examples below.)

    menu planning

    Menu Musts

    To give everyone time to gather or purchase the ingredients they’ll need, share the recipe or menu with your fellow chefs at least a week before cooking day.

    IDEA: Choose a dish or two everyone will enjoy, but probably won’t ever cook at home.

      lorenzo circle

      Chef Lorenzo: “For a successful virtual cook-along or virtual dinner, it is very important to highlight the critical points of the recipe.” (See examples below.)

       

      Mise en Place

      Mise en place is a cooking term that means “gather.” If you’ve cooked at all, you are familiar with the concept that it’s best to have ingredients on the ready, chopped, diced, minced, as needed, and pre-measured when possible.

      IDEA: Highlight those parts of the recipe that should be prepared ahead of time. (See examples below.)

         
         

        Mise en Place

        Mise en place is a cooking term that means “gather.” If you’ve cooked at all, you are familiar with the concept that it’s best to have ingredients on the ready, chopped, diced, minced, as needed, and pre-measured when possible.

        IDEA: Highlight those parts of the recipe that should be prepared ahead of time. (See examples below.)

           

          More Time Saving Tips

          1. Along with the recipe or menu, send a complete grocery list.

          2. If a participant is less familiar with technology, consider having a dry run a few days ahead of time. This helps keep the day running smoothly and the “technical difficulties” to a minimum.

          3. To increase anticipation for the event, two or three days ahead of time, send a detailed list of cooking equipment your chefs will need.

          4. Open the virtual meeting room 10-15 minutes early for people to make necessary adjustments, share greetings, and chit-chat a little before getting to work.

            cooking class

            cooking class

            More Time Saving Tips

            1. Along with the recipe or menu, send a complete grocery list.

            2. If a participant is less familiar with technology, consider having a dry run a few days ahead of time. This helps keep the day running smoothly and the “technical difficulties” to a minimum.

            3. To increase anticipation for the event, two or three days ahead of time, send a detailed list of cooking equipment your chefs will need.

            4. Open the virtual meeting room 10-15 minutes early for people to make necessary adjustments, share greetings, and chit-chat a little before getting to work.

               
               
               
               

              lorenzo circle

              Chef Lorenzo’s Virtual Cook-Along

                 
                 

                Grocery List

                Thick spaghetti (1 box)

                Guanciale* (enough for 1 cup)

                Pecorino Romano (4 oz.)

                Eggs (5)

                Extra virgin olive oil

                Fresh ground black pepper

                Sea salt

                Equipment List

                1 pasta pot

                1 colander 

                1 skillet

                1 chef knife

                Bowls for each ingredient

                Grater

                Peppermill

                Stirring spoon

                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

                lorenzo circle

                Chef Lorenzo’s Virtual Cook-Along

                   
                   

                  Grocery List

                  Thick spaghetti (1 box)

                  Guanciale* (enough for 1 cup)

                  Pecorino Romano (4 oz.)

                  Eggs (5)

                  Extra virgin olive oil

                  Fresh ground black pepper

                  Sea salt

                  Equipment List

                  1 pasta pot

                  1 colander 

                  1 skillet

                  1 chef knife

                  Bowls for each ingredient

                  Grater

                  Peppermill

                  Stirring spoon

                   
                   

                  Recipe: Spaghetti alla Carbonara

                  1 box of Barilla® Thick Spaghetti [have water boiling before cooking begins]

                  1 Tablespoon of EVOO

                  1 cup of guanciale [julienne ahead of time]

                  5 egg yolks [separate ahead of time]

                  ¾ cup Pecorino Romano [finely grated; prepare the day before]

                  Freshly ground black pepper to taste

                  Fine sea salt to taste

                  Procedure

                  1. Sauté guanciale with olive oil until crispy.

                  2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to directions.

                  3. In a separate bowl mix yolks, pecorino, black pepper, and sea salt. Stir in 1/3 cup pasta cooking water to loosen up the mixture.

                  4. Drain “al dente” pasta.

                  5. Toss pasta with crispy guanciale to combine the flavors well.

                  6. Turn the heat off. Wait ½ minute before stirring in the yolk mixture.

                  7. Mix well until the sauce begins to thicken, coating spaghetti perfectly.

                  Very important: Be careful not to overcook the egg yolks, otherwise you’ll end up with scrambled eggs!

                  Serve immediately. Buon Appetito!

                     
                     

                    A Toast to Success

                    Don’t forget to suggest a wine, cocktail, or festive beverage to pair with the meal. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a pre-meal toast to get started and a post-meal toast as everyone enjoys their delicious meal!

                    To see Chef Lorenzo in action, check out this virtual cook-along.

                    *Similar to bacon, guanciale is a rich and salty cured meat taken from the pig’s cheek.

                     
                     

                    A Toast to Success

                    Don’t forget to suggest a wine, cocktail, or festive beverage to pair with the meal. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a pre-meal toast to get started and a post-meal toast as everyone enjoys their delicious meal!

                    To see Chef Lorenzo in action, check out this virtual cook-along.

                    *Similar to bacon, guanciale is a rich and salty cured meat taken from the pig’s cheek.

                     
                     

                    Try These Healthy Italian Recipes

                     
                     

                    Thin Spaghetti with Spicy Sausage & Brussels Sprouts Sauce

                    Thin Spaghetti with Spicy Sausage & Brussels Sprouts Sauce

                    Mezzi Rigatoni with Seafood

                    Rigatoni with Seafood

                    Butternut Squash

                    Chickpea Spaghetti with Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts and Sage

                     
                     

                     

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