I watch clearly way too much food tv and have in my mind a short list of compulsory advice for individuals who choose to compete on the show. Mind you, I love the show. I root for folks. I find learning about weird ingredients fascinating. I feel genuine pity for those individuals that don’t complete their dishes or have sob stories for what they’d choose to do with their winnings. But some basic basic basic guidelines to keep in mind seems to be in order.
- Hygiene first – That means don’t contaminate your vegs with raw meat on the same cutting board. Watch what spoons you use for tasting. And if you cut yourself take care of it immediately. Also don’t leave rubbish all over.
- Taste Your Food – The unfamiliar ingredients are probably workable if you don’t have a bias of ignorance or disgust against it so keep an open mind about the weird mystery ingredients.
- Learn how to Butcher Shit – Know well how to butcher various cuts of fish and beast. Know how to butcher shit and then you’ll find an efficient way to cook it. Butcher chops. Variety of fish. Shuck oysters. Open up clams. Crack crabs, lobsters, Etc. Etc. Time is your enemy, not your friend. Also get a primer on how to treat exotic fruits and veggies – which parts are edible, too bitter, etc.
- Make sure your food is cleaned properly – Most common trip up is an eyeball, cartilage, tendon, or fatty something. shell bits, grit, etc. crap not being properly removed from one of the proteins.
- Be a pro with the cooking equipment.
- Get your pans hot ASAP.
- Make sure your food is cooked completely.
- Learn how to plate ambidextrously. Time is your enemy.
- Sriracha and raw red onions are likely not going to be your friend. Don’t. Don’t. Do. it.
- Don ‘t be a douche.
