Celebrity chefs are all the rage!
Endless cooking and baking shows, not to mention The Food Network, have created dozens of culinary stars. How do you choose which one(s) to follow? Answering this question is not as easy as it appears.
I'm assuming that, like me, you have a limited amount of time and resources. Therefore, you can't watch all the shows and you can't buy all the books- it's just not practical. You've got to make some decisions.
Here are some things to consider when making this difficult choice:
1) Choose a chef whose personality you enjoy- you'll potentially be spending lots of time together!
2) Consider you health goals- are the type of meals they cook in line with your dietary aspirations?
3) Take expenses into account. Can you afford their favorite ingredients?
4) It's about time. Can their meals be prepared within your allotted hourly budget?
5) Simplicity. Some meals look delicious but they are not for the amateur home chef.
Taking all these factors into account, I have chosen to follow Jamie Oliver. Jamie is entertaining and tends to prepare healthy, affordable, simple meals. He uses only fresh ingredients like local produce and the meals come together quickly. After sampling a couple of online recipes, I took the plunge and bought a couple of Jamie's recipe books. I couldn't be happier.
But that's just me. The best thing for you to do before deciding which chef is right for you is to sample several of them by watching their television shows. Prepare a couple of recipes from television or their websites. Consider the factors above and you'll be on your way to hours of enjoyment and good eating.
Good luck!
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