Eat Like a Billionaire (Without Spending a Fortune)
When you think about eating like a billionaire, what kind of images do you conjure in your mind? French wine, foie gras and olive oil dust? Escargot and ice cream with flecks of 14-karat gold? In other words, food that seems too far out of reach?
Well, I have a little secret to tell you… eating like a celebrity or CEO actually has nothing to do with money (or whether or not you can source snails). It has to do with creating an experience—and knowing a few key culinary tricks. As a chef, my mission is to redefine the way people think about food, because (to quote myself) it can set the tone, create the mood and evoke an emotion.
Despite what many believe about Personal Chefs, I actually don’t have a single client who brings in the billions. But my clients surely eat like they do! There’s an art to elevating and enjoying your food, which is accessible for everyone.
Your creativity is actually what enhances a meal and makes you feel like a star! So if you want to eat like a billionaire, here are some ways you can do it without spending a fortune:
Grow Fresh Herbs: Take an ordinary salad. Then add fresh basil and tomatoes from your garden. It totally enlivens the flavors. Grill up a steak and then prepare a simple Basil-Mint Chimichurri to transform a weeknight meal into a fine-dining experience. I’m telling you, it’s all about the right herbs. Read more about Why I Keep an Herb Garden here.
Learn About Sauces: There’s a reason you’re taught to prepare Mother Sauces in culinary school. The 5 French Mother Sauces are the foundation for all other sauces—they also help you raise the bar. Think eggs. Then think eggs with hollandaise sauce. Think lasagna. Then think Northern-style lasagna with béchamel sauce. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it?
Experiment With Science: Remember that Olive Oil Dust I mentioned? Well, it only contains 3 ingredients! Sometimes, adding that element of shock and awe is easier than you think. So in addition to sauces and herbs, create a masterful meal with Molecular Gastronomy. Click to get my Olive Oil Dust and Lemon Air recipes.
Set the table: How many of you pull out the paper plates and huddle around the TV? Okay, that’s fun when you’re watching a football game, but see how it feels to set your table with plates, forks, knives and cloth (eco-friendly) napkins. You may even want to pull out the Waterford glasses or champagne flutes that have been collecting dust since your wedding. Might as well use them! Not sure which fork goes where? Check out this blog post on How to Set a Table.
Shut off the TV: Like I said, grub and a game is one thing, but eating in front of the TV night after night distracts from the meal. So do phones, laptops and leftover work. Carve out at least 30-45 minutes of electronic-free time to eat, chew and savor each and every bite. You’ll be amazed at how differently you taste and digest your meals when you’re paying attention to them.
Ready to roll up your sleeves? The Austin Artisan Cooking Classes are coming soon, featuring Private Demonstrations, Interactive Cooking Classes and Cooking Competitions. From fine-dining recipes to mystery baskets, we’ll show you how the pros do it! Perfect for individuals, small groups and corporate team building. Contact us for more information.
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