Tips for the home cook.

I get a lot of e-mails asking for cooking tips for some strange reason. First of all, professional cooking and home cooking are two very different worlds. I know cooks that are gods among men when it comes to busting ass on the line, but once you get them home they can't operate their own ovens to save their lives. I get annoyed when I'm going to eat at a friend's house and they get all self-conscious because a chef is coming over. I love home cooked food and I'm not so much of an asshole to critique your food when I'm a guest in your home. Anyway, in the last few years I've crossed into the territory of home cooking and I have a few tips for you.

1. Unless you get off on torturing slugs, throw that box of morton salt in the trash. Go and buy some good salt. Sea salt or kosher salt is the way to go. It's really not expensive and you will notice the difference in your food.
2. Buy whole pepper and get yourself a pepper grinder. Preground pepper tastes like hay. Proper seasoning is crucial to good food. It's really more important than most think. That's why I listed these two first. Proper seasoning can make the difference between a slam dunk and fucking pig slop.
3. Use fresh herbs. Go through your cupboard and throw away all your dried herbs except oregano, bay leaves, tarragon, and dill. Fresh is always the way to go but those herbs actually retain some flavor after drying, all others are crap. If you have dried basil or parsley and would consider putting them in your food, send me your address so I can come by and beat some sense into you. Put that shit into dime bags and sell it to some junior high kids or put it in the trash. It's not food, don't use it. Dried rosemary has flavor but it's hard as a rock and feels like petrified pine needles in your mouth. I recommend growing your own. If you have a spot in your yard that gets a little sun, throw in a rosemary bush. A start costs like five bucks and you'll have a lifetime supply. If you have a yard, you are doing yourself a major disservice by not growing rosemary. Just plant it and forget it. It'll do the rest.
4. Seek out cool food stores. Chances are there's some specialty stores in your area. Check them out. I found a cool little Mexican market near here that has some great stuff you can't get at the big chain supermarkets. Asian markets rule as well. The one near me has an amazing array of fresh locally grown produce for way cheaper than the grocery store. Asian markets are where you'll find the best seafood too. Better shit for cheaper, sounds good to me. Hit up any farmer's markets in your area too. Local is better. Support your local farmers and get the really good stuff.
5. Buy small vegetables. Resist the good ol' American mentality that says "if a little is good, then a lot must be better!" Carrots the size of your arm or tomatoes the size of a grapefruit don't taste good. Smaller, younger vegetables are more tender and much more flavorful.

That's all I got for now. I have to head into work and get stomped on now. Good luck.