Ep 2. Strawberry Stay at Home

In A Chef's Life season 1 episode 2 titled "Strawberry Stay at Home," Chef Vivian Howard focuses on the importance of cooking at home and using fresh ingredients. The episode opens with Vivian visiting a strawberry farm to pick fresh strawberries for her daughter's pre-school class. Vivian shares that she grew up cooking with her mother and grandmother and believes that cooking at home with fresh ingredients is essential for a healthy and happy family.

Back at home, Vivian and her husband Ben discuss the challenges of cooking at home as busy chefs. They decide to challenge themselves to cook dinner at home for a week and share their experiences with their restaurant staff. Vivian begins by making strawberry preserves with the freshly picked strawberries and then uses the preserves in a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and arugula. The staff at her restaurant taste and critique the sandwich, offering suggestions for improvement.

Vivian also visits one of her favorite local markets to source fresh ingredients for her meals. She connects with the vendors and learns about their farms and cooking techniques. She purchases some fresh seafood and creates a seafood stew with shrimp, clams, and mussels. Vivian stresses the importance of properly cooking seafood to avoid foodborne illnesses.

Throughout the episode, Vivian also shares tips and tricks for cooking at home, including how to properly season food, the importance of mise en place, and using fresh herbs and spices. She also shares some of her favorite cooking tools, like a cast-iron skillet and a sharp knife.

In addition to cooking for her family and restaurant staff, Vivian also hosts a brunch for her daughter's pre-school class. She makes strawberry scones, quiche, and homemade hot sauce. Vivian shares the importance of exposing children to fresh and healthy foods from a young age.

The episode ends with Vivian and her family enjoying a home-cooked meal together. They reflect on the challenges and rewards of cooking at home and the importance of sharing meals with loved ones. Vivian stresses that cooking at home doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming, but rather a way to connect with oneself and others through food.

Overall, "Strawberry Stay at Home" highlights the importance of cooking with fresh ingredients and the joys of cooking and sharing meals at home. Vivian Howard's passion for cooking and educating others about the benefits of cooking at home shines through in this episode.