1. Posted by rtpilch on Mon, Jun 18, 2007, 1:05 pm PDT

Useful tips and interesting article. Can't wait to read more!

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2. Posted by lehrerrandy on Mon, Jun 18, 2007, 2:34 pm PDT

Its fun to get up close to how these chefs think. I will be squeezing lemon on everything when I cook for a big dinner party this weekend. Thanks for sharing all these tips.

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3. Posted by food4u830 on Mon, Jun 18, 2007, 2:37 pm PDT

Pickling juice vinegrette sounds good. Off to the market to see if there is any ready made. Any ideas of what to add to the juice?

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4. Posted by John Rosenthal on Mon, Jun 18, 2007, 4:18 pm PDT

I love tasting food at the farmer's market here in Santa Monica. It's the best way to find the best food.

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5. Posted by zdmiller on Mon, Jun 18, 2007, 9:06 pm PDT

magnificent maggie nemser, thank you for the excellent collection of secret tips. i've got a whole new shopping list for this weekend's trip to the farmer's market.

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6. Posted by skatewildfun on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 5:58 am PDT

Great tips! When making certain soups, I throw in a celery leaf or 2 to give it a fresh flavour......

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7. Posted by catgirl2223 on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 6:16 am PDT

These are great tips. I just don't like the last one about getting as much fat into your food as possible! That is the most horrible thing I ever heard, as if we weren't fat enough.

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8. Posted by Peter K on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 6:44 am PDT

i like the last one. nothing adds touch to the dish as bacon fat.

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9. Posted by rush_santoria on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 7:16 am PDT

I agree with the last secret. Stuff like fat and those "inedible" animal parts really add flavor to the food. Don't be brainwashed into believing that all fat is bad for you. Choose your fat wisely because not only is it what gives your food a nice flavor and texture but it is also an essential part of a balanced diet.

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10. Posted by emma on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 7:44 am PDT

Cook w/ fat a secret to great food! Please! My secret for desserts is sugar.

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11. Posted by Heather on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 8:05 am PDT

Sounds like the dishes would be high in sodium and fat which is not a good thing. What happened to just enjoying the natural flavors of foods?

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12. Posted by machine.head69 on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 8:31 am PDT

I AGREE WITH ALL THE SECRETS,JUST REMEMBER EVRYTHING IS GOOD IN MODERATION !!!!!!!!

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13. Posted by at_h2o on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 9:07 am PDT

last I heard, animal fat was natural

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14. Posted by gingertorch on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 10:13 am PDT

great tips! when i prepare soup or stew i add a little sugar or sweetener but not to the point that you can actually taste the sweetness. it adds that certain something to the dish.

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15. Posted by mcse4u on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 10:14 am PDT

Mmmmm....Salt. How many years of culinary school did they go to, to learn that 'secret' ??? I love these articles that add no real value to our lives. When was the last time you saw pimente d' espelette in YOUR supermarket????

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16. Posted by Glenn G on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 10:42 am PDT

Anyone else think Maggie is HOT??

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17. Posted by lil lisa on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 10:43 am PDT

these are mostly all completely ridiculous. I especially like cook with fat. Just what all of the already morbidly obesce average americans need in their diet. I like to complement any meal with a large glass of bacon grease, it really cleanses the pallet, to spice it up you can season it with your own homemade flavored salt! Yum yum!

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18. Posted by mpionus on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 10:45 am PDT

Oh god, here we go with the health nazis who think fat is all bad and it's to blame for them being overweight, not their lack of control. News flash people: Fat is flavor. It's not the reason you're fat. You're fat because you can't stop eating.

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19. Posted by neeshajenkins on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 11:09 am PDT

Ewww! Don't like the last tip! Leave the fat out it's gross and not good for you at all. The other tips are very good though.

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20. Posted by Paul C on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 11:12 am PDT

To the Food Nazis... are you familiar with the phrase, "moderation in all things?" It's not that people use fat and salt in the cooking, it's that they use to much that causes the problems, like an alcoholic who doesn't know when to stop. Not one of these cooks said this was their only secret, just one of the things they do to add flavor to their cooking. I for one find that using the pickling juices from a finished jar of olives and adding some balsamic vinegar or a little lemon juice, or some other seasonings, makes a great marinade for poultry or fish. So yeah, these are good suggestions and if you don't like them, go elsewhere and find a site that caters to your "no seasoning cause it might be bad for me" attitudes!

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21. Posted by ldc_421 on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 11:17 am PDT

mpionus - you don't get fat from overeating....you get fat from not exercising and burning calories. You can overeat, exercise and burn those calories and not become overweight. Compulsive eaters do it all the time. People are fat because they don't burn the calories they consume period.

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22. Posted by flexylexy_9000 on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 12:02 pm PDT

ldc_421 - Spoken by a true fattie.

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23. Posted by flexylexy_9000 on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 12:05 pm PDT

The last tip, "get as much fat into your food as possible." This is hogwash. Some fat is good for you, but animal fat is bad and should be used very sparingly. Beware of chefs who love fat and excess salt. They have no creativity. There are ways to bring out a food's flavor without making the main flavor salt and fat. That's the easy way out, and not a healthy one.

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24. Posted by mina_one_and_only on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 12:52 pm PDT

I love these types of cooking tips and can't wait to hear more. Keep 'em coming!

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25. Posted by Cindybin on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 1:34 pm PDT

I would have more respect for Food and Wine Magazine if they did not promote and glorify alcohol.

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26. Posted by vanillaskinn on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 1:34 pm PDT

i attend one of the most renouned culinary schools in the US, and i must say, i love the people who bash this article. if you had any food knowledge whatsoever, you'de understand that these comments weren't meant to deeply inlighten; but rather, to spark interest and creativity in the kitchen. so sod off.

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27. Posted by Ren Renfield on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 1:35 pm PDT

Adding fat for flavor is a great tip. Now the Chef that said that didn't mean add 6 cups of bacon fat to your gravy for a serving of 4. He was reffering to something more along the lines off. add 8oz bacon fat to the gravy for a serving of 50. That little bit gives it a bang. Cooking meat without cutting the fat off is the ONLY way to cook a good steak. Cut the fat off after.

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28. Posted by Rock808 on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 1:35 pm PDT

I agree GlennG, Maggie looks very cute

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29. Posted by loc duong on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 1:36 pm PDT

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30. Posted by loc duong on Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 1:37 pm PDT

hello these tips are like master pieces of these chef and thankx for sharing your secret hahahahahahaha xxx good stuff for sex too

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