Cooking nutritious, delicious meals doesn’t have to be reserved for the holidays, or when your parents come to town. If you’ve always dreamt of mastering your chef skills, we’ve got the guy for you.
When it comes to all things edible, Adam Taki really knows what he’s talking about. Adam and his father launched Amazing Taste Foods, a company that specializes in seasoning and food products designed to take meals from simple to spectacular.
Adam’s spread the word about healthy, mouthwatering meals on shows like Extra and Access Hollywood, and in the pages of People Magazine.
Read this tasty Q&A with the guru-foodie himself. We hope you get inspired, and get cookin’!
Adam’s choosing his favorite items from now up until November 5th, so keep your eyes on BTR home for the latest scoop from this food industry insider.
Q: Which items belong in every kitchen?
A: A few things: a good quality 8-inch chef’s knife, a medium-sized cutting board, 10” & 12” non-stick skillets, 1.5qt and 3 qt sauce pans, a sturdy, medium silicone spatula, a can opener, a set of measuring spoons, and Amazing Taste Malibu all-purpose seasoning!
Those are the foundation and you can do almost anything for everyday cooking with those basic tools. The rest is building up your repertoire! With those basic items I have set up kitchens almost everywhere, from small hotel rooms, offices, and break rooms. I sometimes have to improvise when preparing dishes to showcase foods for major supermarket executives and national television networks all over the country.
Q: What kitchen items/appliances should a home chef splurge on?
A: I really like a good looking, heavy-duty range. This is the focal point of the kitchen. I love good quality knifes as well, and, if you cook on a regular basis, they’re more than worth it. Also, a high-end blender is worth the money! They can get pricey and it might seem like a lot to spend on a blender, but there is no sacrifice on quality and they can puree anything to perfection.
Q: A lot of people have trouble preparing healthy meals for work. As a health food expert, what tips can you share?
A: First off, make sure you’re substituting with whole grains whenever possible. Second, the microwave should be your new best friend. It’s is not just for reheating left over and microwaves meals. If you know what foods cook best in the microwave, you can make some amazing dishes. Any foods that are high in moisture usually cook well in there. Microwaved fish is sensational, and if you wrap it in lettuce you can really cut out the fishy smell that nobody likes. Additionally, vegetables cook very well in the microwave. They maintain their natural color and will taste fresher and tastier than ever before. Most importantly, while cooking vegetables in the microwave, you add only a bit water to them. You don’t wash away all their healthy vitamins and minerals. Further you have never had corn on the cob until you have enjoyed from the microwave!
Q: Even healthy eaters have their guilty pleasures. What’s yours?
A: I love crispy French fries, but I have a new, healthier alternative that made me completely lose interest in the original. Sweet potato fries, or what I like to call the Guilt-Free Fry. They’re so easy to make at home from scratch; I do it twice a week. But for the recipe you’re going to have to wait until my new cookbook hits the shelves in a few months!
Q: You decide to have friends over for dinner at the last minute. What’s an easy, delicious meal that can be thrown together quickly?
A: Depends if I want a kiss or just a compliment… let’s go with the kiss. Artichoke Chicken! The bottom line is that it is healthy, low in fat and rich in lean protein. It takes about 5 minutes to prep the ingredients, another 5 to cook it, and it comes out with an amazing appearance and texture – not to mention the delectable fragrance that fill will your kitchen. The taste profile is the moistest chicken you have ever tasted with an authentic country chicken flavor thanks to the Amazing Taste Poultry seasoning that I use. I love the diversity of this dish; you can serve it over a warm bed of brown or multi grain 90-second rice, or over your choice of pasta. If only the walls in my kitchen could talk sharing the stories of this dish. For this recipe check out www.amazingtaste.com.
Adam’s picks can be found in these 2 events today:
ATOM