On a balmy sunny day in New York City, the culinary community gathered for Taste Asia—the largest and most diverse Asian Food Festival in North America. The three-day event held in Times Square, featured everything from live cooking demonstrations by master chefs, to samples from New York City's finest restaurants. On hand as emcee was the enigmatic Chef Terry French (@Chef_French)—who many of you may know as Food Network's World Extreme Chef Winner. I caught up with him to talk inspiration, dinner dates and cooking advice. — Angela Gilltrap
Describe your cooking style in three words: Fascinatingly original all-the-time.
In your opinion what is the most underrated ingredient? Fresh food. So much of what we buy now is pre-packaged but there really is nothing as good as fresh ingredients.
What's the best cooking advice you'd ever received? A mentor of mine said to me when I first started, get your butt off the stainless steel, think Yiddish and speak Spanish and you'll always be successful. That stayed with me all my life.
Is there one cooking utensil that holds sentimental value? I'd say my Gunter Wilhelm knives.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Mm... That's a tough one. I'd have to say my Mom.
Any advice for home cooks? Be curious and don't be afraid. I've messed up food more times than anyone can ever imagine. Think like you're seven years old and you're seeing something for the first time, don't forget what that feels like. You're watching a carrot come out of the ground for the first time. Be curious, like that.
