Learning how to cook is one of the most practical skills anyone can have. Cooking may be intimidating at first, especially if you are a beginner, but leading LPG solutions provider Solane believes that you can master it with consistent practice.
Chef Sau del Rosario, ambassador of Solane’s Kitchen Hero — a nationwide cooking competition which aims to recognize a new generation of local talented chefs — shares his secrets to acing your cooking skills in no time.
Read the recipe. Before you start cooking, be sure to read through the recipe. This will help you know which ingredients need to be chopped and prepped early on. Having everything prepared before cooking will speed up your cooking time and keep you from getting frazzled or confused.
Add creativity to your dishes. Being creative not only makes your food look appetizing but also makes the dining experience more exciting. For Chef Sau, this means being able to modernize your dish so it’s more relatable and appealing especially to young diners.
Good food comes from good ingredients. “If the fish that you used isn’t fresh, you won’t be able to come up with a great tasting finished product,” says Chef Sau. He believes that if you’re aiming for quality dishes, then you should never skimp on quality ingredients.
Use Filipino ingredients. The essence of Filipino food is using local ingredients. “We are rich in local resources and you should take advantage of whatever your region has to offer,” shares Chef Sau.
There should be a story behind your dish. “Walang kwento, walang kwenta ang pagkain.” For Chef Sau, a dish becomes even more delicious it’s made with love, and when there’s a story or meaning behind it. Food can also be a source of comfort because it can evoke nostalgia or provide sentimental value to someone.
Learning how to cook might take a lot of trial and error. Be patient and don’t be afraid to experiment. Follow these tips and you are on the right track to becoming a skilled cook!