Excellent little piece on Jacques P

erininny

Well-known member
There's lots to love here, but--much as I watched the "Bill Cunningham New York" documentary and couldn't stop thinking, "Where's his bike helmet?!"--I couldn't stop thinking, "Why is Chef Pépin using a metal fork to whisk eggs in his nonstick skillet?!"

I mean, the man is a master, but...can I get away with substituting a wooden spoon in my own kitchen (or are Teflon-speckled omelets not all that bad for you)?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/dining/jacques-pepin-demonstrates-cooking-techniques.html

 
I've seen TV chefs use metal untensils in non-stick too. Some non-stick pans...

...actually say you CAN use metal utensils. The metal inner surface of the pan is "pitted" with microscopic "peaks and valleys" in such a way that the tips of the peaks are level with the top of the teflon coating. Does that make sense? Supposedly the metal utensil will glide over the peaks and not scratch the teflon.

Who knows if that is what Pepin is using?

I see Lydia B. using metal untensils on her Le Creuset dutch ovens. That can't be good. I imagine if you are a multi-millionaire you can replace your expensive pans once you ruin them, all for the sake of convenience.

I could be wrong...

Michael

 
Hmm. Thanks, Michael; I hadn't heard that explanation.

Maybe Lydia's use of utensils explains the often sad-looking glut of Le C. dutch ovens on Ebay lately... smileys/wink.gif

 
I think Pepin simply doesn't care if he scratches the pan or not. He probably has all the free pans

he could want and if not (although what manufacturer is going to say "no" to Jacques Pepin?) I'm sure he has enough dough to buy a new one whenever the old one gets food on it.

 
Yes, this is the type of T-Fal that I look for now. It has a raised grid and is much less

susceptible to wear from all onslaughts.

 
Most well-known chefs on TV, are given cooking tools from large companies

One of the most asked questions from the public of cooking shows is what is the brand name of "that" pan, pepper grinder, cutting board, etc.

I don't care how wealthy a person is, wouldn't you think they would not want to waste money on buying repeat cooking items because they have misused them? Most of the wealthy folks I know are very frugal, take excellent care of their things and do not accept inferior, scratched, dented merchandise to begin with.

 
Well, I've never seen an omelet made that way before...

I use a two-sided omelet pan, because I can use 4 eggs, flip the lid over, the omelet puffs up beautifully and I have a wonderful fluff of eggs. My husband and I split it....wonderful. That would be a great way to make it for one person. I would use my heat resistant, plastic spatula however, so as not to scratch my non-stick pan.smileys/wink.gif

 
I've made French Rolled Omelets using that technique sans the screetching of a metallic utensil

I hate the sound!

I started using a small wooden spoon but have graduated to using a small heat-resistant spatula.

I've been making these since 2007 as a treat every once in a while and about three months ago, I made a cheeseless Cajun spiced one that was delicious.

Having the pan hot enough before adding the eggs and a fluffy and set omelet is the tricky part but very worthwhile.

Edited to say that I like a little browned-butter exterior that also looks rustic and pretty.

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=57050

 
Screetch-proof or not, it just doesn't make sense to me to use a metallic utensil on a nonstick

surface.

I see your point though Michael. Wooden spoons or heat-resistant spatulas are probably much cheaper than metallic utensils that can be sponsored ($$) more effectively.

 
Yikes!

Every time he scratched around the edges I shuddered. Kind of like scratching the blackboard.

 
My favorite omelet recipe is still Jeff Smith's French Potato and Garlic Omelet. Recipe inside.

This is my all-time favorite omelet recipe.
So simple and so righteously satisfying.
Don't let the simplicity of these ingredients
fool you; everyone I've ever served this to
groans with delight. A six- or eight-egg
version is wonderful for feeding a few hungry
eaters at once, providing you have a pan
large enough to handle it. If not, make two
normal-sized ones.

From Jeff Smith:

French Potato and Garlic Omelet

1 slice of bacon, diced
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 clove garlic, crushed (I use 1 - 2 cloves)
1/2 cup cold cooked unpeeled new potatoes (I
use whatever I have around)
3 eggs, room temp
1 tbsp water
1/2 tbsp. peanut oil
1/2 tbsp. butter
salt/pepper to taste
Fresh grated parmesan or romano cheese for
garnish (I put some in the filling too!)

Saute the bacon in a small frying pan (not
your omelet pan). When the bacon is crisp,
add the green onions, garlic, and potatoes.
Cook until hot, and use the filling for the
omelet. Add salt and pepper last. Garnish
with cheese on top.

For the omelet:

Heat your omelet pan on medium high.

Whip the eggs with a table fork in a small
bowl. Add the water and whip again.

Place the oil and the butter in the pan at
the same time. When the butter stops
foaming, whip the eggs a couple of times
and pour them into the pan. When the omelet
begins to set, you may have to lift the edge
and allow the wet portion of the mixture to
run underneath.

Place the hot filling on 1/2 of the omelet
once the eggs are set to your liking. Slide
the omelet out of the pan and onto a serving
plate. Flip the half of the omelet not
covered with filling over the top of the
other half. Garnish with cheese.

ME: I always add more garlic and cheese to
the filling. Sometimes more bacon as well.

Enjoy!

Michael

 
This has been my favorite for many years - it doesn't say, but potatoes are sliced

Also really good with asiago cheese.

 
Asiago would be very good! I agree. As for the potatoes, he calls for...

... "unpeeled new potatoes", so I assume they are small to begin with, but might need to be halved.

I use leftover baked potatoes, whole potatoes, whatever I have on hand. Cut them to size, if needed.

Michael

 
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