16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (2024)

Food & Wine began naming Best New Chefs in 1988, and Thomas Keller was among the first group to receive the honor. At that time, he was cooking at his first restaurant, Rakel in New York City; Andrew Zimmern was a line cook there, and Tom Colicchio was a sous chef. Keller left Rakel for California in 1990 when his business partner decided to take the restaurant in a different direction amid an economic downturn. It wasn't long before Keller learned about a certain restaurant space for sale in Napa Valley; in July of 1994, The French Laundry opened its doors.

The James Beard Foundation named Thomas Keller the Best California Chef in 1996; and the Best Chef in America in 1997. By 2003 and 2004, The French Laundry ranked number one among the World's 50 Best Restaurants. Keller went on to open several more restaurants, including Bouchon, Per Se, and Ad Hoc; both The French Laundry and Per Se hold three Michelin stars.

Thomas Keller is known for applying American flavors to French classics. The recipes he's contributed to Food & Wine span the styles found at his various outposts: We have comfort food recipes in the vein of Ad Hoc; inventive, elevated dishes like the ones found at The French Laundry; and even a Bouchon-inspired quiche. Cook your way through this collection of dishes for a taste of celebrated chef Thomas Keller at home.

01of 16

Lemon-Brined Fried Chicken

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (1)

To make this juicy and delectably crisp chicken, chef Thomas Keller soaks the poultry in a lemony brine, then coats and fries it.

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02of 16

Summer Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (2)

Thomas Keller is a huge fan of spontaneous salads and invariably tops them with this creamy vinaigrette. It's inspired by his time at the former La Rive Restaurant in Catskill, New York; he's been making some version of it for 40 years. The salad itself changes constantly, based on what's in The French Laundry garden or at the market; make it with the best fresh vegetables you can get.

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03of 16

Chanterelle Omelets with Fines Herbes Sauce

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (3)

Why does Thomas Keller make a one-egg omelet? Because the result is so much more delicate and alluring than the supersize omelets made with multiple eggs, especially with a creamy chanterelle filling.

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04of 16

Slow-Cooked Lamb with Cipolini, Dates, Kale, and Almonds

Keller’s trick for yielding extra-flavorful meat is seasoning the roast a day in advance: The lamb takes on the aroma of garlic and thyme as well as a subtle heat from piment d’Espelette, a smoky, mildly spicy ground pepper.

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05of 16

Panko-Coated Chicken Schnitzel

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (5)

Thomas Keller uses panko breadcrumbs to give chicken a crunchy crust. "Pounding chicken breasts to a uniform thickness cuts down on cooking time," he says.

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06of 16

Iceberg Wedges with Bacon and Buttermilk Dressing

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (6)

This salad from Thomas Keller's family-style restaurant, Ad Hoc, in Yountville, California, is a twist on the quintessential American combination of iceberg lettuce, tomato wedges, and packaged bacon bits with a mayonnaise dressing. Only the iceberg lettuce wedges stay the same: The tomatoes are oven-roasted, the bacon is cut extra thick, and the buttermilk dressing is spiked with chives, mint, and parsley.

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07of 16

Smoked Salmon Crisps

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (7)

Thomas Keller's salmon cornets (tuiles shaped into tiny cones and topped with crème fraîche and fresh salmon) are a famous kickoff to his luxe and whimsical meals at The French Laundry in Napa Valley. Here, we leave the tuiles flat, like crackers.

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08of 16

Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (8)

These potatoes from Ad Hoc have a wonderfully fluffy texture because they're passed through a ricer or food mill to make them especially airy. But they're also nicely rich, thanks to generous amounts of butter and heavy cream.

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09of 16

BLT Fried Egg and Cheese Sandwich

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (9)

Thomas Keller's scrumptious recipe combines three of the world's most popular sandwiches: bacon, lettuce, and tomato; fried egg; and grilled cheese.

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10of 16

Over-the-Top Mushroom Quiche

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (10)

"I love quiche, but it has to be several inches high and made right," says Thomas Keller. This high-rising version, which is adapted from a recipe in his Bouchon cookbook, just might be the perfect one, and it's well worth the time it takes to prepare.

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11of 16

Olive Oil-Poached Cod with Mussels, Orange, and Chorizo

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (11)

At The French Laundry, Thomas Keller serves this dish with an orange gelée flavored with Espelette peppers. In this simplified version, he pairs the olive oil–poached cod with an orange sauce vierge, a classic French sauce typically made from olive oil and lemon juice.

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12of 16

Whole Grilled Chicken with Wilted Arugula

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (12)

"I don't care if you're sophisticated, with a boatload of money," says Thomas Keller. "Roasted chicken makes you feel wonderful." Cooking a whole chicken on the grill can be tricky, but Keller has perfected a method that uses indirect heat; he adds rosemary sprigs to the coals to infuse the smoke and flavor the chicken.

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13of 16

Salt-Baked Branzino

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (13)

Thomas Keller cooks whole fish in a salt crust to keep it moist, then serves it with a chunky zucchini-basilpistou — Provence’s version of pesto — and lemony cherry tomatoes.

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14of 16

Braised Vegetable Hash

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (14)

This colorful, tasty vegetable hash is delicious by itself or with a fried egg on top.

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15of 16

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and Squash with Fried Sage

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (15)

This super-autumnal dish offers an unusual combination of brussels sprouts and butternut squash, which generally stand on their own as side dishes. The brussels sprout leaves are savory, the chunks of squash are tender and sweet, and the fried sage garnish is pungent and crunchy.

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16of 16

Fennel Mustard

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (16)

A terrific condiment from Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home; try it on roast pork.

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16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (2024)

FAQs

Can a 10 year old cook? ›

With an adult supervising, a 10-year old should be able to scramble eggs, stir fry vegetables or flip a pancake on an electric stovetop (you may want to wait longer if you have a gas range). Safety tip: Be sure to teach them to tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove. Prepare a sandwich.

What does Thomas Keller eat? ›

In the introduction to Bouchon (2004), Keller writes, “Bistro cooking is my favourite food to eat. Roast chicken and a salad of fresh lettuces with a simple vinaigrette. Frisée salad with crisp, chewy lardons and a poached egg. A dense steak with lemon-herb butter and frites.

How to create your own recipe? ›

Tips to keep in mind when writing recipes:
  1. List ingredients in chronological order. ...
  2. Separate ingredients for major steps in a recipe. ...
  3. List steps in order, keeping instructions short and to the point. ...
  4. Give specifics about doneness. ...
  5. Include storage suggestions. ...
  6. Offer extra methods or substitutions (when tested).
Nov 19, 2020

How to make a good recipe? ›

A standard recipe must contain the following data:
  1. Title.
  2. Description.
  3. Preparation and cooking time.
  4. Number of servings and serving size.
  5. List of ingredients with accurate measurements.
  6. Step-by-step directions.
  7. Accurate nutrition information.
  8. Notes and FAQ.
Feb 11, 2021

Can a 12 year old bake? ›

Tween (ages 9–12 years)

This is a great age for longer baking projects, like baking bread from scratch or making and decorating a birthday cake with homemade frosting and fancy piping.

Can a 7 year old use a microwave? ›

Set boundaries. Kids under the age of 7 should not use a microwave without supervision. Consider your child's height, too. Reaching up to get hot food out of a microwave can lead to spilled hot food.

What does Thomas Keller eat for breakfast? ›

“The egg certainly has to be my favorite ingredient,” says Chef Thomas Keller, “and certainly one of my favorites to eat.” To prove it, he has two hard-boiled eggs with olive oil every morning.

What is the sister restaurant for French laundry? ›

In October 1998, four years after his successful debut in Napa Valley with The French Laundry, Chef Thomas Keller introduced Bouchon, offering authentic French bistro fare with Keller's unfailing attention to detail in both ingredients and presentation.

Can you legally own a recipe? ›

Similar to ideas, facts and history, there isn't copyright protection in recipes as mere lists of ingredients. This is clearly stated by the U.S. Copyright Office.

What are some homemade foods to make? ›

7 Foods to Make From Scratch
  1. Stock. If you only take one thing from this article, keep a container of veggie scraps in your freezer. ...
  2. Bread. This one can be as easy or as complicated as you want, depending on what you are trying to make. ...
  3. Hummus. ...
  4. Salad Dressing. ...
  5. Pasta Sauce. ...
  6. Pickles. ...
  7. Granola, Bars & Bites.
May 17, 2020

Is it cheaper to make your own food? ›

How much does the average meal cost when cooking at home versus when eating at a restaurant? I tracked every dollar I spent by category for about a year. After running the statistics, eating at home cost 28% as much as going to a restaurant.

What can I cook in 5 minutes? ›

25 healthy recipes you can cook in 5 minutes or less
  • Pea and broad bean couscous.
  • Fast home-made baked beans.
  • Porridge.
  • Pasta with cherry tomatoes and rocket.
  • Home-made hummus.
  • Smashed avocado and wilted spinach.
  • Cucumber (or potato) raitha.
  • Quick pitta pizzas.

How to make tasty food at home? ›

10 Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better
  1. Don't Prepare Garlic and Onions in Advance. ...
  2. Don't Seed Tomatoes. ...
  3. Keep Fats Tasting Fresh. ...
  4. Strike Only When the Pan Is Hot. ...
  5. Never Discard the Fond. ...
  6. Season with Sugar, Too. ...
  7. Bloom Spices and Dried Herbs in Fat. ...
  8. Brown Breads, Pies, and Pastries.

Can 10 year olds do dishes? ›

7 to 9-year-olds can load and unload the dishwasher, help with meal preparation, and pack their own lunch for school. 10 to 11-year-olds can change their sheets, clean the kitchen or bathrooms, and do yard work. Those 12 and above can wash the car and help out with younger siblings.

At what age should a child be able to cook? ›

Ages 6-8. In this age group, you can start to introduce some actual cooking skills. Teach them the basics of using a stove (with your supervision always).

Should 10 year olds make their own food? ›

In fact, says Ellyn Satter, a leading expert on feeding children, around 10 or 11 years old is when kids naturally start developing good food management skills, which includes packing their own lunch. Before then, they just might not be ready.

Can a 11 year old use the stove? ›

With an adult supervising, a lot of kids start using the oven and stove at around age 12. By the time they are 14, most kids can use both the oven or stove on their own. But you need to have a parent's permission first. And it helps to know some general kitchen safety rules.

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