Video 1,000! Your Most Frequently Asked Questions

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Blog News

As I joke in the video, this little Q & A should serve as irrefutable proof that I’ve made the right decision to stay off camera. Talking while being filmed isn’t that hard; it’s the part about making sense that’s the real challenge.

And if you’re thinking I took the easy way out here, just sitting around, talking to the camera, think again. These things are like a hundred times harder than a regular recipe video, so you’ll have to pardon all the questionable editing techniques. Despite the challenges, I really did enjoy finally getting to solve some of these mysteries for you.

By the way, if I didn’t happen to get to your question in this video, I will be doing the same thing for video 2,000, so hold that thought.  A heartfelt thank you for all the support you gave during the first 1,000, and we’re on to the next one. Enjoy!

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Next Up: Video 1,000!

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It wasn't for a lack of great ideas, but I'm here to confess, I wasn't able to decide on which recipe to film for the big milestone. It was just too much pressure. So, instead I'm going to finally answer the most commonly asked questions I've received over the last seven years. 

Do you have a restaurant? Why no written recipes? What's with the cayenne? I'll also make a rare appearance on camera, which will help answer the one about "why don't you appear on camera?" Stay tuned!
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Fried Peach & Pancetta Pizza – A Savory Twist on a Childhood Sweet

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Pork

Growing up, I always loved when my family made pizza from scratch, but what I loved even more was what came after the meal. Any extra dough and scraps were rolled out, left to rise, fried, and sprinkled with sugar to create a simple, but delicious donut-like treat.

Here we’re doing a savory twist; using the technique to make a pizza featuring ricotta, pancetta and peaches. Obviously, you can use any and all classic pizza toppings, but this particular combo comes highly recommended.

Besides a fun change of pace, this method is great for making a bunch of crusts ahead of time, and then dressing/baking when needed. Imagine setting up a “make your own pizza” bar, with your guests customizing theirs any way they want. Add a couple cases of beer to the mix, and you’ll be hosting a pizza party of epic proportions. I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

For One Small Fried Peach & Pancetta Pizza:

(all ingredient amounts are purely guesses)

3-4 ounces prepared pizza dough

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese, plus a pinch of salt if needed

fresh thyme leaves

fresh ground black pepper

2 ounces pancetta

5-6 slices fresh peach

freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

extra virgin olive oil, plus regular olive oil for frying

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Next Up: Video 999

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The Great Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano) Experiment! – Penny Wise, Parm Foolish

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Tips and Techniques

I've wanted to do this little demonstration for a long time now, and it has nothing to do with proving people wrong. Okay, that has a little bit to do with it, but mostly I really want people who could be enjoying “the good stuff,” but don't because they think it’s too expensive, to finally realize that's not the case.

As you'll see, a little bit of real, imported Parmigiano-Reggiano only costs about 20 cents per serving. Basically, for the price of a large gumball, you could be enjoying this world-class cheese. Of course, some people still won't buy Parmigiano-Reggiano, even after seeing this.

For them, cost really has nothing to do with it. This is a convenient excuse they use because they secretly enjoy that stuff in the green canister. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. To each his own, but at least be honest, and don't claim frugality as your motivation.

By the way, I edited this video while in New York visiting family, and somehow lost a small portion of the audio. So, in the middle of the clip you’ll hear a change in the quality, from the usual mediocre sound, to something much worse. I didn’t want to wait until I got back into the studio to re-record, so I'm posting as is.

Nevertheless, I hope I’ve persuaded some of you to switch over to what you should have been using all along. As a wise man once probably said, “Life’s too short for fake cheese.” Enjoy!

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Next Up: Parmigiano-Reggiano Math

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My vacation is over, and I'm going to celebrate by proving many of you wrong. I'd like to apologize to companies that make fake Parmesan in advance. Stay tuned! 

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Chef John is on Vacation!

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Blog News

Just wanted to let everyone know that I’ll be on vacation this week, visiting family in New York (my last one this year, I promise). Of course, we’ll continue to publish your comments and questions while I’m away, but I won’t be around to answer them. That means you’ll have to rely on your fellow foodwishers, which I’m sure will work out just fine. 

By the way, many of you have been contacting me with suggestions for my 1,000th video, which is only a few uploads away. If you have an idea, please pass it along. Thanks, and we’ll see you next week!

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