Cooking Issues with Dave Arnold

• Belgian Bonanza with chef Michaël Vrijmoed

  Dave welcomes Belgian chef Michaël Vrijmoed of Restaurant Vrijmoed in Ghent for a conversation about seasonal cooking, ingredient precision, and the evolving world of fine dining. Alongside the regular crew, the episode moves from personal diet challenges to deep dives on fries, caviar, and the philosophy of hospitality.• From Brussels Waffles to Michelin Plates – Jean recounts dining at three two-star restaurants, including Vrijmoed, highlighting standout dishes like crayfish mousse with caviar and crispy veal sweetbreads with black truffle. Michaël explains his approach to refined vegetable-focused plates and balanced tasting menus.• Frites, Mayo, and Carbonade – A spirited debate on ideal fry size (10–12mm preferred), oil technique, and the superiority of mayo unfolds. Michaël outlines his two-step method and defends Belgium’s fry traditions, while Dave proposes U.S. carbonade fries and laments America’s sugary sauces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• No Tangent Tuesday: Frozen Food and Wisdom Teeth

  Dave chats with Nastassia, Quinn and Jack for a classic No Tangent Tuesday. From wisdom teeth and frozen vegetables to guanciale curing and the merits of multiple centrifuges, the crew bounces between home cooking habits and deep technical dives.• Quick Dinners and Frozen Food Quality – Nastassia shares her weeknight meal of pre-seasoned Whole Foods chicken breast, frozen broccoli, and pre-cooked rice. Dave explores the merits of frozen vegetables and the shelf-stable rice market. Peas and corn are praised; frozen Brussels sprouts are dismissed. Dave discusses his chicken saltimbocca technique and the ups and downs of using essential oils in cooking.• DIY Guanciale and Curing Techniques – Quinn details a home-cured guanciale project using sage essential oil. Dave critiques the use of essential oils due to limited flavor diffusion in fat and questions whether the result matches the flavor of fresh herbs. The discussion expands into dry vs. wet styles of guanciale, optimal moisture loss, and terminology (e.g., “unctuous”).• Frozen Fruit and At-Home Pizza – The crew discusses best uses for frozen fruit and Quinn describes a weekend pizza session using a gas-fired Ooni oven and homemade guanciale.• Why Dave Avoids Homemade Cocktails and Pizza – Dave explains why he no longer makes cocktails or pizza at home, preferring to enjoy professional results (e.g., Wiley Dufresne’s pizza spot). He still enjoys home cooking for non-work-related food, like chicken pot pie.• Spinzall Centrifuge Sale – Dave announces a temporary price drop on the Spinzall 2.0 centrifuge due to warehouse clearance. He explains the advantages of multiple small centrifuges versus one large industrial model, citing reliability, flexibility, and clarification performance. He also clarifies the technical differences between various centrifuge types (swinging bucket vs. fixed angle).• Cane vs. Beet Sugar – In response to a listener question, Dave breaks down the minor but real differences between cane and beet sugar, including pH levels, crystallization behavior, and potential impacts on jelling and caramelization. Taste tests suggest differences are detectable when dry but vanish in solution.• Goat Cream and Centrifuge Separation – Dave explores whether a Spinzall can separate cream from goat milk. He notes goat milk has smaller fat globules that make it naturally homogenized and explains how traditional cream separators work using spinning disks. He suggests testing the top fat layer from Spinzall output for reconstitution into cream.• Durum Wheat and Semolina – Mike C writes in about baking with coarsely ground semolina. Dave and Quinn explain distinctions between semolina and fine durum flour (semola rimacinata), touching on hydration needs and flour properties.• Clarification on Nitrogen Use in Cocktails – Dave stresses clear terminology when discussing nitrogen (N₂) versus nitrous oxide (N₂O). He warns against confusion when referring to “nitro” cocktails, noting that nitrogen creates microfoam textures while nitrous is used for rapid infusion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• No Tangent Tuesday: Don't Waste That Helium

  Dave is solo in studio for a skeleton crew edition of No Tangent Tuesday.Topics Covered:• Grana Padano vs. Parmigiano-Reggiano – Is Grana just a weaker Parmesan, or does it deserve its own place in cooking? Dave breaks down the real distinctions between these cheeses, how aging, terroir, and the Italian cheese consortiums impact flavor, and when you can (or can’t) swap one for the other.• Can You Recreate Pizzeria Cheese Texture at Home? – A listener wants to mimic the fine, slightly clumpy grated cheese found in pizza shop shakers. Dave and Quinn dissect industrial processes, moisture control, grating methods, and how additives like maltodextrin or milk powder might help — plus why Wiley Dufresne probably already has a working prototype.• Clarifying Fresh Ginger Juice Without Magnesium Carbonate – Dave details how to clarify ginger-turmeric-galangal juice (a.k.a. “zing”) using Pectinex and citric acid, and shares the full recipe spec for the Firefly Mule served at Double Chicken Please.• Pre-Theater Food Strategy – What’s the best way to eat before a show when timing is tight? From halal carts to hand rolls, the crew dissects good and bad pre-event meals, with bonus recommendations for fast, reliable options in both NYC and LA.• Cheese Powder, Moisture Content, and Anti-Caking Agents – More on shaker cheese: Dave outlines the likely industrial approach (not freeze-dried powder, but low-moisture cheese + blending and drying aids) and proposes a homebrew version for kitchen experimenters.• Shoutout: Utica Grind Red Pepper – A caller recommends a regional crushed red pepper blend that delivers on texture and coverage.All that and more, this week on Cooking Issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• No Tangent Tuesday: The Hammer Bot

  Dave Arnold and the team discuss a range of topics, including the challenges of working with rabbit, scaling ice cream production, and how nixtamalization affects fried foods.Topics Covered:• Rabbit Katsu and Japanese Curry – Quinn prepares a full rabbit, using the legs for braising, the bones for stock, and the loins for katsu. The discussion covers butchering techniques and optimizing texture in breaded rabbit cutlets.• Ice Cream Meltdown – A listener asks about how to adjust gelato formulations for commercial machines and whether tempered ice cream melts faster than traditional scooped ice cream.• Nixtamalization in Frying – Dave explains how calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) affects starch and protein structure in batters and whether it leads to a crispier final product.• Gluten and Bread Structure – A comparison of soft flour with added gluten versus naturally high-protein flour, examining whether one can substitute for the other in bread-making.• Cold-Smoked Ham Preparation – The best methods for heating and serving a smoked ham, including steam ovens, slow heating techniques, and traditional methods like boiling in a lard can.• AI in Dating Apps – Nastassia shares her experience of responding to messages like an AI bot, and the group discusses whether automated conversation styles affect dating success.All that and more, this week on Cooking Issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Professor Douglas Goff on Ice Cream Science and the Evolution of Frozen Desserts

  This week on Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold welcomes Professor Douglas Goff, one of the world’s leading ice cream scientists and Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph. They discuss the science behind smooth texture, how to recreate Haagen-Dazs vanilla at home, and the hidden factors that determine how ice cream melts.Other key topics:• The Ice Cream Book That Defines the Industry – Goff discusses the upcoming 8th edition of the seminal Ice Cream textbook, a publication that’s shaped the frozen dessert world since 1966.• Soft Serve Machines and Their Dirty Secret – Why cleaning is the Achilles’ heel of soft serve, and what really happens inside fast-food soft serve machines.• Lactose and the Mystery of Sandiness – Quinn loves adding extra lactose to his gelatos, but why doesn’t it crystallize? Goff explains why large manufacturers have to fight against sandy textures.• Low Overrun vs. High Overrun Soft Serve – Does less air make for better ice cream? Goff weighs in on why dense ice creams like Haagen-Dazs work—but soft serve benefits from a little extra air.• The Problem with Freezing Ice Cream Without Churning – Is there a way to create smooth, scoopable ice cream without a machine? Goff breaks down why static freezing results in unpleasant ice crystal growth and why nucleating agents are the missing piece.• Breyer’s Old Formula vs. New Formula – Once known for its pure ingredients, Breyer’s ice cream had a unique dryness when left in the freezer too long. Goff explains why, and what changed when they started stabilizing their mix.• Trends in Ice Cream for 2025 – From international flavors (think ube and kulfi) to local, small-batch innovations, Goff talks about where the frozen dessert industry is heading.Plus, Dave builds a DIY 220V countertop fryer, experiments with a homemade ducted ventilation hood, and unveils a wheat bran granola that might just be the next great ice cream topping.All that and more, this week on Cooking Issues! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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