No. of Recommendations: 2
I've noticed a shift in YouTube cooking lately. Or maybe it's just whom I follow.
Anyone can post a cooking video on YouTube. Anyone. But, since at least the end of the Pandemic, we're seeing a lot of pros, and a lot of criticisms of people who -frankly- have no idea what they're doing. Especially in the form of "reaction" videos. Jamie Oliver gets roasted because he doesn't do Asian cuisine well, but continues to claim -for example- to be making curry that isn't a real curry (or, more famously, a butter chicken that had no butter). He's one of the more prominent chefs that get blasted for a lack of authenticity, but there are others. Authenticity seems to be a big thing now, which I have no problem with. (Jamie actually made the news several years ago when he caused genuine outrage in Spain when he published a video about how to make paella...the Spanish were not amused by the liberties he took with their dish.)
I subscribe to a few pros. Their content is -usually- entertaining, educational, and gives me ideas. I don't know if I'm allowed to list some in this forum, or if that would be considered "advertising" (although, I would get nothing from any of them).
I learned how to do proper french fries. It's a three-cook process, but the results are at least as good as McD's**. I've already done it twice, freezing the leftovers after the 2nd cook, to be pulled out as-needed for the third cook. I'm planning to get a new mandolin, in part to be able to do more of these (our blade can't be replaced, and it's getting dull).
I also (from the same chef) have now made ragu twice. First time, I only had ground beef. And it was good. This weekend I did it properly with the beef short ribs...it was rich and meaty, and just plain good. Makes a big batch, plenty of leftovers. I foresee this one becoming a semi-regular thing in our house, since 1poorlady said she wants me to do it again in the future. And we've cut back on beef big time in our diet...this recipe will be an exception.
**I have very little good to say about McD's, but their fries have always been perfect.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Anyone can post a cooking video on YouTube. Anyone. But, since at least the end of the Pandemic, we're seeing a lot of pros, and a lot of criticisms of people who -frankly- have no idea what they're doing. Especially in the form of "reaction" videos. Jamie Oliver gets roasted because he doesn't do Asian cuisine well, but continues to claim -for example- to be making curry that isn't a real curry (or, more famously, a butter chicken that had no butter). He's one of the more prominent chefs that get blasted for a lack of authenticity, but there are others.I found the Uncle Roger fan! I think the OG Jamie Oliver fried rice take down is still the best ("Do you hear sizzling? I hear my ancestors crying")
https://youtu.be/t_KdbASIkB8?si=MWOdpbS5-HtgPdJRbut he's got some great other ones, including a touching Anthony Bourdain tribute video and his back and forth with Gordon Ramsey.
I've been doing some Asian cooking, and learned tons and tons from Youtube. Some of my fave Asian cooking channels:
Chinese Cooking Demystified, by a young-ish couple in China. This one is a treasure trove of Chinese cooking.
https://www.youtube.com/@ChineseCookingDemystifiedMade with Lau. Lau was a Chinese restaurant chef for like 50 years. I figure he knows what he's talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/@MadeWithLauPallin's Kitchen. She's a Thai cook. Excellent explanations. Lots of good shopping tips too.
https://www.youtube.com/@PailinsKitchenKenji. No intro needed.
https://www.youtube.com/@JKenjiLopezAlt
No. of Recommendations: 1
I found Uncle Roger while watching a chef I follow react to him. I follow him now because he's funny, and does his research before reacting to a video. "Ginger is for poor people."
Since you named a few, I like Chef James (Makinson). He does a lot of reaction videos (commenting on the right/wrong way to do some technique), but also some recipes, and he did a nice series on knives (buying, sharpening, etc). Brian Tsao doesn't do as many cooking videos as I would like, often reacting to others. He does have some good insights, and I like his friend "Frenchie" (chef/owner of a higher-end NY restaurant). I like Guga (not a chef) because he does experiments to see what will work. Joshua Weissman has two channels...the new one is "recipes", and he has posted three or four videos so far that are him telling how to make a particular dish. His other channel is a mix of stuff (I like the "But Better" series). I also like "Auntie Liz" (Michelin star chef Elizabeth Haigh). When we were in London we visited her restaurant Mei Mei (not Michelin star).
I don't follow, but often watch, Vincenzo (Italian chef) when he pops up in my "suggestion" panel. There are a few others.
Jamie Oliveoil has become a favorite punching bag because he is an actual chef, but he butchers ethnic recipes (from fried rice to butter chicken to curry). He even raise the ire of other professional chefs. But he is a good showman.
The days of "Cooking with Jack" (which was horrifying) are over...we have real chefs doing real stuff. No more "Garbage Stew" (I think that's what Jack called one of his dishes).
