SMW's Celebrity Chef Secrets: Anne Burrell

[Food Network Fan]

SMW's Celebrity Chef Secrets: Anne Burrell
SMW Women’s Vacation & Travel Resources
By Fabiana Santana, updated 1/16/2009 at 12:16:55 AM

You probably recognize her as Food Network guru Mario Batali’s right hand woman on Iron Chef America - her spiky, blond hair and control in the kitchen make her a hard one to forget.

But these days, it’s Anne Burrell who could use Mario’s help. She most recently ran the show at hard-to-get-into Centro Vinoteca and Gusto Ristorante e Bar Americano in Manhattan’s trendy West Village neighborhood, and now has her own show on the Food Network called Secrets of a Restaurant Chef (10:30am ET/PT) where she shares all the tricks of her trade with home cooks. The overachiever took a break to talk to us about what it’s like having jobs that keep her so well fed.

How did you choose the recipes for your show?
I talk it over with the culinary producers and they tell me what the needs of the audience are. Like if the holidays are coming up, I will develop a bunch of recipes about that. Or if we want to focus on cooking with kids, I will come up with ideas for recipes kids can do.
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[GB2002]

Burrell's show is the one I've been watching the most lately. I like it because she shows you all the steps to cook what she's making and she's enthusiastic about it. (And she has the same initials as Alton Brown.)

For instance, in the episode I watched recently she was frying panko chicken and demonstrated her technique of dipping in flour, then egg mixture, then panko. She offered the tip that she uses one hand for the dry ingredients and the other hand for the wet so she and the chicken don't get all gloppy. I appreciated that. I wouldn't have thought of it and I would have ended up with clumpy fingers. And, novice that I am, I didn't know about dipping in flour first.

[Food Network Fan]

I really like Ann's show too. It also like that she doesn't just assume people know some things like a lot of them do. But you do still learn things even if you have a lot of experience cooking. She seems to be able to explain things to different levels without talking down to the viewer at the same time as not going over their head. I don't know how she does it but it's really nice.

[GB2002]

"Brown food tastes goooood!!!"

[ibcheft]

Anne is good, almost up to Emeril's standard, she can teach from the beginner to the advanced cooks, there is always something she offers that one can use. I love her shows, and as far as her on screen appearence, hers actions and such make for an interesting program. Her growl is sorta like her trademark, liken to Emeril's BAM. Maybe I can post here with out offending some of the donkeys. anyways great show ! and notice this one has a REAL CHEF !

[Food Network Fan]

I do find the sound effects a bit strange . But I like the show anyway. It's not to the point of making me not want to watch.

[Pluff Mudder]

FN needs more shows of this type.

[BerryBaby]

Burrell's show is the one I've been watching the most lately. I like it because she shows you all the steps to cook what she's making and she's enthusiastic about it. (And she has the same initials as Alton Brown.)

For instance, in the episode I watched recently she was frying panko chicken and demonstrated her technique of dipping in flour, then egg mixture, then panko. She offered the tip that she uses one hand for the dry ingredients and the other hand for the wet so she and the chicken don't get all gloppy. I appreciated that. I wouldn't have thought of it and I would have ended up with clumpy fingers. And, novice that I am, I didn't know about dipping in flour first.

Tyler has given that tips many, many times. Nothing new. He says to always keep one hand clean so if the phone rings, you can answer it with the clean hand.

I think Michael has also used that technique....they all share ideas. Probably have many of the same writers.

I just wish she didn't make the obnoxious noises ....sounds like a Muppet.

Other than that, she is very talented and does a very good instructional show.

[GB2002]

I was thinking more "Froggy" from Lil Rascals than Muppet.

I haven't watched Tyler in a while.

[Food Network Fan]

I remember Froggy. She does have a bit of that.