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[fire crackling]
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[Samin Nosrat] Heat.
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It's the element of transformation.
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-[sizzling]
-Heat takes food from raw to cooked.
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Flabby to firm.
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Pale to golden brown.
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-[loud sizzling]
-Sizzles,
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splatters,
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crackles,
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steam,
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and aromas
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are all the results of applying heat
to food.
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And once you understand how heat works,
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you can be confident
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that whatever you cook will taste great.
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[toaster pops, dings]
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[relaxed intro music playing]
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[door opens, hinge creaks]
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[seagulls squawk, door clicks closed]
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[R&B music playing]
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I've traveled the world to explore
the elements that define good cooking.
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But in the end, I had to come home.
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♪ Be glad you woke up
Be glad you broke up ♪
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[Samin] Because this
is where my cooking career began,
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at Chez Panisse,
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the iconic restaurant
that pioneered cooking
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with local seasonal ingredients.
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♪ Who knows
Just what might happen there? ♪
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♪ Be glad you woke up ♪
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-[chef] Hi, Samin.
-Hi. How are you?
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-Good, how are you?
-Good.
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[Samin] At first,
the kitchen intimidated me.
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The numbers on the oven dials
had worn away
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and people cooked in a giant hearth
over an open fire.
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That just seemed crazy.
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It took me some time to learn
to pay attention to the food
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and not the fire,
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and to use my senses
to look, listen, smell, taste...
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to master the final element
in good cooking: heat.
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♪ Be glad you're talking ♪
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♪ 'Cause who knows just
What might happen there? ♪
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[Samin] We gonna grill some steaks?
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-[chef] Let's.
-Okay.
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[wood crackling, soft piano music playing]
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[chef] All right.
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[Samin] Some of my earliest memories
are watching you grill steaks.
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And there's just such an elegant way
that you have of cooking,
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and it's so quiet and calm,
that I've always aspired to that.
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I am not quiet or calm.
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[both laugh]
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[chopping]
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[Samin] I just want to point out
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that this is Amy Dencler,
head chef of Chez Panisse.
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And her paring knife is a buck knife.
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[both laugh]
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I like the shape of the blade and that's
why I bought it maybe 30 years ago.
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It's definitely a relic, for sure.
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[crackling]
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-Oh, sounds like it's getting there!
-Oh, yeah.
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[both laugh]
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[Samin] One of the most important things
to building a fire
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is you want to have
different heat zones.
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[metallic scraping]
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Amy has this kind of ingenious thing
where she put new coals in the back
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and as they burn down,
she pulls them toward the front.
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[Amy] Usually I have a little cooler
on the right and hotter on the left.
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Sometimes you don't want
whatever you're grilling
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to be really close to the back of the fire
where it's extra smokey.
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[sizzling]
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[Samin] Just like when you have a stove
and you can turn it up or down,
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you want to give yourself those options
over the grill too.
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When you watch a commercial for a grill,
they're all about the grill marks
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and the perfect 90-degree cross-hatches.
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Those people are missing out on flavor,
'cause browning is flavor.
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If you take one thing away
from this magical woman's grilling lesson,
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it's stop cooking your food
directly over flame
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and make yourself a couple different zones
to be moving over.
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[chop]
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-This is the most un-Chez Panisse oiling--
-[Amy] Technique?
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[both laugh]
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[Amy] We're going for medium-rare.
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Most of the heat is in the back,
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so I'm turning the steaks
towards the heat,
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-so they're cooking evenly.
-[sizzling]
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I'm gonna cook them most of the way
on this one side,
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and then turn them.
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[Samin] Do it, girl.
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Even if you don't have a grill at home,
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you can use the same information
to do it the same way on a stove in a pan.
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00:05:09,142 --> 00:05:11,561
You want to cook it more than halfway
on the first side
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and then let it cook through
to medium-rare, whatever you like,
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on the second side.
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So the first two are done,
and it's really just a feel thing.
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This is still so soft and tender,
but it has a little bit of resistance.
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It's not just mushy. It doesn't feel
like the inside of my cheek.
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[squishing]
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Do I have to... taste a little?
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Yes.
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What do you think?
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[Samin] It's so good.
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[Amy] Did you put salt--?
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[Samin] A little in the parsley,
but let's taste it.
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Here, I'll put it on a potato for you.
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Tastes good.
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-Okay.
-I love it.
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Let me get some forks.
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[both laughing]
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Hmm.
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-Pretty good.
-Pretty delicious.
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[Samin] The browning is just so perfect
and so even on the whole thing.
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That's Ms. Amy Dencler for you.
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[birds chirping, engine revving]
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[Samin] One of the valuable lessons
I learned at Chez Panisse
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was that you don't have to use
expensive ingredients to make good food.
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All you need to find
are simple quality staples
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and to treat them with respect.
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So knowing what to look for
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is the first step
on your way to a good meal.
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[cart rattling, knife scraping]
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[machine whirrs]
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What can we do for you today?
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Well, I sort of just wanted to talk
about the different cuts of meat.
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-Okay.
-I'm so curious.
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Like, how would you describe
what fat does for a steak?
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00:07:25,361 --> 00:07:27,655
I mean, a lot of people
are turned off by fat.
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Fat is not necessarily
a bad thing at all.
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It provides flavor for what you're doing.
128
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Can we look at a few different kinds
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-of rib eyes to compare the fat?
-Definitely.
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We're gonna start
with the 100% grass-fed grass-finished.
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When looking for a steak
at a grocery store,
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look for the speckled marbling.
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If you see this
in just about any cut of meat,
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you can pretty much tell
you'll have a good experience.
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-It's gonna be tender, right?
-Exactly.
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And this is where all the flavor's
gonna come from, the fat on the inside.
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Marbling's the name
for this fat here, right?
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This is a different kind of fat.
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That's just the cap off the top
of the whole rib.
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That's the stuff that like cooks up
into a lump on your mouth
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that you're like kind of chewing
and throwing out, right?
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00:08:06,402 --> 00:08:08,070
Exactly. And we don't want to do that.
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We want to provide enough fat
to where you get the flavor,
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it helps with the cooking process,
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but you're not gnawing away
on a big chunk of fat.
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So we can take a look
at this New York here,
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and you can see
this is a bit thicker than the marbling
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we were seeing in the grass-fed beef.
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So that's what I'm looking for
when I'm buying a steak?
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-The most marbling?
-That's what I recommend.
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You want to shop with your eyes.
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If something doesn't look good,
it's probably not gonna taste that good.
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[Samin] So say, like, that brisket.
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The quality of this fat is not the same
as the quality of the fat in the steak.
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No. For the most part,
the marbling that you see in a steak
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will virtually melt away
when you cook it,
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to where this fat cap on here,
it's gonna be there when it's done.
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But if you cook your brisket properly,
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this fat is gonna soak through the meat
while it's cooking,
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which is gonna create more flavor.
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You're probably gonna get a tender
end result because of it.
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And it's gonna keep it moist.
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I mean, brisket fat is so delicious.
I love it so much. [laughs]
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The top restaurants that do burgers
are doing a blend.
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And they'll mix in brisket,
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00:09:06,587 --> 00:09:09,882
short rib, a little bit of chuck,
and you've got the best burgers.
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-'Cause there's flavor and fat.
-Exactly.
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[wood creaking]
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[Samin] It doesn't matter
whether you're cooking
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over a stove, an open fire,
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or in a slow cooker.
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The goal is always the same.
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Apply the right level of heat
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so that the surface of your food
and its interior
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are done cooking at the same time.
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[bird chirps, relaxing music playing]
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[Samin] So, any time
I'm planning a dinner,
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I choose one element
to really be the way I build the menu.
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Since I'm making chicken,
that's the anchor.
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So I'm choosing ingredients and dishes
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that will complement it and be really nice
next to it on the table.
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[crunches]
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00:10:06,439 --> 00:10:09,900
So I think I'm gonna make a big salad
with roasted vegetables and beans.
184
00:10:11,277 --> 00:10:14,572
And then my mom is coming over. O-M-G.
185
00:10:14,655 --> 00:10:15,865
And... [laughs]
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00:10:15,948 --> 00:10:18,909
Uh, I'm going to have her instruct me
once and for all
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in how to make the perfect tahdig,
188
00:10:20,870 --> 00:10:23,748
which is the Persian rice
with the perfect crust.
189
00:10:23,831 --> 00:10:25,541
And there's a great lesson in there
190
00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:29,795
about using the different methods of heat
to get the perfect texture that we want.
191
00:10:31,172 --> 00:10:35,509
Chicken. It's really not cool to say,
but it's my favorite.
192
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Favorite meat.
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[rattling]
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[rustling]
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If there were a single recipe
to really sum up the lessons
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00:10:46,228 --> 00:10:47,605
of Salt, Fat, Acid and Heat,
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00:10:47,688 --> 00:10:50,316
it would be this buttermilk-marinated
roast chicken.
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00:10:50,399 --> 00:10:51,984
[bag rustles]
199
00:10:52,068 --> 00:10:57,114
The buttermilk provides both fat and acid
that really tenderizes the meat
200
00:10:57,198 --> 00:10:59,784
and then of course heat,
using the right amount of heat
201
00:10:59,867 --> 00:11:02,370
to get that bird beautifully browned
on the outside
202
00:11:02,453 --> 00:11:03,871
and nice and moist on the inside.
203
00:11:04,997 --> 00:11:07,958
The buttermilk expands
your margin for error.
204
00:11:08,334 --> 00:11:10,503
If you forget it and overcook it
for five or ten minutes,
205
00:11:10,586 --> 00:11:12,213
the buttermilk is insurance
206
00:11:12,296 --> 00:11:14,465
and it's the most delicious kind
of insurance.
207
00:11:14,548 --> 00:11:15,966
[rustling]
208
00:11:16,926 --> 00:11:20,388
If you've never roasted a chicken,
this is the perfect place to start.
209
00:11:29,605 --> 00:11:31,065
People often think
210
00:11:31,148 --> 00:11:34,360
that cooking really starts
the moment you turn the oven on,
211
00:11:34,443 --> 00:11:37,071
but in reality it starts a lot earlier.
212
00:11:38,322 --> 00:11:41,992
We got some chickens in buttermilk
with salt that we did yesterday.
213
00:11:42,284 --> 00:11:44,286
You have to bring meat up
to room temperature.
214
00:11:44,370 --> 00:11:47,456
You have to pull it out from the fridge
and let it sit on the counter
215
00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:50,126
for an hour or longer,
depending on the size.
216
00:11:50,209 --> 00:11:54,380
When you go straight from the fridge
into the oven, it will never cook evenly.
217
00:11:54,463 --> 00:11:56,424
The skin of the chicken will rip,
218
00:11:56,507 --> 00:11:58,926
the outside will get burnt and overly dry
219
00:11:59,009 --> 00:12:01,095
before the inside can even cook.
220
00:12:01,721 --> 00:12:04,390
That's why a lot of Thanksgiving turkeys
come out raw.
221
00:12:04,807 --> 00:12:06,100
[squishing]
222
00:12:07,935 --> 00:12:11,230
So the oven's nice and hot,
it's about 425,
223
00:12:11,313 --> 00:12:13,983
but the precise temperature
doesn't really matter that much.
224
00:12:14,942 --> 00:12:18,112
The back of the oven
is where all the heat really is,
225
00:12:18,195 --> 00:12:22,074
because every time you open the oven,
all of the heat escapes out the front.
226
00:12:22,158 --> 00:12:26,078
So, the front will always be cooler
and the back will always be hotter.
227
00:12:26,162 --> 00:12:29,749
So if we put the chickens with the legs
facing toward the back,
228
00:12:30,291 --> 00:12:32,168
the whole bird will cook more evenly.
229
00:12:32,251 --> 00:12:36,005
Because legs always need longer time
than the breasts to cook.
230
00:12:36,088 --> 00:12:37,089
[thud]
231
00:12:38,132 --> 00:12:41,552
We have been trained to believe
that oven cooking is so precise
232
00:12:41,635 --> 00:12:45,055
'cause you turn a dial and you set it
and you don't have to think about it.
233
00:12:45,389 --> 00:12:48,434
But that actually couldn't be further
from the truth.
234
00:12:49,310 --> 00:12:52,563
The oven is a surprisingly imprecise
form of heat.
235
00:12:53,564 --> 00:12:55,274
Because it works on a thermostat.
236
00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,111
And just like your house,
when you set that thermostat
237
00:12:59,195 --> 00:13:02,281
it doesn't stop climbing
when it reaches that temperature.
238
00:13:02,364 --> 00:13:03,908
It goes way past it.
239
00:13:03,991 --> 00:13:07,453
Sometimes it can go 30 degrees,
depending on what oven you have.
240
00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,289
So, you have to use your senses.
241
00:13:11,707 --> 00:13:15,544
You open it, you check, you look,
you smell, you touch.
242
00:13:15,628 --> 00:13:18,672
These are all the cues that help you
figure out how to cook.
243
00:13:18,756 --> 00:13:19,590
[oven closes]
244
00:13:20,341 --> 00:13:22,426
Since they're browning totally unevenly,
245
00:13:22,927 --> 00:13:25,888
the outsides are browning
and the insides are not,
246
00:13:25,971 --> 00:13:27,807
I'm just gonna move them around.
247
00:13:30,351 --> 00:13:33,395
So now they'll have a chance
to brown evenly on both sides,
248
00:13:33,479 --> 00:13:35,606
but the legs can still be
toward the back of the oven.
249
00:13:38,567 --> 00:13:40,027
[sighs] Okay.
250
00:13:42,238 --> 00:13:44,824
Meat goes through a transformation
as it cooks.
251
00:13:45,407 --> 00:13:46,242
[cranking]
252
00:13:46,325 --> 00:13:50,538
Tender cuts of meat, like chicken breast,
grow firm as they cook.
253
00:13:51,121 --> 00:13:55,584
But tough cuts, like legs and thighs,
go through a two-stage transformation.
254
00:13:57,086 --> 00:13:58,504
First, they firm up.
255
00:13:59,588 --> 00:14:01,799
But then the texture transforms again.
256
00:14:03,342 --> 00:14:05,678
When the legs are fully cooked,
they relax.
257
00:14:06,846 --> 00:14:08,722
And that's when the bird is done.
258
00:14:11,225 --> 00:14:12,268
[clicks open]
259
00:14:13,060 --> 00:14:13,978
Beautiful.
260
00:14:16,605 --> 00:14:17,565
Gorgeous.
261
00:14:18,315 --> 00:14:20,901
I usually can tell when the birds are done
262
00:14:20,985 --> 00:14:23,904
when the legs just wiggle in the joints
a little bit like that.
263
00:14:23,988 --> 00:14:27,616
It's a sign that the meat has gone
through its sort of two transformations.
264
00:14:27,992 --> 00:14:29,743
But if you do want to prick them,
265
00:14:29,827 --> 00:14:34,957
then just sort of check to make sure
that the juices are running totally clear.
266
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,835
Now we have to let this meat rest.
267
00:14:38,419 --> 00:14:42,047
It lets juices redistribute
and it lets the meat relax.
268
00:14:42,131 --> 00:14:45,301
So, for a chicken,
probably 10 or 15 minutes is plenty.
269
00:14:45,384 --> 00:14:49,013
And if you're worried about it getting
too cool, you can just tent it with foil
270
00:14:49,096 --> 00:14:51,557
so you don't lose that crisp,
beautiful skin.
271
00:14:54,268 --> 00:14:55,436
[squishy crunch]
272
00:15:00,274 --> 00:15:02,860
Ooh, so hot. Hot bird.
273
00:15:03,235 --> 00:15:04,987
That's another reason resting is good.
274
00:15:05,070 --> 00:15:06,906
Lets it cool off so you can handle it.
275
00:15:07,907 --> 00:15:10,993
So there's our bird.
This we save in our stock bag.
276
00:15:11,285 --> 00:15:14,997
Or if you're me, my favorite part
is the little private bite you have
277
00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,707
before your friends come over for dinner.
278
00:15:22,254 --> 00:15:24,632
I'll never get sick of this chicken.
It's so good.
279
00:15:27,593 --> 00:15:29,678
It's just seasoned all the way throughout.
280
00:15:29,970 --> 00:15:33,390
It's like, hint of tanginess,
and it's so moist.
281
00:15:36,644 --> 00:15:38,646
Man, there's nothing like
a buttermilk chicken.
282
00:15:42,107 --> 00:15:44,109
[cart rattling]
283
00:15:48,530 --> 00:15:51,367
Every time I go to the store,
there are a few things I always get,
284
00:15:51,450 --> 00:15:53,160
no matter what I plan to make,
285
00:15:53,243 --> 00:15:57,665
because I just want to give myself options
to go down different flavor roads.
286
00:15:58,415 --> 00:16:01,543
And there's no substitute
for fresh citrus.
287
00:16:01,627 --> 00:16:06,966
With limes, you can go to India and Mexico
and Vietnam in your cooking.
288
00:16:07,174 --> 00:16:11,303
And lemons, it's a really all-purpose way
to build acid into the food.
289
00:16:13,013 --> 00:16:15,474
When it comes to choosing a lemon
or a lime,
290
00:16:15,557 --> 00:16:18,978
I sorta like to just press it a little bit
and make sure that it feels soft.
291
00:16:19,061 --> 00:16:21,939
There's some give, and that's how you know
there's juice in there.
292
00:16:26,402 --> 00:16:27,695
[plastic ripping]
293
00:16:28,070 --> 00:16:30,072
The easiest dollar that you can spend
294
00:16:30,155 --> 00:16:32,783
to really make the biggest difference
in your home cooking
295
00:16:33,117 --> 00:16:34,493
is a bunch of herbs.
296
00:16:34,868 --> 00:16:39,039
So if I know I want to make Thai food,
I buy basil and cilantro.
297
00:16:39,123 --> 00:16:41,291
If I know I want to make Italian food,
298
00:16:41,375 --> 00:16:43,627
I buy parsley and rosemary and sage.
299
00:16:44,753 --> 00:16:46,422
You want everything to feel vibrant.
300
00:16:46,505 --> 00:16:49,550
If you really want to make them last,
you can trim the ends a little bit
301
00:16:49,633 --> 00:16:52,052
and stick them in a glass of water
in the fridge.
302
00:16:52,553 --> 00:16:54,930
Take care of your herbs
and they'll last a whole week.
303
00:17:00,728 --> 00:17:04,356
So as much as there is to be said
about all of the amazing local produce
304
00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:05,733
that comes throughout the year,
305
00:17:06,025 --> 00:17:09,445
I'm all about the stalwarts
that are really available year-round.
306
00:17:09,528 --> 00:17:13,282
If we can get comfortable cooking things
like broccoli and cauliflower
307
00:17:13,574 --> 00:17:14,950
and spinach and carrots,
308
00:17:15,034 --> 00:17:17,828
that's really a great foundation
for being a good cook.
309
00:17:17,911 --> 00:17:19,163
You can make anything taste good
310
00:17:19,246 --> 00:17:21,123
if you can make everyday vegetables
taste good.
311
00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:25,919
Looking down at the base of the stem
is really a good clue for knowing
312
00:17:26,003 --> 00:17:28,547
when the thing was harvested,
how many days ago.
313
00:17:28,630 --> 00:17:31,425
By the time this starts to turn yellow
and get brown,
314
00:17:31,508 --> 00:17:33,218
it's really not that fresh.
315
00:17:33,302 --> 00:17:36,513
And for things like broccoli
and cauliflower and spinach
316
00:17:36,597 --> 00:17:40,476
and most of the green vegetables
that we eat, freshness is sweetness.
317
00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:43,103
And that sweetness
is what makes it so delicious.
318
00:17:45,606 --> 00:17:47,274
[plastic bag rustles]
319
00:17:47,357 --> 00:17:49,943
[match scrapes, sizzling]
320
00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,197
[Samin] Before you even start cooking,
321
00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:57,910
an important choice to make
is whether to use intense or gentle heat.
322
00:17:59,411 --> 00:18:01,872
Intense heat is used to brown food.
323
00:18:01,955 --> 00:18:05,334
It gives us crisp surfaces
and tender interiors.
324
00:18:05,876 --> 00:18:08,545
Gentle heat uses time and liquid
325
00:18:08,629 --> 00:18:11,298
to transform dry, tough ingredients
326
00:18:11,381 --> 00:18:13,300
into tender, juicy ones.
327
00:18:16,386 --> 00:18:18,347
[indistinct chatter]
328
00:18:21,475 --> 00:18:23,393
[faucet running]
329
00:18:26,897 --> 00:18:27,981
[knocking]
330
00:18:28,065 --> 00:18:30,400
[laughs excitedly]
331
00:18:30,484 --> 00:18:31,485
-Hi!
-Hi!
332
00:18:31,568 --> 00:18:32,945
[Samin continues laughing]
333
00:18:33,028 --> 00:18:33,862
[friend] Hey, dear.
334
00:18:33,946 --> 00:18:35,030
-I love you!
-I love you.
335
00:18:35,114 --> 00:18:36,740
-Thanks for coming over.
-Oh, my God!
336
00:18:36,824 --> 00:18:38,951
It's been a while
since we've been drawing and cooking.
337
00:18:39,034 --> 00:18:41,870
It has been.
I'm excited to get back to it.
338
00:18:44,206 --> 00:18:46,500
[Samin] I tried to choose things
that are pretty to draw.
339
00:18:46,583 --> 00:18:49,378
-So I got those guys.
-Gorgeous.
340
00:18:55,551 --> 00:18:59,346
As you know, I was not really cooking
very much before we met, so...
341
00:18:59,429 --> 00:19:00,514
Like, at all.
342
00:19:00,681 --> 00:19:02,850
I remember the first time
I came to your house.
343
00:19:02,933 --> 00:19:04,393
This beautiful kitchen.
344
00:19:05,144 --> 00:19:07,479
And then I open the cupboard
to look for some salt,
345
00:19:07,563 --> 00:19:10,399
and it was just like 20 boxes
of protein bars!
346
00:19:10,482 --> 00:19:11,483
[both laugh]
347
00:19:11,567 --> 00:19:14,862
I was like, "You know we just signed on
to write a huge cookbook together."
348
00:19:15,863 --> 00:19:18,323
I was like, "I didn't mention that
I didn't cook at all?"
349
00:19:18,615 --> 00:19:22,244
It's changed. You've changed my life.
350
00:19:24,913 --> 00:19:26,582
[Samin] So, I got a bunch of veggies.
351
00:19:26,665 --> 00:19:28,667
I figured we could do
some roasting lessons,
352
00:19:28,750 --> 00:19:30,961
make some beans
and make a big beautiful salad
353
00:19:31,044 --> 00:19:33,172
with beans and veggies and herbs on top.
354
00:19:33,255 --> 00:19:34,506
[pot scraps]
355
00:19:39,344 --> 00:19:42,681
Put a little bay in there,
put a little salt in there.
356
00:19:47,311 --> 00:19:49,021
-I soaked these overnight.
-[stove sparking]
357
00:19:49,730 --> 00:19:53,400
It's gonna take a long time for the water
to penetrate all the way inside
358
00:19:53,483 --> 00:19:56,153
and get them all evenly moist and cooked.
359
00:19:56,236 --> 00:20:00,324
So if they can spend that time overnight
absorbing water and growing into this,
360
00:20:00,407 --> 00:20:04,578
that's gonna cut down their cooking time
and make them cook so much more evenly.
361
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:07,497
I don't love boiling beans really hard.
362
00:20:07,664 --> 00:20:10,876
I don't like boiling most things
really hard 'cause it cooks it unevenly.
363
00:20:10,959 --> 00:20:15,923
The outside will shrivel or break or tear
and the inside sort of stays tough, so...
364
00:20:16,006 --> 00:20:19,426
simmering is so much more gentle
it allows it to cook more evenly.
365
00:20:19,509 --> 00:20:21,094
So, we just let those guys go.
366
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,680
[bubbling]
367
00:20:23,764 --> 00:20:25,515
So I'm gonna roast these Brussels sprouts.
368
00:20:25,891 --> 00:20:27,684
[chopping]
369
00:20:29,061 --> 00:20:30,979
I'm just gonna salt and oil these guys.
370
00:20:31,939 --> 00:20:33,482
[pen scratching on paper]
371
00:20:34,107 --> 00:20:36,318
[soft rattling, metallic clanking]
372
00:20:36,401 --> 00:20:38,862
A lot of times,
people just drizzle oil on top,
373
00:20:39,321 --> 00:20:41,490
but you want the oil
between the food and the pan.
374
00:20:41,573 --> 00:20:43,951
And that's how you get
that crisp bottom edge.
375
00:20:45,994 --> 00:20:49,414
What freaks me out is when people pack
so many onto a pan
376
00:20:49,498 --> 00:20:51,625
that there's no room for steam to escape,
377
00:20:51,708 --> 00:20:53,794
and that's when you get
steamed Brussels sprouts.
378
00:20:53,877 --> 00:20:56,922
The other mistake I see a lot
of home cooks making
379
00:20:57,005 --> 00:20:58,423
is they're like, "I'm in a hurry.
380
00:20:58,507 --> 00:21:01,718
Let me just mix all my things on one tray
and throw it in the oven."
381
00:21:01,802 --> 00:21:02,886
And when you do that,
382
00:21:02,970 --> 00:21:06,098
you know, you're combining things
with all these different characteristics,
383
00:21:06,181 --> 00:21:08,934
different amounts of sugar
or different amounts of water.
384
00:21:09,226 --> 00:21:12,062
I say use as many pans
as you have vegetables.
385
00:21:12,145 --> 00:21:15,399
And if that's too many pans,
then at least split it half and half
386
00:21:15,482 --> 00:21:18,527
so that you can remove the broccoli
or the butternut squash
387
00:21:18,610 --> 00:21:20,320
before the other thing burns.
388
00:21:22,948 --> 00:21:25,951
[fast-paced song playing, grating]
389
00:21:29,746 --> 00:21:32,624
[rattling]
390
00:21:33,083 --> 00:21:33,917
[thud]
391
00:21:34,001 --> 00:21:37,671
You also want to make sure
everything is in contact with the pan.
392
00:21:37,754 --> 00:21:39,923
It's just like if you're sautéing.
393
00:21:40,007 --> 00:21:42,342
The browning that happens on top
is air browning.
394
00:21:42,426 --> 00:21:45,554
The browning that happens on the bottom
comes from conduction.
395
00:21:45,637 --> 00:21:48,557
That's what makes it so delicious,
is all of that yummy browning.
396
00:21:51,768 --> 00:21:54,855
Browning is a result
of an incredible transformation
397
00:21:54,938 --> 00:21:56,356
known as the Maillard reaction.
398
00:21:57,232 --> 00:22:01,153
High heat reorganizes
aromatic compounds in our food
399
00:22:01,236 --> 00:22:05,991
and produces deep savory flavors
that don't exist in the pale versions.
400
00:22:06,074 --> 00:22:09,369
Think of the difference
between bread and toast.
401
00:22:09,453 --> 00:22:11,621
Or raw tuna and seared.
402
00:22:11,705 --> 00:22:16,001
The brown version is much richer
and more complex in flavor.
403
00:22:19,671 --> 00:22:21,131
These are getting somewhere.
404
00:22:21,465 --> 00:22:24,176
But, you know,
they're just not nearly brown enough.
405
00:22:24,259 --> 00:22:26,720
So that's what I'm always looking for,
is soft in the middle,
406
00:22:26,803 --> 00:22:29,306
-crispy on the outside.
-[Wendy blowing rapidly]
407
00:22:29,389 --> 00:22:31,433
[munching] Mm-hmm.
408
00:22:31,516 --> 00:22:33,894
[Samin] So maybe I'll turn
the oven up a little. Crank it.
409
00:22:35,937 --> 00:22:37,856
Can you see, the skins just start to peel.
410
00:22:38,523 --> 00:22:41,943
That's a good sign that they're done
when they start splitting just like that.
411
00:22:42,819 --> 00:22:45,405
It's crazy too how we have
step 1, step 2 and step 3
412
00:22:45,489 --> 00:22:48,575
-and they keep getting bigger and bigger.
-Bigger and bigger.
413
00:22:48,658 --> 00:22:51,161
All right, let's taste them and see
if they're fully done.
414
00:22:52,954 --> 00:22:54,956
-Hmm, so good.
-They're so creamy.
415
00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:55,874
So good.
416
00:22:55,957 --> 00:22:58,877
When they're creamy all the way through,
that's how you know they're done.
417
00:23:01,004 --> 00:23:02,005
Oh, beautiful.
418
00:23:02,798 --> 00:23:04,841
-Hmm.
-[dull thud]
419
00:23:04,925 --> 00:23:06,426
-[Wendy] Those look perfect.
-Yeah.
420
00:23:08,095 --> 00:23:08,929
[Samin] Beautiful.
421
00:23:10,764 --> 00:23:12,140
Let's check on these guys.
422
00:23:16,686 --> 00:23:19,106
A few more minutes on those
till the corners are tender.
423
00:23:19,856 --> 00:23:23,193
♪ We're almost ready to make our salad ♪
424
00:23:23,276 --> 00:23:26,446
-♪ Good 'cause I'm getting really hungry ♪
-♪ Hungry ♪
425
00:23:26,530 --> 00:23:27,948
[both laugh]
426
00:23:36,039 --> 00:23:37,874
[rattle]
427
00:23:37,958 --> 00:23:39,501
This vinaigrette is super simple.
428
00:23:39,626 --> 00:23:43,255
It's just shallots that are soaked
in red wine vinegar and olive oil.
429
00:23:45,715 --> 00:23:49,428
These beans are really creamy and starchy
and we have a lot of sweet stuff.
430
00:23:49,511 --> 00:23:52,180
So having high acid vinaigrette here
is not a problem.
431
00:23:52,264 --> 00:23:54,558
We'll taste it over and over again
as we build the salad.
432
00:23:57,602 --> 00:23:58,645
Acidic. Really good.
433
00:23:58,728 --> 00:24:00,856
Yeah? In a good way. Yeah.
434
00:24:00,939 --> 00:24:03,358
[spoon scratching]
435
00:24:09,322 --> 00:24:10,657
This is za'atar.
436
00:24:10,740 --> 00:24:14,870
It's a mixture of a wild kind of thyme,
sesame seeds, and sumac.
437
00:24:15,537 --> 00:24:17,414
In certain parts of the Middle East,
438
00:24:17,622 --> 00:24:19,791
there's no such thing as too much za'atar.
439
00:24:22,752 --> 00:24:25,881
-Brown as can be. Careful, it's hot.
-[Wendy] Oh! So perfect.
440
00:24:25,964 --> 00:24:28,216
It's really nice and easy to tell
that they're done
441
00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:32,471
because those cores were gonna be
the part that takes the longest. And...
442
00:24:32,554 --> 00:24:35,140
it's like butter. They're so soft.
443
00:24:35,223 --> 00:24:37,184
So we can assemble our thing.
444
00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:50,155
I might add a little spoonful
of the bean juice.
445
00:24:50,739 --> 00:24:52,657
Let's taste it to make sure it's right.
446
00:24:55,619 --> 00:24:58,288
That's the thing,
you have to taste every single part.
447
00:24:58,371 --> 00:24:59,498
The cauliflower is right.
448
00:24:59,581 --> 00:25:00,832
The Brussels sprouts are right.
449
00:25:00,916 --> 00:25:01,875
The carrots are right.
450
00:25:01,958 --> 00:25:03,877
-The beans are right.
-I don't know if these are.
451
00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:05,128
You gotta have one more.
452
00:25:05,212 --> 00:25:07,088
[both laugh]
453
00:25:10,842 --> 00:25:12,636
[Samin] Staying
in that Middle Eastern region,
454
00:25:12,719 --> 00:25:15,514
we can crumble
little creamy feta cheese on top.
455
00:25:15,597 --> 00:25:18,308
You know, this is like salty,
fatty, acidic.
456
00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:20,685
And a huge pile of herbs. All of my mom.
457
00:25:21,061 --> 00:25:24,564
And then because I'm me,
we can put some Maldon salt on top too.
458
00:25:24,648 --> 00:25:26,775
-[Wendy] Yes.
-So you get that crunch.
459
00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,951
-Can we taste it?
-Let's do it. Yeah. Let me get forks.
460
00:25:36,660 --> 00:25:37,953
[crunch]
461
00:25:44,125 --> 00:25:46,169
-So good.
-I love you so much.
462
00:25:46,753 --> 00:25:48,338
-It's so good.
-Oh, my God.
463
00:25:50,423 --> 00:25:54,177
People always treat meat
and expensive ingredients
464
00:25:54,261 --> 00:25:56,263
as the most luxurious foods,
465
00:25:56,596 --> 00:25:59,641
but someone who took the time to cook
three different vegetables,
466
00:25:59,724 --> 00:26:03,228
a pot of beans, and pick
a whole bunch of herbs and make this?
467
00:26:03,311 --> 00:26:04,479
That's like true decadence.
468
00:26:04,563 --> 00:26:06,189
Oh, my God. Amazing.
469
00:26:08,149 --> 00:26:09,359
Hmm.
470
00:26:09,985 --> 00:26:12,487
[both groan and laugh]
471
00:26:21,413 --> 00:26:23,957
[children playing in distance]
472
00:26:29,004 --> 00:26:32,424
[Samin] It can be so overwhelming
when you get to the salt section
473
00:26:32,507 --> 00:26:34,384
and there's like
40 different kinds of salt.
474
00:26:34,467 --> 00:26:37,345
There's iodized salt,
there's sea salt flakes,
475
00:26:37,554 --> 00:26:39,222
there's kosher salt.
476
00:26:39,306 --> 00:26:40,849
You know, three different brands.
477
00:26:40,932 --> 00:26:43,184
And it just seems like,
how do you even make a choice?
478
00:26:43,268 --> 00:26:47,188
And why is some of it US$ 12
and some of it's US$ 1?
479
00:26:47,272 --> 00:26:50,483
The most important thing is
when you're adding salt to your food,
480
00:26:50,567 --> 00:26:52,402
it should just taste clean.
481
00:26:54,195 --> 00:26:57,616
In general, I discourage folks
from buying iodized salt
482
00:26:57,699 --> 00:27:00,368
because it makes your food taste metallic.
483
00:27:00,952 --> 00:27:04,664
I really love this brand,
because the flakes are rolled
484
00:27:04,748 --> 00:27:07,083
and so they end up being flat,
485
00:27:07,167 --> 00:27:10,170
and that means when you're salting
a chicken or a piece of meat,
486
00:27:10,253 --> 00:27:13,006
that the salt can stick,
and it also is lighter,
487
00:27:13,089 --> 00:27:16,009
so it dissolves into your food
more readily.
488
00:27:16,092 --> 00:27:19,846
When it comes to the fancier salts,
the stuff I call finishing salt,
489
00:27:19,929 --> 00:27:23,850
you know, it's really about texture
ultimately for me.
490
00:27:23,975 --> 00:27:26,102
I love this one, the Maldon salt,
491
00:27:26,186 --> 00:27:28,980
because it has this exquisite
pyramid shape
492
00:27:29,064 --> 00:27:31,941
that just flakes and like crunches
on the tongue.
493
00:27:32,692 --> 00:27:36,363
But the kind of interesting thing
is that even between two kosher salts,
494
00:27:36,613 --> 00:27:38,365
there's so much variance.
495
00:27:38,448 --> 00:27:40,158
All salts are not created equal.
496
00:27:41,826 --> 00:27:45,372
Morton's kosher salt is denser
than diamond crystal.
497
00:27:45,664 --> 00:27:47,457
Just one teaspoon of Morton's
498
00:27:47,540 --> 00:27:50,960
is nearly as salty as two teaspoons
of diamond crystal.
499
00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,715
So when you're following a recipe
and it says "add a teaspoon of salt,"
500
00:27:55,799 --> 00:28:00,303
your food will taste completely different
depending on which salt you use.
501
00:28:00,970 --> 00:28:04,766
The most important thing you can do
is know your own salt.
502
00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:06,017
Whatever it is,
503
00:28:06,101 --> 00:28:09,270
just get to know what you're using
and what you're cooking with.
504
00:28:10,313 --> 00:28:11,731
[birds chirping]
505
00:28:18,905 --> 00:28:19,823
[metal clanking]
506
00:28:19,906 --> 00:28:20,824
[snip]
507
00:28:25,161 --> 00:28:29,290
This idea that a delicious meal has to be
eaten around a stuffy dinner table
508
00:28:29,374 --> 00:28:31,292
is just not my philosophy.
509
00:28:32,043 --> 00:28:34,838
You don't have to be some fancy chef
to be doing that with your friends.
510
00:28:34,921 --> 00:28:38,842
You know, everyone can have something
to teach. Everyone can learn something.
511
00:28:38,925 --> 00:28:41,094
[producer] Sorry, we just saw
your mom walk behind you.
512
00:28:41,177 --> 00:28:42,721
[both laugh]
513
00:28:47,183 --> 00:28:49,936
I wanted my mom
to come make tahdig with us
514
00:28:50,019 --> 00:28:53,189
because it's my favorite thing
from growing up.
515
00:28:53,732 --> 00:28:55,275
What's tahdig, Maman? What is it?
516
00:28:55,358 --> 00:28:58,570
It's the crusty rice
at the bottom of the pot.
517
00:28:58,653 --> 00:29:00,363
It doesn't sound like much,
518
00:29:00,447 --> 00:29:02,615
but it tastes good
and everybody fights over it.
519
00:29:02,699 --> 00:29:06,703
So people usually cook extra rice
because they want extra tahdig.
520
00:29:07,454 --> 00:29:10,039
There's so many stories about tahdig.
There's so much lore.
521
00:29:10,123 --> 00:29:12,751
Like, new wives are judged
on their tahdig.
522
00:29:12,834 --> 00:29:15,044
-Yes.
-Tahdig test.
523
00:29:15,128 --> 00:29:17,881
It's the first test before
the give-birth-to-a-child test.
524
00:29:17,964 --> 00:29:20,467
Perhaps it was for some families, yes.
525
00:29:20,717 --> 00:29:24,846
So the reason I wanted to make tahdig
was because it's such a good lesson
526
00:29:24,929 --> 00:29:26,806
in using two different kinds of heat.
527
00:29:27,265 --> 00:29:30,351
First, we have to boil the rice
to get it partially cooked
528
00:29:30,477 --> 00:29:33,354
and get enough water in there
to steam it the rest of the way.
529
00:29:33,438 --> 00:29:36,149
And then we fry the rice
to get the crust.
530
00:29:36,232 --> 00:29:39,819
And so you get two amazing textures
in one dish.
531
00:29:40,904 --> 00:29:43,114
[Samin] This is some rice
that I soaked for you.
532
00:29:43,198 --> 00:29:44,699
The reason you want to soak it
533
00:29:44,783 --> 00:29:47,410
is so that it can start to absorb
some of the water
534
00:29:47,494 --> 00:29:48,828
and it'll cook more evenly.
535
00:29:48,912 --> 00:29:49,871
-That's true.
-Yeah.
536
00:29:52,332 --> 00:29:55,084
[Samin's maman]
So we'll now drain the starchy water.
537
00:29:56,461 --> 00:29:59,672
So we can probably just...
bring the whole thing over here.
538
00:30:00,924 --> 00:30:04,052
And then we can argue
about how salty the water is. [laughs]
539
00:30:06,679 --> 00:30:10,600
We have to taste it and see
if it is salty like the sea water.
540
00:30:13,186 --> 00:30:15,563
-That's nice and salty.
-We can put a little bit more.
541
00:30:15,647 --> 00:30:17,982
[Samin] This is mind-boggling to me.
542
00:30:18,525 --> 00:30:22,403
Because my understanding of your cooking
is that you never use enough salt.
543
00:30:22,987 --> 00:30:25,740
Thank you... for clearing that.
544
00:30:26,866 --> 00:30:27,700
[clanks]
545
00:30:27,784 --> 00:30:29,369
[Samin] This is saffron you gave me.
546
00:30:29,452 --> 00:30:32,580
Anytime somebody sees how much saffron
I have in my pantry,
547
00:30:32,664 --> 00:30:36,125
they're like, "You know that's like
$3,000 worth of saffron?"
548
00:30:36,209 --> 00:30:39,003
-[maman] It's okay. Let's use this.
-[Samin] Yeah. It's good to use it.
549
00:30:39,087 --> 00:30:41,506
Using a lot of it
is a sign of generosity.
550
00:30:42,423 --> 00:30:43,341
That's enough.
551
00:30:43,591 --> 00:30:46,094
[scraping]
552
00:30:48,388 --> 00:30:51,724
[maman] We're trying
to get a lot of aroma
553
00:30:51,808 --> 00:30:53,518
and color out of this saffron
554
00:30:53,601 --> 00:30:56,563
because we're going to use it
for decoration later.
555
00:30:56,813 --> 00:30:58,815
[bubbling]
556
00:31:00,608 --> 00:31:02,819
[Samin] So, how do I know
how long to cook the rice?
557
00:31:02,902 --> 00:31:06,698
[mother] You have to test it between
the two fingers, the thumb and forefinger.
558
00:31:07,073 --> 00:31:09,367
And you want the thing
to smear completely.
559
00:31:09,450 --> 00:31:11,953
Not completely. You still feel the grain.
560
00:31:12,370 --> 00:31:14,664
You have to do the right thing with rice
561
00:31:14,747 --> 00:31:17,125
or it's not gonna do the right thing
with you. [laughs]
562
00:31:19,294 --> 00:31:21,004
[Samin] Let's taste it for the salt.
563
00:31:22,797 --> 00:31:25,174
-You think it's good?
-I think it could use some more salt.
564
00:31:25,258 --> 00:31:26,843
-And you do too?
-I think so too.
565
00:31:26,926 --> 00:31:28,887
This might be the first time
we've ever agreed.
566
00:31:28,970 --> 00:31:30,263
[both laugh]
567
00:31:30,346 --> 00:31:32,891
-Let's keep it that way.
-Okay. Okay.
568
00:31:38,229 --> 00:31:40,523
In order to make tahdig the right way,
569
00:31:40,607 --> 00:31:45,528
using fancy pots and pans, cast iron,
and this French stuff doesn't work.
570
00:31:45,612 --> 00:31:47,447
Every maman in Iran
571
00:31:48,239 --> 00:31:49,866
has a pot from T.J. Maxx.
572
00:31:49,949 --> 00:31:52,285
From T.J. Maxx? Except for me.
573
00:31:52,368 --> 00:31:53,953
-Mine is from Marshalls.
-Okay.
574
00:31:54,037 --> 00:31:55,622
[both laugh]
575
00:31:58,124 --> 00:32:00,501
[Samin] What do you put in here
to get the tahdig started?
576
00:32:00,585 --> 00:32:02,754
[maman] Some kind of oil
that doesn't burn easily.
577
00:32:02,837 --> 00:32:05,214
-[Samin] So like canola oil?
-Canola oil is good.
578
00:32:05,548 --> 00:32:07,592
[Samin] How do you know it's warm enough?
579
00:32:07,675 --> 00:32:09,552
[maman] It starts to sizzle or something.
580
00:32:12,472 --> 00:32:13,890
I'm gonna put some saffron in.
581
00:32:13,973 --> 00:32:18,019
[mother] The saffron is gonna start
giving some color and taste and smell
582
00:32:18,102 --> 00:32:19,062
to the tahdig.
583
00:32:19,395 --> 00:32:22,607
We try to make it into a heap,
584
00:32:22,690 --> 00:32:24,567
then the steam is gonna
come from around it
585
00:32:24,651 --> 00:32:26,402
and it's gonna be easier to cook.
586
00:32:26,486 --> 00:32:28,279
And then, this is my favorite part...
587
00:32:29,322 --> 00:32:32,158
you gotta poke the holes
all the way down to the bottom.
588
00:32:32,492 --> 00:32:34,869
-[maman] We let the steam come up.
-[lid clangs]
589
00:32:34,953 --> 00:32:37,747
So it's really just
such a mild little sizzle in there.
590
00:32:37,830 --> 00:32:39,582
-Yes.
-It's not very strong.
591
00:32:39,666 --> 00:32:42,210
-Not at all.
-I've been doing this wrong my whole life.
592
00:32:42,293 --> 00:32:45,129
You're not frying it.
You're just making a good, crusty tahdig.
593
00:32:45,213 --> 00:32:46,047
Okay.
594
00:32:47,882 --> 00:32:49,509
[scraping, sizzling]
595
00:32:49,592 --> 00:32:53,012
This is one of my favorite tricks
that I don't see a lot in other cultures,
596
00:32:53,096 --> 00:32:54,973
but will you show us
how you wrap the lid?
597
00:32:55,056 --> 00:32:56,641
[maman] Because the rice is steaming,
598
00:32:56,724 --> 00:32:59,352
we don't want the steam
to go to the bottom of the pot
599
00:32:59,435 --> 00:33:01,187
and make the tahdig soggy.
600
00:33:01,270 --> 00:33:05,274
We are going to wrap the lid in a towel
to capture more steam.
601
00:33:06,025 --> 00:33:08,319
'Cause we don't want steamed rice.
602
00:33:09,654 --> 00:33:11,155
[Samin] So now when the steam goes up--
603
00:33:11,239 --> 00:33:14,075
[maman] It goes up and gets caught
between the towel and the lid.
604
00:33:14,158 --> 00:33:16,577
[Samin] There's some butter.
Here's a little pot.
605
00:33:17,704 --> 00:33:18,705
[knife clangs]
606
00:33:18,788 --> 00:33:21,916
[maman] I'm gonna coat
the sides of the pot
607
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:26,504
so that the butter is gonna keep the rice
from sticking to the sides of the pot.
608
00:33:26,713 --> 00:33:28,131
[Samin] That's really smart.
609
00:33:28,214 --> 00:33:30,425
You've got a smart mother.
What did you think?
610
00:33:30,508 --> 00:33:31,592
[Samin laughs]
611
00:33:31,676 --> 00:33:34,470
[sloshing]
612
00:33:34,846 --> 00:33:37,306
[maman] Steam's coming up.
We test again.
613
00:33:37,890 --> 00:33:39,475
-It's dry enough.
-[Samin] Yeah.
614
00:33:39,559 --> 00:33:41,185
-And it's almost cooked.
-It tastes good.
615
00:33:41,269 --> 00:33:44,188
[maman] So you go
with melted butter all around.
616
00:33:44,272 --> 00:33:45,815
[Samin] And the butter's for flavor?
617
00:33:45,898 --> 00:33:47,900
[maman] And also browning
the bottom of the pot.
618
00:33:47,984 --> 00:33:49,652
[Samin] You didn't add it
in the beginning.
619
00:33:49,736 --> 00:33:52,280
[maman] Because it burns.
You don't want to burn your tahdig.
620
00:33:52,363 --> 00:33:54,073
You want to brown it.
621
00:34:02,749 --> 00:34:04,751
[maman] Coloring the rice with saffron.
622
00:34:06,127 --> 00:34:07,462
[Samin] Wow, so beautiful.
623
00:34:08,921 --> 00:34:10,423
Hmm! Magic.
624
00:34:11,049 --> 00:34:13,259
-Oh, you're putting that back? What?!
-Yes.
625
00:34:13,634 --> 00:34:16,304
-[Samin] Why are you doing that?
-Because this needs to be--
626
00:34:16,387 --> 00:34:17,555
-Steamed a little bit?
-Yeah.
627
00:34:17,638 --> 00:34:20,141
You don't want the separate taste
of saffron and rice.
628
00:34:20,224 --> 00:34:21,184
You want them combined.
629
00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:23,019
[muffled thud]
630
00:34:24,353 --> 00:34:26,564
[Samin] All right,
we're getting close to the end.
631
00:34:26,647 --> 00:34:29,275
[maman] I'm taking
the saffron and rice out of the pot
632
00:34:29,358 --> 00:34:31,402
because I need to shake the pot
633
00:34:31,486 --> 00:34:33,988
to make sure that the tahdig
is not stuck to the bottom.
634
00:34:34,072 --> 00:34:36,783
-[Samin] Are you listening for the jiggle?
-[maman] You can feel it.
635
00:34:36,866 --> 00:34:37,700
[wet rattle]
636
00:34:42,580 --> 00:34:43,581
[clank]
637
00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,588
-[maman] Smells good.
-Smells so good.
638
00:34:50,671 --> 00:34:52,340
[maman] Buttery and saffron-y.
639
00:34:52,423 --> 00:34:53,966
You're self-complimenting?
640
00:34:54,050 --> 00:34:55,968
-[laughs] I'm hungry.
-[spoon tapping]
641
00:34:56,052 --> 00:35:00,139
-[rattling]
-[Samin] See how it's a whole cake?
642
00:35:00,223 --> 00:35:01,307
It's ready to come out.
643
00:35:02,225 --> 00:35:03,267
You know it is ready.
644
00:35:05,561 --> 00:35:08,564
[Samin laughs]
645
00:35:11,025 --> 00:35:11,859
Okay, here we go.
646
00:35:18,032 --> 00:35:19,742
Oh, I broke it!
647
00:35:19,826 --> 00:35:20,868
It's okay.
648
00:35:21,911 --> 00:35:23,204
Push it back together, Mom.
649
00:35:24,539 --> 00:35:26,707
That's okay,
this means I get to eat this part.
650
00:35:26,791 --> 00:35:29,293
It smells so good.
I don't care about how it looks.
651
00:35:29,377 --> 00:35:30,294
[Samin laughs]
652
00:35:30,378 --> 00:35:34,590
They say the potter always drinks
out of a broken pot.
653
00:35:35,049 --> 00:35:35,967
Oh, right.
654
00:35:36,050 --> 00:35:38,052
-I'm just eating the broken rice.
-Right.
655
00:35:38,469 --> 00:35:39,804
This is the broken pot.
656
00:35:40,555 --> 00:35:42,431
[Samin] You want a little piece
of tahdig, Maman?
657
00:35:42,515 --> 00:35:44,767
[maman] Yes, but just a little bit
from the corner.
658
00:35:44,851 --> 00:35:46,269
[crunch]
659
00:35:48,771 --> 00:35:50,148
[blowing]
660
00:35:50,731 --> 00:35:52,066
[crunches]
661
00:35:54,527 --> 00:35:55,736
-Very good.
-Good.
662
00:35:55,820 --> 00:35:56,863
I like it too.
663
00:35:57,196 --> 00:35:59,240
[Samin] The saffron is so fragrant.
664
00:35:59,323 --> 00:36:00,908
[maman] Bring back old times.
665
00:36:00,992 --> 00:36:02,076
It's so good, Mom.
666
00:36:02,743 --> 00:36:03,870
Bon appétit.
667
00:36:04,996 --> 00:36:06,497
It's been a long time since I had this.
668
00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:15,298
[maman] Maybe a little bit
of fried egg wouldn't hurt.
669
00:36:16,799 --> 00:36:18,593
[Samin laughs]
670
00:36:28,603 --> 00:36:29,896
[bell door dings]
671
00:36:30,313 --> 00:36:32,607
-Hola. We're here.
-[Samin] Hello!
672
00:36:32,815 --> 00:36:34,984
-Oh, my God!
-Oh, hi!
673
00:36:35,067 --> 00:36:37,111
-Everything smells so good.
-[Samin] Oh, thank you.
674
00:36:37,195 --> 00:36:38,988
Guys, I'm gonna put you straight to work,
675
00:36:39,071 --> 00:36:40,698
so do you want a glass of wine first?
676
00:36:40,781 --> 00:36:42,158
-Yes, please!
-All right.
677
00:36:42,241 --> 00:36:43,367
[all laugh]
678
00:36:44,535 --> 00:36:45,703
[Samin] So here's my thing.
679
00:36:45,786 --> 00:36:47,872
When you've spent all this time
making a dinner,
680
00:36:47,955 --> 00:36:49,832
why not involve your guests?
681
00:36:49,916 --> 00:36:52,084
[guest] I brought an apron too.
Should I put it on?
682
00:36:52,168 --> 00:36:54,212
[Samin] I love how people know
to bring an apron
683
00:36:54,295 --> 00:36:56,339
when they come over to my place
684
00:36:56,422 --> 00:36:59,091
I think a big part of what keeps people
out of the kitchen
685
00:36:59,175 --> 00:37:03,804
is they feel like they have no agency,
no power, no knowledge.
686
00:37:03,888 --> 00:37:06,390
And so,
there's a way where if they're involved
687
00:37:06,474 --> 00:37:08,643
in just a tiny bit of the process,
688
00:37:08,726 --> 00:37:11,520
they take away that knowledge
and they feel empowered.
689
00:37:11,729 --> 00:37:14,148
-Hi, everyone.
-This is my mom!
690
00:37:14,232 --> 00:37:15,358
[all cheering and laughing]
691
00:37:15,441 --> 00:37:16,651
Nice to meet you.
692
00:37:17,193 --> 00:37:19,320
-How has been everywhere?
-[guest] Portugal--
693
00:37:19,862 --> 00:37:21,113
[Samin] I love including people.
694
00:37:21,197 --> 00:37:24,033
I want to get them
to have that sensory experience
695
00:37:24,116 --> 00:37:26,619
that is really what cooking
is all about for me.
696
00:37:26,702 --> 00:37:29,413
I want them to get their hands
in the bowl and toss the salad
697
00:37:29,497 --> 00:37:32,291
so they feel what
a properly dressed lettuce feels like.
698
00:37:32,375 --> 00:37:36,337
I want them to have the experience
of tasting a sauce a few times
699
00:37:36,420 --> 00:37:39,340
and adjusting it with salt
or maybe a little bit more vinegar.
700
00:37:40,132 --> 00:37:42,468
You know,
if you're part of just mixing the thing
701
00:37:42,551 --> 00:37:46,013
with a little olive oil and vinegar
and salt and it's delicious at the table,
702
00:37:46,097 --> 00:37:48,891
you go away
with more than just a delicious dinner,
703
00:37:48,975 --> 00:37:50,601
you go away thinking,
"Oh, I can do that."
704
00:37:50,685 --> 00:37:52,311
One, two, three.
705
00:37:53,521 --> 00:37:55,064
Oh God, you guys were scared.
706
00:37:56,399 --> 00:37:59,652
[everyone cheering, whooping]
707
00:37:59,735 --> 00:38:00,736
Yes!
708
00:38:01,279 --> 00:38:04,115
[laughing, indistinct chattering]
709
00:38:04,699 --> 00:38:07,368
[Samin] For me,
cooking has never been about the food.
710
00:38:08,202 --> 00:38:10,037
It's about what happens at the table.
711
00:38:11,247 --> 00:38:14,333
Making good food accessible
is really important to me.
712
00:38:15,209 --> 00:38:17,253
And any little way that I can do that,
713
00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:21,090
from inviting a bunch of friends over
for a simple meal
714
00:38:21,173 --> 00:38:23,884
to making them help out in the kitchen
when they arrive,
715
00:38:24,135 --> 00:38:28,264
just helps make it feel like good cooking
is within reach for everyone.
716
00:38:30,349 --> 00:38:34,437
My ultimate goal is to make people
feel comfortable and taken care of
717
00:38:34,770 --> 00:38:36,981
so that they can just enjoy the moment
718
00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:38,858
and maybe, eventually,
719
00:38:38,941 --> 00:38:41,027
pass that kindness on to others.
720
00:38:42,028 --> 00:38:43,863
Cooking for them, with them,
721
00:38:43,946 --> 00:38:47,325
just happens to be the easiest way
I can do that.
722
00:38:47,908 --> 00:38:49,535
[in Japanese] Thanks for the food.
723
00:38:50,244 --> 00:38:52,079
[indistinct chatter, laughing]
724
00:38:53,956 --> 00:38:55,666
[conversation in Italian]
725
00:38:56,917 --> 00:39:00,254
[in Italian] The beautiful sage
from our own garden.
726
00:39:00,338 --> 00:39:02,006
-They're so good.
-Buonissimo.
727
00:39:02,089 --> 00:39:04,050
[chattering, glasses clink]
728
00:39:11,057 --> 00:39:14,060
[Samin] Anyone can learn to cook
and do it well.
729
00:39:15,227 --> 00:39:17,646
Be thoughtful. Be curious.
730
00:39:19,565 --> 00:39:24,487
And use salt, fat, acid and heat
to guide you to delicious food.
731
00:39:25,529 --> 00:39:29,283
And if for some reason
a dish doesn't turn out well, it's okay.
732
00:39:29,867 --> 00:39:32,411
You can always try again tomorrow.
733
00:39:35,331 --> 00:39:37,750
[no audible conversation]
734
00:39:38,834 --> 00:39:42,254
["Like This, Like That"
by The California Honeydrops playing]
735
00:39:57,770 --> 00:40:01,941
♪ Be glad you woke up
Be glad you broke up ♪
736
00:40:02,441 --> 00:40:06,028
♪ Be glad you don't know
What happens next ♪
737
00:40:07,154 --> 00:40:11,575
♪ Be glad you're walking
Be glad you're talking ♪
738
00:40:11,909 --> 00:40:15,413
♪ 'Cause who knows just
What might happen there ♪
739
00:40:23,546 --> 00:40:28,426
♪ You don't have to be
Like this or like that ♪
740
00:40:28,551 --> 00:40:33,848
♪ You don't have to be
Any particular way, you see? ♪
741
00:40:34,098 --> 00:40:38,769
♪ Don't have to run every time
When we can get to feeling fine ♪
742
00:40:38,853 --> 00:40:44,358
♪ But if you do, oh
Schubi-di-du... ♪
60859
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