Home cooking is both healthy and delicious and also a great way to bring together your loved ones over a delicious meal but elevating your meals to restaurant-quality status can turn a simple home-cooked dinner into a truly special and memorable occasion. Here’s how to get that high-end restaurant feel at home.
Buy Fresh, Local Ingredients
The fresher your ingredients are, the more the flavours will come through and the better your final dish will taste. The best way to achieve this is to buy your ingredients on the day of the dinner party itself or as close to it as possible and opt for locally sourced ingredients wherever you can. This reduces the time that your ingredients have spent getting from their source to your plate, meaning that not only will they taste fresher but you’ll also be helping the environment too.
Have the Right Equipment
Having the right kitchen utensils is key to making your home-cooked dishes restaurant-quality so plan ahead and research the things you’ll need to create your dishes. You may need new pieces of equipment that will elevate your home cooking to restaurant status, for example, a pestle and mortar or a set of chef’s knives. You might also want to replace some of the tired, worn-out basics in your kitchen and invest in new saucepans.
Upgrade Your Tableware
The way your food is served and what it’s served on can make a big difference to the overall feel of your dining experience. If you really want to feel like you’re eating in a restaurant then this is the time to get out your best silverware, plates, and glasses and upgrade any tired, old pieces such as chipped plates, mismatched cutlery, or scratched wine glasses. You should also take the time to set the table beforehand.
Do Some Research
The more research you do, the better prepared you’ll be. Take the time to look into possible dishes beforehand and do a practice run-through at least once so you can perfect your technique. If you’re serious about learning to cook like a pro, then you might also want to do some reading about the tips and tricks that professional chefs use or even watch online tutorials about specific cooking techniques, such as blanching, braising or sautéing. The more time you spend honing your craft and chef skills, the easier it will be to create delicious dishes in your own kitchen and serve restaurant-quality meals for your friends and family at home.
