Cooking Issues with Dave Arnold

On this episode of Cooking Issues, the crew reunites for a wide-ranging, hilariously chaotic discussion that moves from Coachella cuisine to centrifuge-based butter experiments, press duck, and Ricardo Montalbán’s chest. Dave is joined by John, Joe, Quinn, Jack, and Nastassia for musings on celebrity behavior, culinary nomenclature, and obscure French cheeses—all with a healthy dose of sarcasm and science.• Celebrity Chef Ego and Dining Etiquette – The group discusses how fame distorts behavior, including chefs and musicians, and the joy of witnessing celebrities treat restaurant staff with kindness—plus a few namedrops of not-so-gracious guests.• Naming the Centrifuge Butter Creation – Quinn recaps his Instagram poll on what to call the high-fat cream spun in a centrifuge. Ideas like “Heavy G,” “Astro Butter,” and “Roto Butter” are floated—and mostly rejected by Dave, who wants a name that doesn’t mislead consumers into thinking it’s traditional butter.• Paris Food and Shopping Recommendations – The episode wraps with a deep dive into Paris: cheese shops (Barthélemy, La Coop), restaurants (Tour d’Argent’s pressed duck, Chez L’Ami Jean, Le Repaire de Cartouche), and kitchenware store Dehillerin. Plus, Dave warns against raw mussels on Parisian seafood platters—twice burned, forever cautious.• Bonus Tangents – Includes musings on ambergris, legal cheese presses, and why Dave never wants to pluck a bird again. Also: why “Pepe Le Pew” absolutely should be canceled.

Dave and the team go guest-free for a No Tangent Tuesday that turns into a full-on tangent marathon. From musical instruments to experimental butter alternatives and water buffalo burgers, the crew dives deep into cooking experiments, ingredient terminology, and personal kitchen disasters. As always, the show blends humor, curiosity, and a fair share of chaos.• Anti-Butter & the Philosophy of Naming – Quinn shares his centrifuge-based “hyper cream” experiment, prompting a spirited discussion about emulsions, accurate naming conventions in cooking, and whether terminology shapes perception and understanding.• Water Buffalo, Focaccia, and Crotchless Pants – A deep dive into dry-aging local water buffalo, the challenges of focaccia dough structure, and Dave’s bike-seat-induced wardrobe malfunction all spiral into reflections on margarine, genetics, and salt substitutes.• From Tailored Pork Roll to Chef Boyardee – The crew waxes nostalgic about childhood food hacks, underrated meats like Taylor Pork Roll, and the pitfalls of using imperial measurements, pinches, and cups in recipe writing.

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.

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.

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.

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.