The Chef's Notes Podcast

a brief history of the fork

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The little tool that we use daily has seen its fair share of controversy. Find out all about right here on food in five.

How to eat healthy and not die

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is as much for me as it is for you. I definitely need to get my act together and eat healthier, what about you?

A brief history of Catherine De Medici

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What does this real life Cerci Lannister have to do with culinary history? Find out here in a brief history of Catherine De Medici

Defining Canadian Cuisine

02 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What is Canadian Cuisine? Is there one? Find out here in this Canada Day Episode of Food In Five

The secretive life of french toast

29 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

French toast, the concept not the food...say what?

A Brief History Of Tarte Tatin

28 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tender apples, sweet caramel, and crisp pastry. Is tarte tatin the most perfect dessert there ever has been?

A guide to eating out

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to choose a restaurant. What restaurants to avoid. And how to choose the right dish for you.

A brief history of icecream

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From frozen rice porridge in Ancient China, to Mountain Snow in Rome, the quest for icecream has been on going for thousands of years. Find out everyt...

Learn to cook without measuring ingredients

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How chefs cook without measuring and how you can too!

Summer!

22 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It is officially summer! You know what that means...

A brief history of tacos

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From mexican silver mines to taco bell, this is a brief history of the taco

A brief history of sausages

19 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From ancient Sumer, to the modern day. Sausages have let the mark on mankind since the dawn of time. But what don't you know about your favourite tubu...

7 time-saving cooking hacks

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

These 7 time-saving cooking hacks will not only save you time but will make cooking easier and more enjoyable.

Why it's important to preheat our pans

15 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We have all like heard about preheating our pans before cooking. But why is it important and what happens if we don't do it?

A Brief History Of Cream Cheese

14 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Was cream cheese invented accidentally by a man named William Lawrence or are these just lies propagated by big cream cheese? Find out everything you ...

The right knife for you

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing the right knife for you can be a complicated endeavor. There are so many to choose from. But what do you actually need in a knife? Find out h...

A brief history of pepper

12 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Pepper has helped shape our history and the world as we know it today. Find out what you don't know about this fascinating spice

Goodbye Bourdain

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Talking about the loss of Anthony Bourdain

Cooking Because You Want To Not Because You Have To

08 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When we only ever cook because we have to it can seem like a chore. This makes cooking seem tedious and frustrating. But when we put in a little effor...

A brief history of kraft dinner

07 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Kraft Dinner has been around for how long??

7 tips for making better burgers

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Burger season is upon us! What are 7 things you can do to make your burgers better? Find out here

A Brief History Of Peanut Butter

05 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From Aztec toothache remedy to school lunch special, peanut butter has spread its way into the hearts of people throughout time

How I create a recipe

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learn the three techniques that I use to write recipes and use them to create your own dishes exactly the way you want.

Learning To Love Spicy Food

01 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There is something that people who love spicy food know that you don't. What is? I guess you'll have to listen to find out

A Brief History Of The Tortilla

31 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From the Myans to the Aztecs, to our old friend Cortes, the tortilla has been around for a very long time.

Why I'm Over Anthony Bourdain

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From working class hero to Kardashian-esque. Anthony Bourdain helped pull the veil back on the raunchiest parts of the restaurant industry. But now he...

A Brief History Of Gummy Bears

29 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From humble beginnings to cultural icon, find out what you don't know about gummy bears

My Top 5 Favourite Foods

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tastes and preferences change as we grow and develop. Mine seem to have come full circle.

How To Make A Kick-Ass Salad

25 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wanted to know how to make ranch dressing? What about Caesar dressing? What can you do to take a salad from extra boring to extraordinar...

A Brief History Of Potato Chips

24 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With over 35.5% of the global savoury snack market it is fair to says that potato chips are pretty popular. But where did they come from? Who invented...

The Dawson City Salmon Crisis Of 2013

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The trials and tribulations of one man in search of a salmon dinner in Canada's North

A Brief History Of Sushi

22 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From a South East Asian technique for preserving fish, to the Nigiri and Maki rolls we know and love, sushi has gone through quite the transformation....

The power of food - the stew that saved the day

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A story from my time in Montreal that perfectly illustrates the power food can have on our lives.

5 Barbecue Tips To Kick Off Your Summer

18 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here are five quick tips to help you kick off barbecue season in style.

A Brief History Of Sliced Bread

17 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Why did the US government ban sliced bread? Who invented? How long ago was it? Everything you never knew you wanted to know about sliced bread.

Simple Food

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Enjoy cooking and eating more by focusing on simple food done really well

A Brief History Of Chewing Gum

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From a Mexican General, to the ancient Greeks the story of chewing gum is a chewy tale. Find out everything you never knew you wanted to know about ch...

The importance of planning ahead

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Building a weekly meal plan will save you money, make you feel less stressed, cause you to eat better, and make you enjoy cooking more. What are you w...

How to cook a perfect boiled egg

11 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learn the secrets to getting perfect boiled eggs everytime.

A brief history of hollandaise sauce

10 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most famous French mother sauces hollandaise is as delicious as it is famous. Learn the ins and outs of this great butter sauce here.

When you don't want to cook.

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when you don't feel like cooking? Here is what I do

100th Episode Special! A brief history of Chef Ben

08 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In my 100th episode special I share with you a slightly less brief history of my career.

Permission to fail

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I have messed way more food than you and I have been cooking professionally for over eighteen years. What are you so afraid of?

The art of tomato sauce

04 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There is an art to making the perfect tomato sauce. It is not difficult but a few minor changes to technique and philosophy will impact how you cook e...

A brief history of doughnuts

03 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How did the doughnut get its hole?

Time Travel And The Power Of Food

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Food is a bridge that connects humans through all the time that has been or ever will be. It is the only way to truly travel through time.

A brief history of popcorn

01 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Popcorn has been enjoyed by humans for a long time...no, like a really long time. Find out everything you didn't know you wanted to know about popcorn...

You are the reason you can't cook

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Set the excuses aside. Cooking is important and it's you are the reason you can't do it.

Creative Cooking

27 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learning to cook creatively opens up a world of possibilities. Here are some tips that will help you discover your inner chef

A Brief History Of Chocolate

26 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Considered the food of the gods chocolate has been celebrated and cherished for thousands of years. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to the world's...

Which One Should I Buy?

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There is a billion dollar industry surrounding you and what you do in your kitchen. What should you buy and what shouldn't you?

A brief history of the Hamburger

24 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From the Mongols, to the German's, all the way to Oklahoma. Where did the hamburger come from? Who invented it? How did it become so intertwined with ...

5 things you should never buy in the grocery store

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Convenience just for the sake of convenience. Things that we could easily make ourselves are being sold to us a huge markups. Find out what five items...

Setting goals and cooking better

20 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Without goals we are just a ship floating blindly on the sea. Put some wind in your sail by picking a destination. Become a better cook, find enjoymen...

A brief history of the tomato

19 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From Southern North America, around the world via Spain and back to North America. The tomato has had quit the journey. Find out all about it right he...

Cooking with love

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A truly great meal is not about perfection. It is about the intent and the effort behind it. It is about what the meal represents.

A Brief History Of Coffee

17 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What to crazy goats have to do with your morning coffee?

The why of it all

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Why do I do what I do? Why is that I go to bed at midnight and wake up at 5am? What is it that drives me to do all of the things I am doing?

My dinner fail

13 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Failure is part of life. It can be hard to stomach, especially when it comes to failure in the kitchen.

A brief history of the banh mi sandwich

12 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The story of the banh mi is not just the story of a delicious sandwich. It is the story of a subjected people taking from their oppressors and creatin...

Enjoy cooking by not doing it

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the secret to enjoying cooking is ordering a pizza.

A brief history of sriracha

10 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From Burmese immigrants to Thailand, to a enterprising 1930's shop owner, to your kitchen table. How has sriracha climbed the culture popularity ladde...

Eating better food will make you a better cook

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Being open to experiencing bold and exciting flavours from different areas of the world will change how you cook forever. How? Find out here.

Insects - The future of food

06 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A growing population, a shrinking water supply, and world full of food no one wants to eat. Today we talk briefly about insects, the future of food.

A brief history of the birthday cake

05 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From humble beginnings as a seed and honey bound treat, to food served in celebration of the gods. The birthday cake is a delicious symbol of years to...

How to use leftovers to create something new and delicious

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Duck. Duck. Duck soup! The tale of how I took one $20 duck and turned it into three delicious and unique meals and how you can do it too!

A brief history of mustard

03 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How did the British take something delicious that the Romans and the French had been making for years and turn it disgusting? You're going to have to ...

How to get people to try new foods

02 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you want people to try new foods you first have to circumvent their expectations.

Easter cooking guide and how to not kill anyone

30 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Cooking Easter dinner is a challenge. There are a lot of things you have to keep in mind and it seems like you have to bend time and space to have eve...

A brief history of cookies

29 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Who invented the cookie? How did they do it? What do the Dutch have to do with what we call our favourite sweet treat? Find out in a brief history of ...

How do you cook...?

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How do you cook... spaghetti squash, lobster, bacon in the oven, rice and quinoa? Find out as I answer the most asked cooking questions on Google

A brief history of ketchup

27 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do the Chinese have to do with ketchup? What is ketchup's relationship to fish sauce? What does all of this have to do with coal tar? Find out he...

Food porn: A nation in crisis

26 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Food porn has become a serious issue in our society. It has taken over our television screen and our social media feeds. But what can be done? How can...

Food, the experience

23 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

No matter how pretentious it sounds, food should be experienced, not just eaten. Find out what I mean here.

A brief history of Antoine Careme

22 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The father of modern gastronomy, Careme revolutionized cooking forever creating not only the techniques we still use today, but the theory, which is t...

How to build flavour

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What are the secrets to building the most flavour into your food? Find out here in How to build flavour

A brief history of fish sauce

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learn the ins and outs of this ubiquitous Asian sauce.

An in depth guide to marinades

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wet or dry? Oil or vinegar? Yogurt or buttermilk? Marinades can tenderize, toughen, and impart flavour, but how do you know which one is right for you...

Tips on cooking meat

16 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get a nice even brown colour on your meat? What is carry over cooking? Why should you let meat rest and for how long? It's all inside this ...

A brief history of orange cheddar

15 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Why is cheddar cheese orange? Why bother dying it? Where did orange cheddar come from in the first place? Find out here, in a brief history of orange ...

Seven things you can do to improve your soup

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What are the seven most important things you can do to improve the quality of your soup? Find out here!

A brief history of Kombucha

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What's Kombucha? Where does it come from? How did it become the "it" thing? Is it actually a cure all super drink, or just bottled lies?

The buddy system

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How can a system designed to not lose children help to make you a better cook? Find out here

What's in your cart?

09 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Think about what you are putting in your cart at the grocery store this weekend.

A brief history of Worcestershire Sauce

08 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learn the history behind England's most famous sauce in the episode of a brief history

Simulate That Grilled Flavour

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learn to simulate that grilled flavour you crave all winter without burning your house down.

How to enjoy cooking

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Three quick tips that will help you turn that daily chore of cooking that we all have to do in an enjoyable experience.

A Brief History Of Risotto

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Learn all about risotto

Demystifying common cooking terms

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Don't know what a cup is? What does it mean to sauté or braise? What is a fine dice? This is the episode for you

How to use herbs and spices

02 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The ins and outs of flavouring food with herbs and spices.

A brief history of bananas

01 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Domesticated around 8000 years ago, bananas are an important and delicious food source for the world which produced over 155 billion bananas in 2014

Five tips to improve your cooking

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Five things to keep in mind when cooking that will improve how you cook overall.

A brief history of carrot

27 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Orange is the new purple. The complex life of the simple carrot. What do the Dutch have to do with our modern view of carrots? How did carrots help w...

Potato, potato

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What potato is the right potato for your potato needs?? Find out here as we deep dive into the world of potatoes.

Pizza

23 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From crust to sauce , somethings you need to know in order to make great homemade pizza.

Failure Is An Option

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to be better at cooking you need to start failing.

Failure Is An Option

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Failing can be scary but it is vitally important when learning to cook

Monday Morning Meal Plan 2

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Plan your meals for the week and only cook three times. Save time, and money all while eating healthier by following my Monday Morning Meal Plan

Roasting 101

16 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Everything you need to know to start roasting meat today!

Soup There It Is

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A few important things to keep in mind when making soup that will subtly change the quality of your soups forever