The Culinary Institute of America

This plant-forward salad is inspired by a Thai green papaya salad. Chef Toni Sakaguchi from the Culinary Institute of America makes a base of shredded green papaya, and tosses that with shredded purple cabbage and romaine lettuce, and tops it with fried dumplings for a heartier entrée salad. Get the Southeast Asian Salad recipe here !

Lemongrass tofu is intensely flavorful -- packed with fragrant and citrusy lemongrass and crispy golden tofu. This plant-based dish, called đậu hũ sả in Vietnamese, is delicious served with rice or rice noodles. Chef Skyler Hanka from the Culinary Institute of America shows us how she tops the lemongrass tofu with peanuts, cilantro, sliced chilies, and some freshly shaved lemongrass for an added l...

These crispy Vietnamese spring rolls, or chả giò, are traditionally made filled with vermicelli noodles, wood ear mushrooms, pork and, sometimes, shrimp, though this can vary regionally. Chef Skylar Hanka from the Culinary Institute of America shows us how to make a vegetarian version, filled with tofu and vegetables. In Vietnam, these spring rolls are enjoyed as an appetizer, wrapped in lettuce a...

Savory and spicy, kimchi fried rice is a popular dish in South Korea that has endless variations. The tart and spicy kimchi, and sweetness and heat of the chili paste make kimchi fried rice a beloved dish all over the world. This vegan take on kimchi fried rice has a bit of an Asian fusion twist, with the addition of Thai herbs and crispy fried egg roll strips for a garnish. Get the Kimchi Fried R...

Bánh xèo are crispy and savory crepes made with rice flour that are a popular street food in southern Vietnam. Bánh xèo literally means “sizzling pancake” in Vietnamese and refers to the sizzling sound when the rice batter is poured onto the hot skillet. The crepes are stuffed with all sorts of ingredients, such as pork, prawns, mung beans, and bean sprouts. Chef Toni Sakaguchi from the Culinary I...

Johnny Madge, an international olive oil expert, judge, and guide, has been leading olive oil tours since 2008. From featuring olive oils on the menu of his former Italian restaurant to offering guided tastings at his wife’s café in Spain, Johnny has dedicated his career to exploring the flavors and nuances of high-quality olive oil. In this conversation with Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director...

Tanya Holland—celebrity chef, cookbook author, entrepreneur, and founder of the acclaimed Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland—shares how she brings olive oil into the world of modern soul food. While many don’t traditionally associate olive oil with soul food, Tanya embraces it to make her dishes both healthier and more flavorful. From olive oil–based marinades, sauces, and vinaigrettes to sautéing col...

Dr. Michael Cirigliano, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, has been practicing for over 30 years and is a strong advocate for the concept of food as medicine. In his daily work with patients, he emphasizes practical, sustainable approaches to healthy living. In this conversation with Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Allian...

Suzie Kang, Grocery Category Manager at Baldor Specialty Foods, a leading East Coast foodservice distributor, oversees the pricing, assortment, and sourcing of olive oils. She works closely with chefs to understand exactly what they’re looking for—whether it’s a medium-bodied, versatile oil, one from a specific country of origin, or a beautifully packaged bottle perfect for the table. In this conv...

Lisa McManus, Executive Editor of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews, first dove into the world of olive oil while researching an article in 2006—and has been exploring its flavors and qualities ever since. In this conversation with Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, Lisa discusses how to educate the public about the different varieties and qualities of extra virgin ol...

Jane Black, a Washington, DC–based food writer known for her coverage of culinary trends and the evolving world of olive oil, joins Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of the Extra Virgin Alliance, for a conversation about how consumer understanding of olive oil has changed in recent years. Jane discusses the growing interest in quality, transparency, and origin, as well as the important role ch...

Chef Dominica Rice Cisneros is the owner of Bombera, a celebrated Mexican restaurant in Oakland's Dimond District, known for its Chicana heritage cooking, wood-fired techniques, and focus on community and local ingredients.  She talks about cooking with lard, butter, and corn oil as a child, and discovering olive oil when she started working in Bay Area restaurants in the 1980s. Alexandra Kicenik...

Join award-winning author, pastry chef, and chocolate authority Alice Medrich as she explores the surprising—and delicious—role of extra virgin olive oil in desserts. From boosting moisture in a Chocolate Marble Pound Cake to intensifying citrus notes in a mandarin olive oil icing, Alice explains how olive oil can transform classic recipes. She’s joined by Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, director of...

Discover how Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of the legendary Zingerman’s Delicatessen, helped introduce specialty foods—and especially *extra virgin olive oil*—to the Midwest back in the 1980s, long before it became a pantry staple. In this conversation, Ari reflects on how customer tastes have evolved over the decades and how a new appreciation for high-quality olive oil has transformed the market. He...

Chef Heena Patel from Besheram restaurant in San Francisco describes her dish of watermelon khichdi as the “mac n’ cheese of Gujarat,” her home state in India. That’s because this dish is the quintessential comfort food of her childhood, and a staple in many Indian households. Khichdi is a healthy and hearty Indian dish made with rice and moong lentils. Pureed watermelon flesh, as well as the rind...

Raita is the cooling counterpoint to many spicy Indian dishes. This yogurt-based sauce is often made with cucumber, but in this version Chef Heena Patel from Besheram restaurant in San Francisco makes the sauce with cubed watermelon. Cucumbers and watermelon are in the same family and can often be used interchangeably in recipes.   Get the Watermelon Raita recipe here .

Muthiya is a traditional Gujarati dumpling from India, enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack—and a childhood favorite of Chef Heena Patel from Besheram restaurant in San Francisco. These watermelon muthiyas are made with a mixture of chickpea, millet, and corn flours, as well as shredded watermelon flesh, rind, and juice—so there is no wasted watermelon! The dumplings are steamed and served with wat...

Bhel is one of India’s most beloved street foods, famous for its bold mix of sweet, sour, tangy, spicy, and crunchy elements. Join us as Chef Heena Patel of Besharam in San Francisco creates watermelon bhel—a colorful salad made with juicy watermelon flesh and crisp rind, puffed rice, sev, red onion, and a duo of chutneys: date-tamarind and mint-cilantro. Inspired by flavors from her hometown in G...

Chef Toni Sakaguchi from the Culinary Institute of America shares a quick and delicious recipe designed to keep athletes energized: the Peanut Butter Protein Power Smoothie. Peanut butter aids athlete recovery by providing protein and other essential nutrients that help repair muscle damage, replenish energy stores, and reduce inflammation. Whether you’re training, recovering, or just looking for...

Chef Mai Pham, owner of Star Ginger in Sacramento, shares how peanuts—known in Vietnam as dau phong—are an essential ingredient woven into countless dishes, from sauces and toppings to braises and even desserts. In this episode, she prepares Claypot Braised Lemongrass Chicken with Peanuts (Gà Kho Sả Đậu Phộng), a fragrant and comforting dish that blends tender chicken with the nutty richness of pe...

Feeding thousands of kids every day is no easy task—but school nutrition professionals are up for the challenge! In this video, Chef Aaron Smith, Director of Culinary Services for Seattle Public Schools, shares his creative Peanut Butter Toast Bar concept: a fun, customizable option designed to keep students excited about school meals. He’s joined by Angela Gomez, RDN, SNS, who specializes in maki...

The combination of rose and pistachio is a classic flavor combination that appears in a myriad of desserts all around Europe. From Mahalebi in Cypress, Rožata in Croatia, and panna cotta alla rosa in Italy. Chef Rebecca Peizer from The Culinary Institute of America was inspired to deconstruct this dessert and make her own updated version using products from all over Europe, such as Croatian Rose H...

One of the most delicious and iconic comfort foods in the European Union is moussaka and its many variations, depending on where it is made. Moussaka is cousins with the shepherd’s pie, and is a layered eggplant or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, tomato, and a top layer of custardy béchamel sauce. In this same spirit, Chef Rebecca Peizer from The Culinary Institute of America reima...

This dish is a fresh, modern nod to a beloved classic from Central and Eastern Europe: cabbage and noodles. Chef Rebecca Peizer from The Culinary Institute of America reimagines and elevates the dish by using tagliatelle egg pasta with cuttlefish Ink for a briny, coastal twist. This pasta dish is a snapshot of European culinary traditions, blending Eastern European comfort with Mediterranean vibra...

Chef Rebecca Peizer from The Culinary Institute of America shows us how to make her own updated and elevated version of a dish inspired by Sweden’s Rotfruktsgryta, and Germany’s Leipziger Allerlei. This medley of late harvest vegetables Like EU-certified Organic French peas and Polish green beans, and Spanish Asparagus known as Esparrago de Navarra PGI, all paired in a buttery sauce alongside fluf...