The Cinema Chefs podcast, hosted by chefs Jenn de la Vega and Clara Park, focuses on culinary education through the lens of iconic dishes from your favorite movies. These picks are for food-loving cinephiles who want to recreate dishes from famous flicks. 

Clara: The single greatest thing you can do to become a better cook is get a high-quality chef knife. The knives from Misen are of great quality and won't break the bank.

Jenn: An indispensable tool in the kitchen is a pastry brush. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s not just for pastry! You can baste meat roasts, barbecue, apply butter to sides of salmon, as well as glaze baked goods, toast, and evenly grease your pans before you bake.

Clara: I didn't know what a microplane was until I went to culinary school. It is the tool found in every chef's knife roll and every Michelin-starred kitchen. Grate Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, ginger, chocolate, truffles, or citrus zest (but not all at once!) to maximize flavor with maximum efficiency. 

Jenn: One of the first dishes we’ve analyzed on The Cinema Chefs is the Cubano sandwich from the film Chef, starring Jon Favreau. Besides the pastry brush I mentioned before, you’ll also want to get a cast-iron grill press to simulate the effect of a hot panini press at home. You can also use it to make the perfect smash burger like Ralph Fiennes in The Menu. It’s not a unitasker, either. I love it for crisping up bacon and searing chicken for perfect crispy skin.

Clara: For those looking to get more serious about their cooking, premium spices are the way to go! I love this Burlap & Barrel collection because it is so versatile. Smoked paprika can transform your chili or tacos. Cinnamon is great for baking, Middle Eastern cooking, or perking up your coffee. There's never a bad time for thyme...  

Clara: Add a touch of elegance to breakfast or brunch with this amazing tabletop accessory, a toast rack. As we learned from The Phantom Thread, every aspect of your meal can be served with style, even toast. 

Jenn: Why is it a helpful tool? When you toast bread, the heat creates a little steam. When you lay hot toast flat on a plate, it steams one side. Serving them upright in a toast stand ensures both sides stay crisp.

Happy holidays from your chef BFFs,

Jenn de la Vega & Clara Park

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