the first thing i learned in culinary school






the very first thing i learned in culinary school, i mean before i was even allowed to pick up a knife, was to place a damp dish towel underneath my cutting board.

i've been doing it now for so long i don't even think about it.  but i have watched friends in their kitchens chopping on boards that rattle around on the counter and the other day larry asked me why i always do it and it made me realize that maybe a lot of people just don't know about this.

it is just a simple trick that stabilizes the board and makes cutting safer, faster and more accurate.

so that's it.
put a damp cloth under your cutting board.

xo
janet



34 comments

  1. Wait. Did we know you went to culinary school? Have you NO LIMIT to your talents?:)

    And that's a great trick. I did not know it. Thank you.

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  2. Janet,

    A great tip...I started doing this when rolling out pie/tart dough, but don't know why it didn't occur to me to do it every time I use a cutting board! :/ Now I know!

    Linda
    xo

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  3. Great tip. We do the same, although I also have a little rubber mat I use. Drives me crazy having the board scooting around...

    More culinary school tips please! We are avid cooks over here.

    xo Terri

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  4. :-) more lessons what is the second thing.? boiling water cracking eggs?

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  5. Thanks for the tip, I never knew this!

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  6. never knew about it, will try it tonight, thanks!

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  7. Dearest Janet,
    You teach me something new every time. Again, I must thank you. and my family will be so happy that they won't have to hear my wobbly and warped (and favorite) cutting board knocking against the tile counter! It really is the simple things that count.
    Sincerely,
    Miranda
    SF Bay Area

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  8. Hello Janet:
    We shall tell Timea about the tea towel trick....when we next get up courage to enter the kitchen!!!!

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  9. Great tip! Thanks! BTW---maybe this has been talked about before in the comments section, but just in case.....have you seen Fat,Sick, & Nearly Dead? I saw it for the first time the other night and it made me think think about your food philosophy.

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  10. hi janet, thanks for the tip. do you have any tips on the best brand of knife? (also one that is not terribly expensive)

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    Replies
    1. i'm still using my dexter knives from culinary school.
      you can prob get them online but you can get them for sure at a restaurant supply store.
      they are not expensive at all and can really hold a sharp edge.

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  11. I didn't know, so thank you very much for passing this tip on, I shall be using it in future.

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  12. I didn't know this either. Thank you for the tip Janet!

    Madelief x

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  13. I trained as a chef so that was my first lesson, too! I always feel such a bossy old cow for telling people that trick when I go for dinner but they always appreciate it! xxx

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  14. yes! i do this, too.
    gives you grip and shock absorption, and looks fancy!
    but i did not know you went to culinary school... tell us more ♥

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  15. Oh you fancy pants, I bet you can do the fast choppy thing too!

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  16. So funny ~ no, of course I've never thought to do this! Thanks for the great tip Janet. Now please do teach us more!!
    xo~
    T

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  17. So that's why it sounds like the house is coming down every time I 'thwack' a clove of garlic with the back of my knife. Thanks Janet!

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  18. Well they didn't teach me that in restaurants so I will try it tonight. What else you got/

    xo jane

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  19. I chop vegetables almost every day and have never had a problem with my cutting board moving around, but I think that has more to say about my chopping skills (very slow) than the stability of my cutting board!

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  20. Nope...did not know to put a damp kitchen towel under my cutting board...brilliant!

    Cool photo by the way Janet!

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  21. I did not know that tip, yes mine rattles, now I know! Thanks for that. Also, I wanted to share with you that today when I was on a color consult, the client-Mary, and I began to talk about blogs and she mentioned "the gardeners cottage" and I said in disbelief, (but like I totally knew you) "you mean Janet's blog?" and she was so excited that I too knew of you! she immediately went to her ipad to pull up your images and it was so cool that we were on the same page of loving you! ha ha funny right, we love you! So keep inspiring and we will keep reading and loving! Regards, Karen

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    Replies
    1. this totally cracks me up and makes my day. thanks for sharing karen!

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  22. Janet, did they happen to teach you how to remove pesky stains from chopping boards too. I cut up six roast beetroot on mine on Monday and accidentally stained it purple. Can't get it off. Eeeeek. xx

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    Replies
    1. not really. as you can see my boards are pretty stained too. hot soapy water and you can try lemon juice. but hey, they are chopping boards!

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  23. What can I say...The Gardener's Cottage is the best blog-always inetesting ne, teaching me, challenging me, and comforting me. Thank you. -Suzanne in Illinois

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    Replies
    1. I totally agree...
      Nice to see you here again, Suzanne. You're doing okay, then?
      Colleen

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  24. I didn't know this! I learned something new today. :-)
    Thank you Janet!

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  25. Thanks! I DIDN'T know!

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  26. Thank you so much Janet, I have never heard of this before either.

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  27. I am very happy to read this article. Thanks for giving us this useful information. I have come some advice to about culinary courses north perry ME for your success. Thanks for sharing.....

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kindness is never out of style.

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