Fiddlestick CC’s Executive Chef uses his cryovac machine for this kitchen hack.
Chef’s Thoughts is sponsored by barillafs.com.
As Executive Chef of Fiddlesticks Country Club, Ryan Daniels is progressive with new culinary techniques and special events. He and his team are focused on transforming upscale ingredients to make them familiar and delicious for members and guests.
- You’d be surprised to learn that I am an artist.
- If I could trade places with one chef it would be Daniel Humm.
- One of my most memorable meals was a simple ham and brie sandwich on a fresh baguette at a small restaurant on the mountainside in Scotland
- My go-to drink is a Moscow Mule.
- My last meal would be perfectly roasted chicken, roasted potatoes, pan jus.
- My worst culinary creation was the first time I ever made egg salad (or egg soup). There was no saving that disaster.
- If I could change one thing about my club it would be more room for storage.
- My favorite junk food is Skittles.
- If I wasn’t a chef, I’d love to be a motivational speaker.
- I knew I wanted to be a chef when I finished my first dinner service.
- The most ridiculous member or guest request I’ve ever had was cooking a steak one half medium rare and one half medium well and not splitting it.
- I love being a club chef because the ability to change one’s emotions through food.
- When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m hanging out with my wife and our three kids.
- My biggest mistake when I first started as a chef was being too nice.
- I cook Kraft Mac and Cheese at home, but I’d never cook it at the club.
- If I could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, it would be my 2 year old daughter, Emma, who passed away.
- The most valuable piece of career advice I’ve ever received was, “Stay humble and never forget where you came from.”
- My favorite celebrity chef is Thomas Keller because of where he started and what he created through hard work and dedication.
- The most important piece of equipment in my kitchen is plating spoons.
- I want to learn more about food science because it allows us to manipulate ingredients.
- My favorite ingredient is our homemade sea salt from the gulf. Truffle oil is the most overrated ingredient. Acid is the most undervalued ingredient. I detest brown or wilted Lettuce, and I can’t live without butter.
- I don’t like to brag, but because of my daughter’s rare disease, my family passed a law in NJ requiring all newborn babies be tested for the disease she had so that it can be treated and cured if caught in time.
- My most embarrassing moment in the kitchen was during a charity event we were catering outside at an aquarium. I bent over to grab something and my pants split in the back.
- If I could have one superpower, it would be time travel.
- My favorite cookbook is Eleven Madison Park.
- My favorite kitchen hack is compressing salsas or infused oils in our cryovac machine to infuse the flavors more quickly.
- I am motivated and inspired by my family.
- The hardest service of my career was my first New Year’s Eve here at FCC. I may or may not have thrown a few overcooked steaks across the kitchen.
- The most popular item on my menu based on sales is sweet and sour grouper.
- I’d lose my job if I took the grouper sandwich off the menu.
- Loyalty and trust are the most important qualities in a sous chef.
- My go-to breakfast is cheesy scrambled eggs and toast.
- When hiring, saying you are an expert kills a resume fastest for me.
- My biggest professional pet peeve is mixing salt and pepper together. (One of many pet peeves.)
- I will always purchase ranch dressing packets instead of making it from scratch.
- The most important question I ask during the interview process is, “What is your definition of success?”
- The best excuse I’ve ever been given for calling off work was when a rather large gentleman told me he pulled a muscle in his rear end.
- If I had to hire a family member, I would choose my middle daughter, Bella because she loves to cooks and is really good at it.
- The best culinary gift I’ve ever received was a personalized keep sake box.