By: Ria Rueda
Most cooks have one – that one secret ingredient, the one thing that they would never want to do without. Here are our chef’s go-to ingredients:
Chef Michael Lucente, Greenwich
“I need to have a good bottle of wine to cook with and then another one for dinner.”
Chef Scott Quis, Stamford
“It’s simple but I love garlic because it enhances everything.”
Chef Adam Greenberg, South Norwalk
“A really good extra-virgin oil makes a difference.”
Chef Helton DaSilva, Fairfield
“Bacon makes everything taste better.”
Chef Frank Proto, New Haven
“I embrace sherry vinegar. A couple of drops can balance the right amount of acidity and brightness in a stew, sauce and risotto.”
Chef Steven Brand, Brookline
“ Salt because it brings out the flavor in a lot of dishes. There are many types of salt and depending on the origin, you can use it in savory meat dishes or even sweet dishes too.”
Chef Happy Eytab, Atlanta
“Cumin seeds look unassuming but its nutty and peppery flavor packs a punch when it comes to adding this flavor to dishes from vegetables to stews. ”
Chef Eric Stagl, West Hartford
“Bacon is never disappointing. You can simply add it to a sandwich or transform a pasta dish.”
