Chef Blog

Whether you are new to cooking or ready to upgrade your cookware, balancing quality with performance is the key to selecting the right pieces. Rather than opting for extensive, pre-selected cookware sets, consider the types of cooking you do most and what type of oven and cooktop/cooking surface you use.  

While some people decide to hire professional pots and pan organization experts, there are plenty of ways for you to reduce the clutter and make progress towards the kitchen of your dreams on your own.

Meat master Gary Welch started grilling on a used Traeger ten years ago and has never looked back. His love of cooking started in his grandma’s kitchen making whipped cream from scratch and inspires him to regularly cook for his fellow paramedics at work.

It’s time for your monthly shop. You head into your local store, and before you there lies a collection of steak knives. They’re on special offer! In a split second, you’ve lunged. With them in hand, you skip to the...

Exactly how to clean and care for a wooden cutting / chopping board is a common kitchen conundrum. Knife lovers know. Good wooden boards will last a lifetime with what we at Dalstrong like to call “a little cutting board love.”

To fully understand the importance of having a butcher’s knife in the kitchen, one must first understand what butcher knives are. Now, a lazy individual might tell you that butcher knives are simply kitchen knives for butchering meat. However, just like your mouth-watering dinners, we know the key is in the high level of detail.

What started as his friends asking “What are you cooking on Sunday?” has turned Nick Coe into a mini-Instagram backyard BBQ sensation.

French-Canadian BBQ artist Alex Turcotte is obsessed with pushing his creations to the limit. Experimenting with different flavors and incorporating other influences keeps his dishes constantly evolving. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his kids, why approach is more important than technique, and how understanding fire is everything.

There are a variety of tools available to sharpen your knife and each tool has different methods that you can use. This guide will give a detailed description of which sharpening option is best for you.

Private chef Jason Waschkowski says one of his favorite things to do is to shop for an eclectic array of specialty spices and oils that few people buy. His approach is to constantly experiment, and he recommends that aspiring chefs approach their food like an artist. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his new experiment with kangaroo, how to make meals personal, and why he’d love to cook for the queen.  

The santoku knife is loved around the world as the ‘three virtues’ knife. Some say the three virtues refer to its ability to cut through meat, fish, and vegetables. Others believe the phrase refers to its ability to chop, slice,...

Charcoal-obsessed pitmaster Jabin Postal says his BBQ obsession took off after his children were diagnosed with food allergies. Combining necessity and passion, his mission became creating the best food experiences he could for his three boys. He sat down to talk to Dalstrong about the power of simple cooks, his best “cheater BBQ” recipe, and why he prefers a flamethrower to light his charcoal.

When he started a New York City-based food vlog eight years ago, John DeMartino had no idea it would be the beginning of an intense love affair with BBQ. The lifelong foodie became passionate about exploring different varieties and techniques, bought a Traeger, and the rest is history.

Choosing a knife is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a chef. "You can get away with just two knives if you have a good chef's knife,"  Justin Kowbel, Knife Crafter As an all-purpose knife, you will...

When Matt Krull’s first marriage began to unravel in his early twenties, he joined the Marine Corps and came out the other side “forged through fire.” His journey into cooking started much later in life with a love for feeding his family, and has turned into a passion for sharing love and positivity with his followers. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about heartbreak, spirituality, and why he’s driven by the creative process. 

With a strong social following on Instagram, it’s hard to believe that Misty Banchero has only been cooking for a little over a year. Her drool-worthy BBQ pics and videos have earned her a loyal, engaged, hungry audience. She sat down with Dalstrong to talk about her inspiration, why ingredients are everything, and what it means to be a “meat man’s wife.”

After being furloughed from her restaurant gig, Chef Kelsey Shade put down the puzzles and picked up her phone to post chef tips on Tik Tok. With two culinary degrees and a passion for teaching, she’s created a robust following through focusing on the fundamentals of cooking. But there’s nothing simple about this young chef. She sat down with Dalstrong to talk about her philosophies, her inspirations, her opinions — and why no one should discount her expertise because of her age. 

What do you get when you cross Ozzy Osbourne, a purple bathrobe, and BBQ? Mel Chmilar, Jr. The home-trained grill master and pit builder isn’t shy about his deadly meat creations or his daughter’s birthday bouncy house. He sat down with Dalstrong to talk about his family, his best hack for slaying every meat dish, and the coffin he keeps in his kitchen. 

Finding the perfect hunting companion will change your buck skinning experience. So make sure you invest in a quality skinning knife. A good quality skinning knife should be: Lightweight Sharp with a thin blade Agile and maneuverable Any general utility...

In the pastry world, the bread knife you choose can make or break your career. Your pastry knife must be functional and efficient. It should cut through bread without ruining the crumb or fluffiness of your pastry. As a chef,...

If dogs are a man’s best friend, knives are a chef’s best friend. The way you store your prized knife set is reflective of the care you provide your most valuable kitchen tools.