Tyler Florence on How to Cook

Food Network Chef Tyler Florence cooks for the crowd at Macy's Lenox Square.

Nuggets of cooking wisdom and philosophy from Food Network chef Tyler Florence from his recent cooking demonstration at Macy's Lenox Square:

"When I cook, I like to make things as pure and as clean as possible. I want a potato to taste like a potato."

And for corn to taste like corn - this is his method for cooking fresh corn. I'm sorry to post this just as the summer corn is ending, but keep it in mind for future ears.

It's a very simple recipe, just roast corn in the husk, piled up on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven until your kitchen smells like warm corn. The silks and husk enhance the corn flavor and steam the kernels in their own packages.

Want to know what Tyler Florence thinks? Here are the rest of the Tyler stories:

1. Tyler Florence on his mission.

2. Tyler on Southern Food favorites.

3. Tyler on why he won't be your Facebook friend.

4. Tyler on his new book coming out in October.

5. Tyler on dining out in America today

Tyler Florence on Southern Food

Tyler Florence takes a question from the audience at the Macy's Culinary Council event at Lenox Square.

Food Network chef Tyler Florence visited Atlanta in July and I'm recounting a few of the wide-ranging subjects he discussed. As just about every Southern knows, Tyler is a South Carolina native and grew up in Greenville. These are his favorite Southern foods:

For aroma, "hands down, collard greens" for the "mustard aroma and salt pork. In two seconds, I'm back to Grandma's kitchen." For taste, black pepper fried chicken. For mouthfeel, peach pie. "Southern regional cooking is the most important cooking right now. The most important historical heritage cooking is Southern. It translates coast to coast, it permeates the senses. You've got to pass it on to your kids." Amen, Brother Tyler.

More from Tyler:

1. Tyler Florence on his mission.

2. Tyler on why he won't be your Facebook friend.

3. Tyler on his new book coming out in October.

4. Tyler on dining out in America today


Many thanks for Macy's for the terrific pictures from the Culinary Council event.

Tyler Florence on What People Want to Eat



Tyler Florence plates Sole Almondine at Macy's event, July 2010.



Tyler Florence's flagship restaurant, Wayfare Tavern is getting great reviews. I thought I'd fall out when he described the signature peach pie - using Frog Hollow peaches just like Chez Panisse, a shattery crust that uses lard and clarified butter. The pie is finished with rosemary and served with goat's milk ice cream. Oh my.

This is what Tyler has to say about restaurant food right now:  "Fancy frou-frou dining is dead and it's going to be dead for awhile. We've built a restaurant that's old and traditional." I guess my heart will have to find its way back to San Francisco. Sacramento Street, to be exact.

More from Tyler:

1. Tyler Florence on his mission.

2. Tyler on Southern Food favorites.

3. Tyler on why he won't be your Facebook friend.

4. Tyler on his new book coming out in October.

Many thanks for Macy's for the terrific pictures from the Culinary Council event.

Tyler Florence's New Book



Tyler Florence signs copies of his cookbooks at Macy's Lenox Square.

Tyloer Florence's sixth cookbook, Family Meal featuring 200 new recipes will come out October 12.

In the language of restaurants, family meal is served to the staff before or after service. The book will include recipes from his home and restaurants. During his recent Atlanta visit to Macy's at Lenox Square, Tyler made Sole Almondine, Roasted Parmesan Green Beans, Lemony Garlic Smashed Potatoes (groan if you must, they were surprisingly tasty.)

 "My promise to you is to help families get food on the table," Tyler said.
More from Tyler:

1. Tyler Florence on his mission.

2. Tyler on Southern Food favorites.

3. Tyler on why he won't be your Facebook friend.

4. Tyler on dining out in America today


Many thanks for Macy's for the terrific pictures from the Culinary Council event.

Tyler Florence on Social Media

Food Network Chef Tyler Florence at Macy's Lenox Square in July 2010.

A packed house in Macy's Housewares.

As owner of three restaurants and two culinary stores, Tyler Florence needs to know what's happening now. Here is Tyler's blogroll of sites he checks each day:

Eater

Thrillist

Yelp

Urbandaddy

GrubStreet

Tablehopper

"I use Yelp as a guideline for staff discussions. We use all those websites to help the restaurant get better." What does he think of the democratization of reviewing? "I'm ok with that. I don't have a choice, but I want someone to be honest with me. I want someone to walk into my restaurants with the intention of having a fantastic experience."

Asked why he doesn't have a big presence on Facebook, Tyler replied "That cruise ship has sailed." Citing the 5,000 friends Facebook limit, Tyler prefers Twitter. He has a following of 200,000, equal, he says to a weekday audience for "Tyler's Ultimate."

If you walk through the supermarket and think "What Would Tyler Florence Do?" you'll be thrilled to know that there's an Iphone app for that - check out http://www.tylerflorence.com/ for details.

More from Tyler:

1. Tyler Florence on his mission.

2. Tyler on Southern Food favorites.

3. Tyler on his new book coming out in October.

4. Tyler on dining out in America today

Many thanks for Macy's for the terrific pictures from the Culinary Council event.

Tyler Florence, All Week Long

Food Network Chef Tyler Florence & me, July 2010.

It's hard to believe that this was two months ago, but in July, I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Food Network Chef Tyler Florence when he made an appearance at Macy's Lenox Square. I wrote a couple Examiner.com stories at the time and posted a picture on A Cook and Her Book's Facebook page, but put the interview notes away for another day. Well, my friends, after two months, I think today's the day, or maybe I should say this week's the week.

Each day this week, I will feature a picture and a snippet of Tyler Florence's wisdom and ways in the kitchen. I was a fan of his casual, fresh American style before the Macy's event, and I'm even more impressed now - Florence is a businessman, family man and as entertaining to watch in person as on television.

First up: Tyler on his secret to success: "Most industry guys have spent their lives in the kitchens and they speak that language."

His job, whether writing cookbooks or demonstrating recipes is to translate restaurant ideas to the home kitchen. "My cookbooks start at home. I ask "is it simple?"

More posts on Tyler:

1. Tyler Florence on his mission.

2. Tyler on Southern Food favorites.

3. Tyler on why he won't be your Facebook friend.

4. Tyler on his new book coming out in October.

5. Tyler on dining out in America today


Many thanks for Macy's for the terrific pictures from the Culinary Council event.