Traditional Radler

Senior video producer Guillermo Riveros is cooking up Colombian dishes while social distancing as a way to find comfort during these difficult times through dishes that remind him of his family and home. Here he shows us how to make an extra cheesy version of traditional white arepas and a super easy sauce to eat them with called hogao.

In this episode of Kitchen Essentials, we visit sushi master Nozomu Abe at his celebrated omakase restaurant, Sushi Noz in NYC. Noz has been perfecting his craft for over 20 years, and it shows in his obsessive attention to detail when it comes to his food and the exclusive dinner experiences he offers. At Sushi Noz you will find Edomae sushi, a style that focuses on the treatment of ingredients through preservation of the fish, and a particular preparation of the rice. These processes are all part of the performance Abe puts on for his diners at his counter every night. When it comes to his favorite tools, he shows us both his prep and counter knives; His binchōtan coals and gril,l which he brings out to show customers how he sears and smokes delicate morsels of tuna or eel. After that he talks to us about the most important element of sushi, and the tool that is essential for him to make it: the rice and his traditional hagama. Setting the stage for his performance, is a space carefully curated to look, smell and feel like a traditional omakase in Japan, complete with a traditional hinoki refrigerator that he specifically commissioned for the restaurant, and a beautiful collection of Japanese ceramics both old and new, that lend the final touches to this unique food experience.

In our inaugural episode of CHOW-TO, Guillermo learns how to make Bun Bo Hue with Chef Jimmy Ly of Madame Vo in New York City. Bun Bo Hue is the second most popular traditional Vietnamese soup after Pho, this one originating in the city of Hue in Central Vietnam (translated to English Bun means noodles, and Bo means beef). It is a dish famous for its balance of acidity, spice, and umami flavors. This particular iteration is inspired by Southern Vietnam, and is spicy and rich in color and flavor. Watch and learn! CHOW-TO is an instructional series hosted by Senior Video Producer Guillermo Riveros dedicated to breaking down the process for creating the most delicious foods. Follow along for valuable insight and guidance from the world's finest chefs.

It’s unfair how little presence Iranian food has in the restaurant world. A cuisine as sophisticated and influential deserves the spotlight, and food explorers should have the opportunity to try Persian flavors and ingredients in all their glory. In this episode, Guillermo visits Sofreh in Brooklyn, and meets chef and owner Nasim Alikhani, to learn how to make her version of a traditional North Iranian bean and dill stew (baghali ghatogh). This recipe makes it easy for home cooks to introduce Iranian flavors and techniques into their kitchens. Move over chickpea stew! This hearty dish has the potential to become the next "It" recipe. The stew is completely vegan, and with the addition of a poached egg on top, you can make this a crowd-pleaser.

Store-bought hummus is convenient but you haven't lived until you've made your own. For this episode of Chow-To, we visit chef Eden Grinshpan at her Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant DEZ in New York City to find out how to make hummus that is way better than the kind you'll find in a store. Guillermo and Eden make a traditional version, and then, to make things more interesting, they take it to the next level with Eden’s signature Beet Meze. This delicious vegan, gluten-free, protein-packed base is easier to make than most people think.

Cacio e pepe is a social media sensation. Everywhere you look, there are live-action pasta lifts of creamy, pepper-flecked, twirl-worthy mounds of this classic pasta dish. But this "new" foodie fodder is actually rooted in ancient Roman cuisine. To learn how to make this marvel from scratch, Guillermo travels to New York’s Seaport district to meet with world renowned chef Jordan Frosolone, and learn how he makes his “Best of NYC” (an honor bestowed by New York Magazine) dish. Chef Jordan is currently the executive chef at 10 Corso Como, an imported Italian restaurant/gallery concept that has become a celebrity darling since its opening last year. From its kitchen he shows Guillermo how to make pasta from scratch the traditional way, and how to successfully make this incredibly simple dish, that just requires precision and attention to detail.