Jake Sanchez (u/jakesanchez)

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PSA: I think the push for 'local only' ingredients can be a trap for new cooks

I was at a food talk in Austin where a chef said if you aren't sourcing everything from within 50 miles, you aren't cooking with integrity. That really bothered me. I ran a small place for three years, and trying to get local tomatoes in January meant paying $8 a pound for greenhouse ones that tasted like water. My food costs went way up, and I had to charge more for a worse product. I think telling new chefs they must do this sets them up to fail. It's better to be smart and honest. Use great local stuff when it's in season, but don't feel bad about a good canned tomato for your winter sauce. Has anyone else felt this pressure and found a middle ground that works?

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Recent Comments

1mo ago

I finally realized I was charging by the hour for a logo design project and it took me 3 months to finish because I was scared to send it off.

Yeah, I just set a timer and forced myself to send it when it went off.

1mo ago

I thought air fryer grilled cheese was a dumb idea until my friend in Chicago made one.

My buddy in Austin swears by a thin layer of cream cheese inside a turkey sandwich before he toasts the whole thing in a pan. Sounds gross but it melts into this creamy sauce.

1mo ago

Hot take: you don't need to preheat your oven for a full hour for sourdough

Check how you're measuring the oven's actual heat. I mean, the light coming on doesn't mean it's at the right temp, so maybe your shorter preheat works because your oven runs hot.

1mo ago

My climbing rope got a nasty core shot on a big oak removal in Portland.

Man, that's a rough spot for a rope to go. Core shots always give me that cold feeling in my gut, especially when you're already committed to a big tree. My backup plan is pretty simple, I keep a second, shorter climbing line in my kit bag at all times, just for a quick swap. It's a hassle to re-tie in, but it beats being stuck. Really makes you double-check every rope rub on the way up. Glad you had a backup ready to go.