Distinguished Flavors, Private Chef & Catering

09/18/2025

Like the great Whitney says, make sure you get Rest. 🛌

09/17/2025

“Kalbi (Galbi) Korean BBQ Short Ribs”👨🏽‍🍳
Ingredients:
3 - 4 pounds cross-cut beef short ribs (galbi cut) about ⅓ - inch thick
1/2 Korean/Asian pear (or 1 apple), grated
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 medium onion, grated
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup mirin
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon black pepper
sesame seeds for garnish
Green onion for garnish
Instructions:
For the ribs:
Rinse the ribs to wash off bone dust and remove some blood on the surface. Drain well. Pound the meat lightly with a meat tenderizer. This second part helps tenderize the meat, but you can skip it if you want.
For the marinade:
Blend the pear (or apple) together with the onion, garlic, and ginger in a mini/regular blender. Mix all the marinade ingredients well in a large bowl or container.

Add the meat to the marinade and coat each rib with the marinade. Marinate the meat for 6-8 hours (overnight for best results). Flip them over half way through. The thicker the meat, the longer you’ll want to marinate.
Cooking the ribs
Grilling: Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Grill the short ribs, turning only once, 2-3 minutes on each side. You can use charcoal or wood charcoal (soot bul) grill, gas grill or a grill pan over the stove top.

Broiling in the oven: Set the oven to broil and preheat. Lay the meat in a single layer on a broiling pan and place it on the top rack of the oven, usually about 6 inches below the broiler. Cook until the ribs are slightly charred and caramelized, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip them over and cook for an additional 3 – 4 minutes. Watch closely not to burn them.

Pan-frying: Preheat a large non-stick pan. Reduce the heat to medium. Lay the short ribs in a single layer, 4 or 5 ribs depending on the size of the pan. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. When the pan is getting dry. Add the marinade through a strainer. Flip them over and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes until all the sauce is gone and the ribs are nicely browned.

09/15/2025

🌱🍨

09/11/2025

“LEMON RICOTTA BLUEBERRY PANCAKES” {
(serves 1-2).👨🏽‍🍳🫐
Ingredients:

1 egg + 2 egg whites
1/2 cup ricotta cheese (dairy-free or regular)
3 tablespoons coconut flour (no substitutions)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons milk (almond, cashew, dairy)
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoons granulated sweetener
1/2 cup blueberries
Instructions:

Mix all ingredients except blueberries in a blender or food processor, until smooth. (Alternatively, you can mix ingredients by hand in a medium-sized bowl). Fold in blueberries. Heat a medium-sized pan for 1-2 minutes over medium-high heat; grease with butter (this creates the BEST flavor) and pour 2-3 tablespoons of batter into the pan. Cook the pancakes until golden brown and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Top with butter + maple syrup!

09/11/2025

🎶👨🏽‍🍳

09/05/2025

“Vegan Suya” 🌱👨🏽‍🍳

Ingredients:
2 cups Oyster Mushrooms
1 tsp dried red chillies
½ tsp ground ginger
2 tsps finely ground roasted peanuts skip this if allergic
½ tsp garlic
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp onion
1 bouillon cube
2 tbsp of vegan butter

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven at 325*F
2. Wash the mushroom, rinse, and pat dry with a paper towel.
3. Spread out on a baking pan, and place in a preheated oven allowing to Cook for about 10 minutes. While cooking flip the mushrooms on each side as they can dry up very quickly.
4. In a large bowl Mix chillies, paprika, garlic, ginger, onion, sea salt, and bouillon cube.
Once the spices are mixed evenly set aside for future use.
5. Take the cooked mushrooms from the oven once done.
6. Place in a cup the vegan butter, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt.
7. Once the butter is melted pour it in a large bowl, then toss the mushrooms in the bowl coating the mushrooms evenly.
8. Then sprinkle mix to taste over the mushrooms tossing in the bowl to coat evenly.
9. Plate , and Enjoy with cucumber slices, and fresh sliced onions! 😃

08/31/2025

08/15/2025

“Sautéed green beans with French Onions”👨🏽‍🍳
Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided, can also use coconut oil or canola oil)
5 large onions, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions:

To make the sauteed green beans: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add fresh green beans and cook for one minute. Remove the green beans out of the water and soak them in a bowl of ice-cold water to stop the cooking. Drain green beans and set them aside.

2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-8 minutes until soft. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally until onions are caramelized – about 15 minutes. Pour in 1/4 cup of broth to deglaze if your pan gets too dry, and keep stirring until onions are browned. Stir in fresh minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.

3. Allow your skillet to cool enough so you can wipe out the excess fat. Return the skillet to the stove over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter. When hot, add the blanched green beans, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. Top with the French onion and serve the sauteed green beans immediately. Enjoy! ❤️

07/18/2025

Preparing Hibachi 🔥🔪 a worthy late 🍽️ to put them to sleep 😴 after 😂!!

07/10/2025

Country smothered Smoked Turkey Necks” 🌱👨🏽‍🍳

Ingredients:
6 lbs. turkey necks washed and dried
5 tablespoons Savory Cajun Seasoning
1 cup all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons avocado oil
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion chopped medium
1 bell pepper chopped medium
3 stalks celery chopped medium
6 garlic cloves chopped fine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon dry thyme
5 sage leaves chopped or 1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon cayenne (Optional)
3 bay leaves
¼ cup worcestershire sauce
3 ½ cups unsalted chicken stock
8 green onions chopped, garnish
½ cup Italian parsley chopped, garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F/ 148°C. Liberally season turkey necks on both sides with 4 tablespoons of Savory Cajun seasoning. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining Cajun seasoning in flour. Light dredge turkey necks in flour.
2. Heat a heavy bottom pot over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of oil and butter; once butter is melted, in batches, cook turkey necks for 2-3 minutes per side until brown. Add remaining oil and butter; once melted, add ½ cup of seasoned flour and stir constantly until it turns peanut butter brown.
3. Stir in onions, bell pepper, celery, and kosher salt; cook for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, sage, cayenne pepper, and bay leaves, and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add worcestershire sauce and chicken stock, stir until smooth, and bring to a boil. Add the turkey necks back, cover, and bake for 3-3 ½ hours until turkey necks are fork tender. Stir at the halfway point and lightly scrape the bottom of the pot; add more stock if you want a looser gravy.
5. Serve turkey necks with gravy over rice or mashed potatoes and garnish with green onions and parsley.

07/06/2025

“ Curry Lentil Soup” 🥣 👨🏽‍🍳

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
1 small sweet onion, diced
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
1.5 cups uncooked green lentils, rinsed
2 cups veggie broth
2 cups full-fat coconut milk
1/2–1/4 teaspoon curry powder (based off your preference)
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cumin
3–4 cups baby kale
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Cilantro for garnish

Instructions:
1. Heat the oil in a large pot and add the onions, carrots, cook for 5-7 minutes or until fragrant
2. Add the lentils and broth and milk
3, Then add in the bay leaf, turmeric, curry powder, cumin and salt and pepper and simmer for about 25-30 minutes
4. Remove from heat and fold in the kale and serve with rice, bread or anything you’d enjoy!

07/02/2025

👨🏽‍🍳