Virtual Cooking at home with Chef Pablo Lamon

So what does it feel like to be a master chef in a fast paced environment? I've always wondered that myself as someone that has never worked in a kitchen before, but has a love and respect for a commercial kitchen that I can't explain!

Chef Pablo Lamon is the Executive Chef at Nativo Kitchen and Bar at the Conrad Miami, and as the entire hospitality industry was shook by the COVID-19 pandemic, he found strategic and creative ways to continue to connect with the public by bringing virtual culinary classes in English and Spanish straight into your kitchen!

Let's start with who is Chef Pablo Lamon? This Argentinian-born native has a love and passion for the kitchen which he is able to express in this art-form. He is able to display culinary art by playing with colors, flavors, textures, aromas and temperatures to tickle all your senses! With a lengthy biography you'll find on his website, you'll see he has earned many awards from Argentina to Uruguay to here in the US due to his talent! In 2018, he even competed in Top Chef! Not an easy feat!! Outside of the kitchen, he's a family man, motorcycle lover, and lover of all arts, not just culinary art!

I was flattered when he wrote to me on Instagram to talk about his journey with his virtual classes and inviting me to join his "Steak and Old Fashioned" Class. It's such an excellent method of connecting with chefs that you don't normally do even in their restaurants!

It was easy to sign up for the class, see future classes, and send all my information to confirm my spot as they are limited. A week before the classes, an email is sent with the grocery list and item list so that you can have everything well prepared! He even recommends items you may not have in your kitchen all the time to purchase on Amazon for quick arrival. I had no hard time getting everything I needed right on time for class. If there are items that need prep work prior to class, he will also give instructions as to what to do and how soon prior so that you can keep up with his live session in the kitchen!

In the end, my bone-in rib eye was perfectly seasoned and cooked! I felt like a pro! Yea, my Smashed Potato fell apart, but that's ok! It just means I'll have to try it again in the future! The corn kernels with jalapeño, lime juice, and manchego cheese was full of so many flavors I didn't know what to do with myself!

And the Old Fashioned recipe of his, WOW! What a recipe! I'll share it with you down below, but that's the only recipe of his I'm leaking! You've gotta go sign up and take the next one to get your own unique recipes next time!!

I really can't wait to attend more classes in the future!

Check out his website to be able to see his full biography and learn more about his virtual classes. And be sure to follow him on Instagram to follow his journey as he continues to grow as a chef, artist, and entrepreneur!

Chef Pablo Lamon's Website:

https://www.pablolamon.com

Chef Pablo Lamon's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chefpablolamon/

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Pablo Lamon's Old Fashioned Recipe:

This Old Fashioned has a unique twist to make it more of a fall favorite! But you can enjoy it anytime! It requires a little prep work to make the orange juice reduction. You can juice your own oranges (about 15 total), or if you can find fresh squeezed, no sugar added OJ, get about 3 cups worth of that! Here in Miami, I can't imagine you not finding it at any Cuban coffee shop and more as they all have that orange juice press that gives you super fresh juice! I found some fresh squeezed at Whole Foods. You've gotta make sure to strain the OJ through a fine mesh strainer before making the reduction to get rid of any threads! Don't skip this step.

Making the Spiced orange juice reduction:

Ingredients:

• Cinnamon sticks 3 ea.

• Star anise 3 ea.

• Orange juice (strained) 375 g.

Instructions:

Place the orange juice, cinnamon stick and star anis in a sauce pot and take it to a boil.

Cook it until you reach a volume of ¼ Cup / 4 oz (15 minutes give or take). Strain the

reduction with a fine mesh strainer.

Making the Old Fashioned:

• Bourbon 1.5 oz.

• Spiced orange juice reduction 1 oz/1 Tbsp.

• Orange bitters 2 dashes.

• Orange peel 1 ea.

• Star anise 1 ea.

• Cinnamon stick 1 ea.

• Ice (to mix)

• Ball of ice (my preference!) for your rocks glass

Instructions:

Pour the bourbon in a shaker, add the spiced orange juice reduction, orange bitters and fill it up with ice. Stir for at least 30 seconds and strain over a rock glass with ice. Garnish with the orange peel, 1-star anise and 1 cinnamon stick.