Our Chef's Favorite Tools
/I asked our Chef’s and Managers: “What is your favorite kitchen tool?” Then I made the answer a little more difficult by adding, “And it can’t be your knife.” We could probably do a column on recommended knives, but I would guess that their answers would be repetitive: “A sharp one.”
I think you’ll be surprised by some of our favorite tools.
We’ll begin with John Haas, M’tucci’s Founding Chef, who is now Company President.
“My favorite is probably the spoon. It’s so versatile. It can be used in platings whether it’s scooping or spreading, obviously it’s used for tasting or stirring, and I frequently use it for peeling the skin off of things like ginger or boiled potatoes, or even carrots.”
Damien Lucero - Executive Chef/Operating Partner at M’tucci’s Bar Roma - My favorite is wood fire. Cooking over a fire is the ancient way. There is nothing that relates us more to our past than cooking over an open flame. The range of techniques and depth of flavor is truly unmatched.”
Ernest Nuñez, GM/Operating Partner at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - “My favorite utensil is a good pair of tongs. They become an extension of your hand for just about anything, especially hot items. The spoon and wood fire get my vote for sure.”
Cory Gray - Partner/Executive Chef at M’tucci’s Italian - “I would have to say my favorite tool in the kitchen are my hands… With them I love to create bread, cheese and pasta, just to name a few. I believe your hands are one of the most important tools you have and so many things can be accomplished with just your hands. There is a special connection I feel while creating food using only my hands.”
Aaron Trujillo - Sous Chef at M’tucci’s Italian - “One of my favorite kitchen tools is my micro plane. I constantly use it week in and week out. If I’m not using it that day it’s still either right next to my cutting board or in my knife bag. It’s one thing that oddly became very important to me and that I can’t go without.”
Shawn Cronin - Partner/Company Chef - “My favorite tool in a kitchen is vinegar. You have vegetables that are getting old, pickle them or make a salad. You have fruit, make a shrub. You have a soup or sauce that is too rich, add a few drops of vinegar and watch the magic happen. Got a little fish leftover, cure it with salt and vinegar. A little in food can bring out so much flavor without having to add salt.”
Robin Dibble - GM/Operating Partner at M’tucci’s Moderno - “In an effort to avoid repeating every tool or implement that has been mentioned… I’ll quote one of my favorite Sous Chefs, Ty. He always said, ‘your greatest tool as a cook is your hands.’ I’ve thought about this often throughout my career in the kitchen. Every culinary skill requires “good” hands. Take care of your hands! Our second greatest tool is our palate. Over the last few years, as many of us experienced a loss of taste and smell, I have come to believe it’s one of our greatest assets as a cook. Tasting food is our happy place in the kitchen, and sharing ideas starts with your palate. It is deeply connected to why we love this restaurant life.”
Arcy Law - Bartender/Partner at Teddy Roe’s Bar - “I don’t know if I have a favorite tool in the kitchen, but I do love a big-ass cutting board.”
Michael Lewis - Editor of La Gazzetta - “I love the bread knife. I don’t bake very often, but the bread knife is so handy for scooping chopped vegetables from a cutting board or cleaning a pizza stone after each pizza.”
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli - Prosciutto/Ricotta filled: NM Porcini Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Light Porcini Cream Sauce, Crispy Prosciutto $27
24 oz Hand Cut Herb-Rubbed NY Strip: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $39
Pan-Seared Grouper: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $33
Braise - Sackett Farms White Wine/Fennel/Orange Braised Pork Shank, Creamy Polenta, Sautéed Spinach, Citrus Braising Sauce $31
Weekend Cocktail
Princess Peach - Peach Vodka, Aperol, Fresh Lemon Juice, Vanilla Syrup, Sparkling Water
M’tucci’s Moderno
14 oz. Hand Cut NY Strip - Traditional Italian Salsa Verde, Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, & Grilled Asparagus $33
Pan-Seared Artic Char - Roasted Artichoke, Braised Escarole, Mashed Potatoes, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, & Smoked Prosciutto Powder $27
Calabrian Spare Ribs - Grilled Polenta, Jicama Slaw $19
Beef Carpaccio - Garlic Aioli, Arugula, Capers, Lemon Wedge $8
Weekend Cocktail
Shandy - Balcones Bourbon, Fresh Lemon Juice, Rosemary Syrup, Grapefruit Soda, Ex Novo Mass Ascension Float
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
12 oz. Veal Porterhouse - Grilled Broccolini, Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Blackberry bone Marrow Butter $36
Pan-Seared Scallops - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $39
Salmon & Crab Cakes - Smashed, Crispy Yukon Gold Potatoes, Grilled Vegetables, Creamy Horseradish Remoulade Sauce $21
Weekend Cocktail
Jackalope: Bumbu Rum, St. Germain, Strega, Muddled Strawberry, Fresh Lime Juice & Honey Simple Syrup
M’tucci’s Bar Roma
Pan-Seared Norwegian Ocean Trout - Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes, Braised Arugula, Garlic, Pan-Seared Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $32
2-Year Old Prosciutto Ragu, M’tucci’s Pancetta, Braised Mushrooms, Herbed Ricotta & House Linguine
Weekend Cocktail
Castinez - Dahlia Tequila, Creme de Cassis, Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Angostura Bitters
Live Music for August & September
M’tucci’s Bar Roma - Wed 6:30-8:30. Sunday noon-2pm
8/7 RJ Perez
8/10 Lani Nash
8/14 Amy Faithe
8/17 Austin Van
8/21 Rob Martinez
8/24 Shane Wallin
8/28 Austin Van
8/31 RJ Perez
9/4 Rob Martinez
9/7 Shane Wallin
9/11 Shane Wallin
9/14 Sloan Armitage
9/18 Amy Faithe
9/21 Chessa Peak
9/25 John Martinez
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - Thursday 6:30-8:30 * Friday 7:30-9:30
8/5 Cali Shaw
8/11 Matt Jones
8/12 Sloan Armitage
8/18 RJ Perez
8/19 Jason Seel
8/25 Lani Nash
8/26 Chessa Peak
9/1 Austin Van
9/2 Jacob Chavez
9/8 Paul Hunton
9/9 Alex Maryol
9/15 Melissa Rios
9/16 RJ Perez
9/22 Amy Faithe
9/23 Lani Nash
9/29 Chessa Peak
9/30 Jacob Chavez
M’tucci’s Moderno - Thursday 6:30-830 *Friday 7:30-9:30
8/5 Jacob Chavez
8/11 RJ Perez
8/12 Jason Seel
8/18 Alex Maryol
8/19 Lani Nash
8/25 Matt Jones
8/26 RJ Perez
9/1 Lani Nash
9/2 Chessa Peak
9/8 John Martinez
9/9 Russel Ash
9/15 Shane Wallin
9/16 Cali Shaw
9/22 Melissa Rios
9/23 Alex Maryol
9/29 Austin Van
9/30 Paul Hunton
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
