The Pasadena Chef

Thomas Keller-Inspired Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies I’ve made a lot of chocolate chip cookies over the years, but this one immediately caught my attention because it uses three different kinds of chocolate.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2015/08/09/the-best-chocolate-chip-cookie-in-the-world/

Dairy-Free Caramel Banana Bread- Rich, Dark & Moist This banana bread happens to be completely dairy-free and egg-free, which also makes it vegan, but that really wasn’t the point when I developed it.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2014/05/20/vegan-caramel-banana-bread/

Demi-Glacé: The Workhorse of the French Kitchen. Homemade demi-glace after chilling—the concentrated stock becomes firm enough to portion and freeze. I learned how to make demi-glacé from the amazing Anthony Bourdain.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2026/08/08/demi-glace-the-workhorse-of-the-french-kitchen/

Spaghetti al Pomodoro: The 3-Michelin-Star Tomato Sauce That Breaks Every Rule When you think of Spaghetti al Pomodoro, you probably picture a slow-simmered sauce of crushed San Marzano tomatoes cooking for hours until rich and dark....

Three Foundation Sauces That Make Chinese Cooking Easier at Home After years of making Chinese recipes at home, I found myself measuring the same ingredients over and over.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2026/08/02/three-foundation-sauces-that-make-chinese-cooking-easier-at-home/

Pasta alla Norcina: Authentic Creamy Sausage Pasta from Umbria This pasta from Norcia in the Umbria region of Italy is made with a crumbled fresh sausage which is traditionally made without fennel and seasoned with garlic and white wine.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2026/08/01/pasta-alla-norcina-authentic-creamy-sausage-pasta-from-umbria/

Holiday Ginger Spice Cookies Recipe for Rainy Days So rainy here today, so time to bake. Here's a great one to bring the holidays into the house.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2026/07/31/molasses-cookies/

Perfectly Cooked Steak au Poivre Recipe This Steak au Poivre is one of my absolute favorites, as it combines the wonderful flavor of beef, with the perfect compliment of copious amounts of cracked black pepper.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2011/03/20/steak-au-poivre-perfect-french-bistro-dish/

Authentic Thai Minced Shrimp and Pork Salad (Lon Kung Moo Sub) Calling this a salad is using the term rather loosely, but it does fall into the broad family of Thai salads.... https://thepasadenachef.com/2026/07/31/authentic-thai-minced-shrimp-and-pork-salad-lon-kung-moo-sub/

Rigatoni with Peas and Bacon/Sausage  Sometimes the best Italian meals are the simplest. This rustic pasta combines smoky bacon or flavorful Italian sausage with sweet peas, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and just enough cream to bring everything together into a silky sauce....