16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (2024)

Food & Wine began naming Best New Chefs in 1988, and Thomas Keller was among the first group to receive the honor. At that time, he was cooking at his first restaurant, Rakel in New York City; Andrew Zimmern was a line cook there, and Tom Colicchio was a sous chef. Keller left Rakel for California in 1990 when his business partner decided to take the restaurant in a different direction amid an economic downturn. It wasn't long before Keller learned about a certain restaurant space for sale in Napa Valley; in July of 1994, The French Laundry opened its doors.

The James Beard Foundation named Thomas Keller the Best California Chef in 1996; and the Best Chef in America in 1997. By 2003 and 2004, The French Laundry ranked number one among the World's 50 Best Restaurants. Keller went on to open several more restaurants, including Bouchon, Per Se, and Ad Hoc; both The French Laundry and Per Se hold three Michelin stars.

Thomas Keller is known for applying American flavors to French classics. The recipes he's contributed to Food & Wine span the styles found at his various outposts: We have comfort food recipes in the vein of Ad Hoc; inventive, elevated dishes like the ones found at The French Laundry; and even a Bouchon-inspired quiche. Cook your way through this collection of dishes for a taste of celebrated chef Thomas Keller at home.

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Lemon-Brined Fried Chicken

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (1)

To make this juicy and delectably crisp chicken, chef Thomas Keller soaks the poultry in a lemony brine, then coats and fries it.

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02of 16

Summer Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (2)

Thomas Keller is a huge fan of spontaneous salads and invariably tops them with this creamy vinaigrette. It's inspired by his time at the former La Rive Restaurant in Catskill, New York; he's been making some version of it for 40 years. The salad itself changes constantly, based on what's in The French Laundry garden or at the market; make it with the best fresh vegetables you can get.

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03of 16

Chanterelle Omelets with Fines Herbes Sauce

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Why does Thomas Keller make a one-egg omelet? Because the result is so much more delicate and alluring than the supersize omelets made with multiple eggs, especially with a creamy chanterelle filling.

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04of 16

Slow-Cooked Lamb with Cipolini, Dates, Kale, and Almonds

Keller’s trick for yielding extra-flavorful meat is seasoning the roast a day in advance: The lamb takes on the aroma of garlic and thyme as well as a subtle heat from piment d’Espelette, a smoky, mildly spicy ground pepper.

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05of 16

Panko-Coated Chicken Schnitzel

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (5)

Thomas Keller uses panko breadcrumbs to give chicken a crunchy crust. "Pounding chicken breasts to a uniform thickness cuts down on cooking time," he says.

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06of 16

Iceberg Wedges with Bacon and Buttermilk Dressing

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (6)

This salad from Thomas Keller's family-style restaurant, Ad Hoc, in Yountville, California, is a twist on the quintessential American combination of iceberg lettuce, tomato wedges, and packaged bacon bits with a mayonnaise dressing. Only the iceberg lettuce wedges stay the same: The tomatoes are oven-roasted, the bacon is cut extra thick, and the buttermilk dressing is spiked with chives, mint, and parsley.

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07of 16

Smoked Salmon Crisps

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (7)

Thomas Keller's salmon cornets (tuiles shaped into tiny cones and topped with crème fraîche and fresh salmon) are a famous kickoff to his luxe and whimsical meals at The French Laundry in Napa Valley. Here, we leave the tuiles flat, like crackers.

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08of 16

Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (8)

These potatoes from Ad Hoc have a wonderfully fluffy texture because they're passed through a ricer or food mill to make them especially airy. But they're also nicely rich, thanks to generous amounts of butter and heavy cream.

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09of 16

BLT Fried Egg and Cheese Sandwich

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Thomas Keller's scrumptious recipe combines three of the world's most popular sandwiches: bacon, lettuce, and tomato; fried egg; and grilled cheese.

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10of 16

Over-the-Top Mushroom Quiche

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (10)

"I love quiche, but it has to be several inches high and made right," says Thomas Keller. This high-rising version, which is adapted from a recipe in his Bouchon cookbook, just might be the perfect one, and it's well worth the time it takes to prepare.

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11of 16

Olive Oil-Poached Cod with Mussels, Orange, and Chorizo

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At The French Laundry, Thomas Keller serves this dish with an orange gelée flavored with Espelette peppers. In this simplified version, he pairs the olive oil–poached cod with an orange sauce vierge, a classic French sauce typically made from olive oil and lemon juice.

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12of 16

Whole Grilled Chicken with Wilted Arugula

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (12)

"I don't care if you're sophisticated, with a boatload of money," says Thomas Keller. "Roasted chicken makes you feel wonderful." Cooking a whole chicken on the grill can be tricky, but Keller has perfected a method that uses indirect heat; he adds rosemary sprigs to the coals to infuse the smoke and flavor the chicken.

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13of 16

Salt-Baked Branzino

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Thomas Keller cooks whole fish in a salt crust to keep it moist, then serves it with a chunky zucchini-basilpistou — Provence’s version of pesto — and lemony cherry tomatoes.

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Braised Vegetable Hash

16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (14)

This colorful, tasty vegetable hash is delicious by itself or with a fried egg on top.

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15of 16

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and Squash with Fried Sage

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This super-autumnal dish offers an unusual combination of brussels sprouts and butternut squash, which generally stand on their own as side dishes. The brussels sprout leaves are savory, the chunks of squash are tender and sweet, and the fried sage garnish is pungent and crunchy.

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Fennel Mustard

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A terrific condiment from Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home; try it on roast pork.

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16 Recipes to Make at Home for a Taste of Thomas Keller (2024)

FAQs

What type of chef is Thomas Keller? ›

Under Henin's study, Keller learned the fundamentals of classical French cooking. After The Dunes Club, Keller worked various cooking positions in Florida and soon became the cook at a small French restaurant called La Rive in the Hudson River valley in Catskill, New York.

How many restaurants does Thomas Keller own? ›

With 10 properties and over 800 employees, the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group (TKRG) has grown from one restaurant to a large family of businesses. TKRG proudly represents The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon Bistro, Bouchon Bakery, Ad Hoc, La Calenda and The Surf Club Restaurant.

What are some interesting facts about Thomas Keller? ›

He has received countless accolades, including The Culinary Institute of America's “Chef of the Year” Award and the James Beard Foundation's “Outstanding Chef” and “Outstanding Restaurateur” Awards. He holds honorary doctorates in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University and The Culinary Institute of America.

What TV shows has Thomas Keller been on? ›

Thomas Keller
  • Appearing. 4 Credits. Barefoot Contessa. 2018. CBS Sunday Morning. ...
  • Guest. 5 Credits. Jimmy Kimmel Live! 2017. ...
  • Actor. 1 Credit. Charlie Rose. 2014.
  • Judge. 1 Credit. Top Chef: Las Vegas. 2009.
  • Subject (person only) 1 Credit. The Best Thing I Ever Ate. 2009.
  • Remarks by. 1 Credit. A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt.

Who was the chef who trained Gordon Ramsay? ›

Marco Pierre White (born 11 December 1961) is a British chef, restaurateur, and television personality. In 1995, he became the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars. He has trained chefs including Mario Batali, Shannon Bennett, Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone, Phil Howard and Stephen Terry.

Who is Mr Ramsay chef? ›

Gordon James Ramsay OBE (/ˈræmzi/; born8 November 1966) is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall and currently holds eight.

Who is the #1 chef in the world? ›

Introducing Joël Robuchon – the chef with the most Michelin stars. He holds the number one spot among the top 10 chefs in the world, which makes him the best chef in the world according to the Michelin star rating.

How much does it cost to eat at The French Laundry? ›

The French Laundry is $390 per person + add-ons, but for the Miyazaki Wagyu and Regiis Ova Caviar Tasting Menu, it's $1200 per person.

Is Thomas Keller a nice guy? ›

He is a very giving man. The work ethic he passed down to us is what has made us successful.” He is proud to say the chefs in his kitchens are better than him.

What makes Thomas Keller special? ›

He is the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings from the prestigious Michelin Guide, as well as the first American male chef to be designated a Chevalier of The French Legion of Honor, the highest decoration in France.

What is Thomas Keller most famous for? ›

Keller is the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings from the prestigious Michelin Guide and is the first American male chef to be designated a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France's paramount honorary order.

Who is the best chef in America? ›

Table of Contents
  • Julia Child - The Pioneer of Television Cooking.
  • Thomas Keller - The Definition of Fine Dining.
  • Alice Waters - The Mother of Farm-to-Table.
  • James Beard - The Icon of American Cookery.
  • Emeril Lagasse - The Essence of Creole and Cajun Cuisine.
  • Gordon Ramsay - The British Import Who Conquered America.

Who inspired Thomas Keller? ›

Most people identify chef Thomas Keller (the French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon) with his classic technique and Michelin stars. But you might be surprised to learn that he was influenced not only by French chefs such as Roland Henin and Paul Bocuse, but by an actor best known for starring in campy horror flicks.

Is Thomas Keller a Michelin star chef? ›

Thomas Keller: 8 Michelin Stars

In 1994, he opened his now acclaimed restaurant, The French Laundry.

What type of food is Thomas Keller known for? ›

The chef has one signature dish

Thomas Keller's signature dish is called "Oysters and Pearls," a dish that has been featured on the menus of The French Laundry and Per Se for years. The dish includes two oysters covered in a sabayon of pearl tapioca and a mound of caviar.

Is Thomas Keller an executive chef? ›

He relocated to France in 1983, where he worked in several Michelin-starred houses including Guy Savoy and Taillevent. He opened his first restaurant, Rakel, in New York City in 1986, then moved westward to California to work as the executive chef at the Checkers Hotel in Los Angeles.

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