"Steemit Engagement Challenge S7-W4: "The secret of my seasoning"

Greetings of the day Steemit Iron Chef!

How is everyone doing!? Hope you are all good and enjoying the different activities organized in the community!

I am here today for another participation in the Steemit Engagement Challenge S7-W4 in Steemit Iron Chef community!

This week's theme is really very interesting and I will use this opportunity to write long on my experience in the culinary sector as well as some tips...my little secrets in kitchen!

Let's go...

The Secret of my Seasoning!!!

I will rather say...the secrets of my seasoning! As I have a lot actually!!!

For those reading my post for the first time, let me tell you that I am a chef having extensive experience in world top 5 stars hotels as well as some reputable restaurants in different parts of the world!

I have retired from working in hotels since some years now and have my own company dealing in foods of course!

Many people around me always ask me the secret of my cooking and my answer was always : It is all in the hands and feelings...

But for the sake of this challenge, I will go through the different questions and give my most honest answers...

Fresh Pink Pepper...an amazing seasoning ingredient that can do magic in your foods!!!

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🔸 Do you think you have seasoning to prepare your meals? Why?

I am a food lover since when I was a kid and I always wanted to discover more on foods. In the beginning, I have to admit...I was not cooking 'yummy' foods as these days!!!

I was still a beginner and was learning... it took me around 8 years to really understand and get an identity of my cooking!

With years passing by and I kept on discovering the amazing world of cooking...each part of the world has its own identity and I love discovering the different herbs/spices/fruits/veggies etc...

We start with the basics for sure...

In my cooking, I have the basics set and once you have the basics respected, you are sure to have a good food after the preps/cooking...

Make sure to source out the best salt you can have on the market...or simply go to pick it up in the nature!

I love fresh sea salt and always bring some for my cooking.

Below is a photo of a place where I picked up salt crystals and brought home!

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Nature is all around...look for precious products out there...

The pink pepper that you saw above is also picked up from nature and free...

I highly suggest you to go out and bring home these free natural products and incorporate in your cooking, you'll be amazed for sure!

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Good olive oil...add some fruits in different preps...

Oh yes, a good olive oil is very much needed and I add some surprising taste thanks to seasonal fruits.

Not necessarily putting the fruits as it is...I rather work with the fruits and extract the maximum taste I can to use in my dishes!

For example, I can dry up pineapples and make a powder that I add to my curries! It will give that lovely pineapple flavor without you getting a piece of the fruit!!!

If you have good quality salt, pepper, olive oil, natural sugars...you have a good base to start! After that all you need is some spices, herbs and veggies to create your dish!

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Strawberry Guavas is another great ingredient to use when they are in season!

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Herbs...herbs...fresh herbs!!!

Fresh herbs are something I can't live without!!!

Thyme / Basil / Coriander / Mint / Spring Onion / Spring Garlic....these are a must in my kitchen!!!

Plant some at home to always have it handy and not buy from outside!

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🔸 Who taught you to cook? Or how did you learn to do it?

As mentioned above, since very young age I was interested in cooking and I have to say that my first love for cooking comes from my mother and father!!!

Oh yes, my father was cooking yummy dishes from time to time and his foods were always tasty!!!

So basically I got the passion from my parents and then learned from many renowned world chefs spanning for over 18years and hmmm I am still learning by the way!!!

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🔸 Do you consider seasoning to be innate, inherited or learned? If you have any study or specialty in the culinary art, you can refer to it

For my personal opinion...seasoning is all of the above!!!

A mix of innate from your passion/desire, inherited from your surroundings/parents and learning on the field with professional chefs until you have your identity!

Having different cooking pots make you have different tasty foods like these tajines!!!

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🔸 What are the condiments that you consider should not be missing in your meals to give them excellent seasoning.

I will be direct on this question : A dish need to be complete and miss nothing!!!

Before starting the cooking we need to make sure what we want in the end and always put ourself in the place of the one eating the dish...

It need to have everything from proteins to vegetables...rice if needed or wheat/flour with the exact seasoning and presentation must be tip top!!!

And always taste before serving to guests...never forget!!!

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🔸 What are the meals that your family likes the most, you prepare them with your fabulous seasoning

Actually...they like everything that I cook as they all know that I will always give them something with all my heart and passion and it is really rare that I cook something wrong...only on a bad day!!!

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Check out some of my latest...

It would be great if someday I can meet up some of you awesome Steemians and make some unique foods for you to enjoy...Do let me know if you are traveling to Mauritius someday, will be a pleasure meeting up with you!

I will re-share some of my latest food creations for you to get hungry...lol!

This was my Christmas dessert...

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Mixed salad bowl with crispy chicken!!!

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This is how we serve our guests with our burger in my restaurant...

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Create your own identity and start from there!!!

And never stop learning and adjusting...cooking is not an exact science!!!

Here we are friends, some ideas about my cooking style/seasoning secrets...

My cuisine is freestyle and I allow myself to venture in different cultures and add the things I love in my cooking making it unique!

Thanks for reading and looking forward to read from you!

Until another one!
Best Regards!
@progressivechef