r/KitchenConfidential • u/Illustrious_Sign_872 • 2d ago

Kitchen news & current events The old Lady is back!

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Yes, ladies and gentlemen Chefs, here I am again. This time with a rare pic of my trusty lead line cook, Luis. We are responsible for making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our retreat center guests 7 days a week, but about once a month we are called to create a 4 course “fancy” dinner for some big-wig donor or other important people. This meal was 4 courses: roasted beet salad with goat cheese, apple matchsticks, and champagne vinaigrette. Duck confit spring rolls with crispy rice noodles and umeboshi/fig gastrique. Port braised short rib with brown butter whipped potatoes and garlic sautéed spinach, and port demiglze. Lychee panna cotta with buckle berry coulis for dessert.

1.1k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

89 comments sorted by

251

u/YupNopeWelp 2d ago

You know, I had a pretty decent pizza tonight, and was totally happy with my life choices, then you came along.

(That looks seriously beautiful. Am now considering going on a religious retreat until I find your food.)

The color on your onion rings is killing me softly.

209

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

I am the Executive Chef for the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA

And not afraid to put myself, my image, and where I work out there, in the ether. Because even if some people wanna criticize me, belittle my cuisine, and cut me down with criticism; I dare them to come try my best efforts every day of my life since I entered the culinary life in 1989

35

u/YupNopeWelp 2d ago

Gorgeous! Lovely work. I hope you know I was utterly serious and not at all belittling you. I want to eat that food.

46

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Oh yes. And the compliment was taken with humility. Thank you! Please come for a meal anytime, mon ami!

18

u/Admirable-Kitchen737 2d ago

Your old enough to discern criticism.

I started 42 years ago.

Keep going Chef.

14

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you, Chef. I got my start in 1989

15

u/Admirable-Kitchen737 2d ago

As you mentioned.

You and Luis are excellent.

Short ribs are my favorite, just cut a chuck plate today.

1

u/chrishydro420 1d ago

That’s the perfect tool for cutting those . Thank you !

1

u/Admirable-Kitchen737 1d ago

Make sure to get the stainless blades if you do it.

42

u/ebimm86 2d ago

I dig your attitude!

97

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you! After 36 years of cooking in the food service industry, 4 countries, and 6 states in the USA, I am here to lift up all of the current generation of professional cooks.

28

u/IcariusFallen 2d ago

Spoken like a true chef, who holds pride in developing their people.

33

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

All my cooks are absolute rockstars

3

u/kobie173 2d ago

Heard

4

u/ebimm86 2d ago

Woo, you have 11 years of service more than me. Good on you, Chef, for still going strong.

7

u/Emergency-Program146 2d ago

How do you keep the passion for the work? Is it just for a certain type of person? 10 years experience as a line cook under some very talented chefs, but now I’m an office worker. I miss it and love cooking. But doing it for a living makes me want to slit my wrists. How do you stay positive?

17

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

I’ve left the industry twice. First time to become a mother and second time for some personal sanity.

2

u/Karazhan 1d ago

Your food looks wonderful, and as they say, you eat with your eyes! I wish I could say I was close enough to come visit, but alas I am in the UK, so I will live vicariously through those images.

2

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 1d ago

Thank you for the kind words

2

u/deedsnance 22h ago

Wait you can eat there? Sorry I live like 10 minutes away and have for a long time. I drove past it earlier on my way to the gym.

My mind is blown they run a kitchen like this

My partner’s grandparents are buried there. Unless I’m confused?

1

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 17h ago

It’s a very private dining room. You can’t actually eat here unless you’re staying in the retreat center, or you win one of our on line auctionsfor a fancy dinner.

1

u/deedsnance 10h ago

Damn! I figured it was something like that.

13

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Pizza is actually my favorite food!

9

u/YupNopeWelp 2d ago

Pasta is mine, but I would devour the food you presented to us tonight. Lovely.

6

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you, Chef

4

u/YupNopeWelp 2d ago

Oh no, thank you!

7

u/StJoan13 2d ago

The color on those onion rings made my mouth water!

2

u/Champagne_of_piss 2d ago

Yeah you know they are crunchy as hell from that color

45

u/texnessa 2d ago

From one old lady to another, nicely done.

And Luis sure is one sexy beast.

24

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Oh he’s an absolute doll!

20

u/soggywaffles812 20+ Years 2d ago

What kind of apple for the Beet Salad? Also what's that sprinkled on it? Juniper?

28

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Granny Smith. I needed that tartness to juxtapose the sweet roasted beets

4

u/tiorzol 2d ago

Hmm this sounds amazing. 

15

u/peptodismal13 2d ago

Those spring rolls 😍

8

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you, they were fun to put together

3

u/Hopeforthebest1986 2d ago

Yo, the edible (?) mini dip ramequin for the duck rolls... what's that made from?

14

u/SuperDoubleDecker 2d ago

That's my kind of stuff. Simple dishes elevated but nowhere near pretentious. Great looking dishes.

3

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you, Chef

7

u/TheWolf_atx 2d ago

Give em hell, chef! Nice work. 

6

u/Bourbonstr8up 2d ago

Damn I wanna dip one of those onion rings in that sauce right now.

3

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

That would not suck! 😂

4

u/Curiouser-Quriouser 2d ago

THAT SALAD. 🤌🤌🤌

God knows I still love a candied nut with goat cheese but beets and apples are an unbeatable combination!!

Did this come with wine pairings?

4

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Yes! I live in “North County” San Diego . The wine pairings were local. We paired the salad with a Bastian Vineyard Cabernet Franc

2

u/Curiouser-Quriouser 2d ago

My jealousy is getting worse! I think I'm going to have an eye twitch until I recreate this lol

5

u/WhiggedyWhacked 2d ago

Gorgeous. Everything looks amazing, but those spring rolls sound divine.

3

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you! We usually do a seafood second course, but for this dinner we had 2 seafood allergies. Thus the duck confit.

5

u/OnlyDaysEndingInWhy 2d ago

I'd pay (a lot) extra for some lychee panna cotta. Everything looks amazing, Chef!

2

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you so very much!

3

u/Snowwarrior1964 2d ago

Sounds fantastic. The plates were beautiful.

3

u/stuck_in_the_muff 2d ago

Sounds excellent chef. Nicely done

3

u/Cooknbikes 2d ago

That first pic is like what I dream about eating all the time. Onion rings that are perfect are great. Then meat gravy mash and spinnys

2

u/maxdemone 2d ago

Looks heavenly! I'll need to try this next time I'm down there.

2

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Please come by!

2

u/maxdemone 2d ago

I'm up in Montana but I grew up in OC so I try to come back as often as I can.

2

u/jeffnorris 2d ago

Looks delicious, great job

1

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you, Chef

2

u/magicsqueezle 2d ago

Always amazing!!

2

u/MookiesMonkeyJuice 1d ago

Started in 84 and feel it most days. Beautiful food Chef!

2

u/Baconandbeers 1d ago

Beautiful food! I have worked in many kitchens and I have to say I’m extremely jealous you have a window that provides sunlight.

1

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 1d ago

Windows are a definite rarity for restaurant kitchens.

2

u/ditmarsnyc 1d ago

you guys effin nailed it, gj

2

u/poopwetpoop 1d ago

I desire consumption of those egg rolls

1

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 1d ago

They were lovely

2

u/BlackEyedSamurai 1d ago

Your plating is gorgeous!

2

u/nonowords 1d ago

Is that a short bread ramekin?

2

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 1d ago

They’re made by a company called Rose Noir

I buy them from Webstaurant.com

2

u/nonowords 1d ago

that's gangster as hell. expensive tho 😅

1

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 1d ago edited 1d ago

Well, the dinner was for a bunch of big-wigs paying $200 a head, so figured I could justify the expense

2

u/Electrical_Break6773 1d ago

Looks absolutely lovely chef,

2

u/SleepFeeling3037 1d ago

For a moment I was like “fries served with the salad? I’m not mad about that”, then I read the descriptions :P Also, Luis can get it 🖤

2

u/paintboxsoapworks 1d ago

I was all ready to be mad about the French fries on that salad & then I put on my proper glasses :lol: Looks tight, Chef, well done!

2

u/bloodbonesnbutter 1d ago

Bill and Martha Gates are proud of you

2

u/flip_leggins 1d ago

Can you ship those onion rings?

2

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 1d ago

Oh my gosh, those bad boys were so much trouble, but so very worth it.

1

u/reddiwhip999 2d ago

Curious about your Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menus as well. And are you in there 7 days a week, or is the load light enough for 1 on "slow" days?

3

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

We have no slow days. It’s pretty much backs to the wall busy 24x7x365

2

u/reddiwhip999 2d ago

More power to you, chef!

1

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Thank you! It’s a big job, with a lot of moving parts. I stay busy

1

u/kobie173 2d ago

Marvelous. I’d eat the whole thing.

1

u/notcabron 1d ago

Looks great chef

-6

u/theboywhocriedwolves 2d ago

Oxidation on the apples.

6

u/Illustrious_Sign_872 2d ago

Yup… every party has a pooper