Chef Estados Unidos
Marla Nichols Perfil
Cooked for the money, now cook for the pleasure
Puntos de CocinarComerCompartir.com
Acerca de mí
I cooked "in the shadow" as a line cook, sous chef, kitchen manager, and day chef for twenty years. Putting in one year at an elementary school cafeteria, I eventually worked in Los Angeles for Michael Roberts at Trumps, Dennis Barry at Strattons, Milliken/Feniger at the Border Grill and City Restaurant, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Committee and in Seattle for Tom Douglas.
I left the stoves at 50 and have been cooking for pleasure ever since. Ethnic food is the most interesting to me--street food the most exciting. I've traveled to India several times and brought dishes and techniques I've used ever since.
My latest culinary adventure has been with Korean food. David Chang's "Momofuku" is high on my want list, but for now his web recipes work just fine. Love French bistro food, Sicilian, Thai, Vietnamese, and regional American food. Baking has never been my strong suite, cookies are a mystery, but I've been known to bake a mean pie.
Writing has always been my second favorite thing, so blogging about cooking (marlainthekitchen.com) s right up my alley.
Thanks for your time,
Marla
Influencias de Cocina
Julia Child, Jeffrey Basom, Frank Miller, Michael Roberts, Thomas Keller, Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, my mom Jeanne Nichols, Madhur Jaffrey, Barbara Tropp, Tom Douglas
Recomendaciones
Libros de Recetas Preferidos
- Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volumes 1 and 2 (Julia Child)
- Bought these in 1971. They now open automatically to my favorite recipes.
- City Cuisine (Milliken/Feniger)
- I worked for the girls while they wrote this book and can take credit for some of the recipe testing
- Silver Palate Cookbook (Rosso & Lukins)
- Far Eastern Cookery (Madhur Jaffrey)
Chefs quienes recomiendo
- Susan Feniger (Los Angeles, CA)
- Funny, smart, and very spunky
- Mary Sue Milliken (Los Angeles, CA)
- As good a cook as there is
- Thomas Keller (CA)
- If only I could have worked for him
- Anthony Bourdain (New York, NY)
- Cast a bright light on the real side of restaurant work.
- Tom Douglas (Seattle, WA)
- A joy to work for and a whirlwind of energy.
Comentarios
- 23 de Febrero de 2012Hi Marla,
I have been dabbling in the kitchen since a very young age. Partly because it runs in the family but mainly because good food is all I think about. Recently I have decided to take it up a notch and really see what I am made of. My father was a great Chef but unfortunately passed at the young age of 48. He has shared so many great recipes and experiences from cooking, and I want to recreate his legacy and continue his passion, mixed with my own, and embark on a new journey. I have several of his recipes, many of which are very advanced. So I am taking it slow and working out the kinks. My girlfriend was doing a little research and came across your blog “Pierre Troisgros' Salmon with Sorrel Sauce”. To my surprise you have worked with my father. If you haven’t guessed by now I am the son of Rick O’Reilly. I am hoping you may have some great recipes you would like to share? I mentioned the blog to my mother Donna and she does remember you. She asked me to also share her e-mail ([email protected]) so you could communicate more. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing if you may have other recipes of his that he shared many years ago.
Sincerely,
Sean Patrick O’Reilly - 27 de Febrero de 2011Hi, Marla - we have much in common - and much to learn together. So, let us, as they say, get it on! I have only the highest respect for Mary Sue Milliken and Tony Bourdain - and I am ready to see what mischief I can wreak upon your recipes - best regards, Amos
- 18 de Abril de 2010Andre so good to hear from you! In my catalogue of hard-wired memories, there is our first day together at City Restaurant. I was showing you how we finished the hot horseradish buerre blanc in a blender. Put in the cooked shallot/garlic/horseradish mixture, add a bit of heavy cream and turn it on, unfortunately I forgot to loosen the lid. When we turned on the blender, the hot mixture shot out the side, splashed on to your face, and dripped down your neck. Even Manuel, the disturbingly grumpy prep guy, had a laugh. You were a sport, didn't strike out, yell, or even complain--what a guy! I did hear from Dennis Kaniger last year--still in Kansas City, lost a restaurant and a wife but otherewise in tact. Saw Susan last year at her new "Street", get a Nude Year's Eve card from Mary Sue, but otherwise never have contact. Dennis Barry is somewhere in New Mexico.
So....New York. What an exciting place to be--would love to spend a big block of time there. Still with Bob, now living near Seattle, managing a condominium. Cook only for fun but will feed the mob for my grandson's high-school graduation in Tennessee. I also think fondly of those years and am glad we enjoyed them while they were in progress. Great to hear from you.
Marla - 15 de Abril de 2010Hey Marla,
Wow, it was a fluke I tumbled upon your interesting and Informative blog!! It's Andre Mores. Do you remember me? We worked together at Strattons, The Border Grill, and City Restaurant. I too left the grind of the restaurant business, thank God. After the failure of my produce business, I returned to school, a little place on Hoover and Jefferson, to finish my studies. I have been trading stocks and options since 1999. Yes, I survived the "Dot-Com" era. I left Los Angeles in October 2009, and I am now living in NYC and loving life! I often think of the days at BG and City and still prepare the tasty dishes. Do you ever communicate with any of the old crew? I was sadden to hear of Michael's passing. I so loved his restaurant, and there will NEVER be another Trumps. Well, keep the good thoughts coming!!
Always,
Andre