Chef Lish Steiling

 

 

Extremely talented and quite possibly the nicest person you'll ever meet, Lish Steiling is a  graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has over 25 years of colorful experience in the culinary arts and food service industry. Two fun facts about our friend Lish: First, she has competed in - and won - Food Network’s Chopped.  Secondly, she is featured in the book Chef’s Ink and Elle Sweden magazine for her unique food tattoos and creative recipes.

 

Her great vibe and fun spirit is backed by some serious talent and hard work. Lish has been a food stylist and recipe developer for places such as Food Network, New York Times, Gourmet magazine and the Today Show. For over seven years she was the VP of Culinary Operations and Productions for celebrity chef, Giada De Laurentiis, where she opened and helped develop menus for Giada’s three restaurants as well as collaborated with Giada on multiple TV shows (which earned Lish an EMMY in 2020)!

In 2020, Lish along with her wife Abbey Cook, a color and fashion trend forecaster, started The Taste Curators, a brand created to inspire joy through the connections of food, fashion and design. Abbey and Lish have always seen many similarities across the food and design industries. Through collaborations, speaking events and private dinner parties, their goal is to open your eyes to just how connected they truly are (and hence, we all are)!  

 

What does ‘eating well’ mean to you?

Eating well to me is eating in a way that makes you feel good, both emotionally and physically. It's different for everyone so there is no secret formula. It just involves paying a bit more attention to yourself.

What food says ‘home’ to you?

My roots run deep in Wisconsin so give me my dad's beer brats and some fresh, squeaky cheese curds and I am a happy gal. I will also never turn down a bowl of my grandmother's chicken goulash. Whenever I make a pot of it, the smell of onions, paprika and chicken simmering slowly for hours makes me exhale.

What is always in your pantry?

Things always in my pantry are olive oil, a variety of vinegars, crushed Calabrian chili paste for warmth, lemon to liven up pretty much anything, fennel pollen to add a bit of sophistication, a selection of raw nuts and seeds for crunch and some kind of gummies....I'm a kid at heart.

What would you say to a home chef intimidated to try something new?

We learn through failing so if we never try, how will we ever grow? We are simply cooking. Remind yourself that you are in control and just go ahead and try it! Don't miss the adventure. Worst case scenario you order pizza.

 

We are thrilled to share not one, but two summer entertaining recipes that Lish created using some of her favorite Mariani dried fruit: Blueberry Whiskey Sour and Cherry BBQ sauce.

 

 

On Instagram make sure to follow Lish @the_taste_curators and @lishsteiling. Stay in the know for all things The Taste Curators, including an upcoming cookbook series inspired by the crossover of flavor palates and color palettes, by signing up for their newsletter at https://www.thetastecurators.com/subscribe.