The Joy of Quarantine Cooking, Celebrity Chef-Style

Sheltering at home like many of us, celebrity chefs Jose Andres, Massimo Bottura, and Michael Symon continue to welcome people into their respective kitchens as they share their passion and expertise.

Don’t get us wrong, there’s something innately wonderful about trodding into the kitchen in search of a meal before settling into a satisfying bowl of cereal, but when the mood strikes to do more and any of us are lacking creativity, innovation is only an electronic device away.

Lacking ideas after foraging through the pantry and fridge in search of ingredients, we’d be happy just to get some guidance and direction about how to proceed, but when chefs Andres, Bottura, and Symon and their larger-than-life passionate personalities jump through our screen excitedly sharing tricks of their trade, the culinary scavenger hunt suddenly becomes both fun and entertaining.

The amazing work Jose Andres does through his World Central Kitchen is alone worthy of a dedicated story, but it’s Jose the dad, uncle, and husband that has piqued our interest in recent weeks as we’ve all adjusted to becoming one with our homes out of necessity.

While serenading his family and viewers alike with tunes from ‘Hamilton’ as he whips up dishes, Andres exudes pure joy, turning his social media videos into must-see viewing for us. Anytime we can walk away from our device with ideas and a big smile, we’re unlikely to defect anytime soon. In short, watching Jose’s kitchen escapades with his family is like watching the sun break through dark clouds.

Like chef Andres’ regular videos, we also find ourselves seeking out Michael Symon’s ‘Symon Dinners’ every day. What chef Symon’s videos lack in show tunes, it more than makes up for with the kind of intel that would make any ordinary home cook feel empowered in the kitchen. Not only does Michael hop behind the stove or grill to step us through some of his favorite dishes, but he also posts the recipes along with tips for recreating them using what we each may have in our own pantry.

Engaging as always and nose-to-nose-to-nose with both Jose Andres and Massimo Bottura on the joy meter, Michael Symon joins the other two chefs in redirecting us from the cereal box. Whether cooking indoors or out, chef Michael shows us how to prepare everything from his wife Liz’s favorite Cacio Pepe to Campfire Quesadillas.

While perhaps not as well-known to the wider public as Jose Andres and Michael Symon, Massimo Bottura is just as accomplished and for the purpose of this story, radiates just as much sheer joy on his shelter-at-home KitchenQuarantine videos.

Incorporating music and family like Jose Andres, chef Massimo’s now-regular posts on Instagram Live not only teach and entertain, but also become interactive with occasional Q&A sessions with viewers as well as sharing fun behind-the-scenes videos.

Known for his 3-Michelin star Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, the Italian-born Bottura has become master teacher to his virtual classroom, leaving all of us the lucky beneficiaries of his talent and irresistible charm.

Rolled into one, Jose Andres, Michael Symon, and Massimo Bottura become such a ball of energy that they make the Energizer Bunny look lethargic. In sharing their joy of quarantine cooking, the three chefs leave us feeling fortunate to be invited into their kitchens, especially at a time when we all may be tiring at the sight of our own.

Have you put your skills to the test with quarantine cooking? Which celebrity chef has inspired you to get into the kitchen?