From her successful Dallas based restaurants to her food television appearances, Chef Tiffany Derry is an authority in the culinary world. In addition to her knowledge and experience, it is her approach to food and community that gets people invested in listening to and adopting the recommendations that she makes. As part of the PepsiCo Culinary Advisory Board, the celebrated chef wants everyone to open another bag of Frito-Lay snacks or PepsiCo beverage and see the endless flavor possibilities.
Few people turn down a bag of Lay’s potato chips, especially when paired with a sandwich. A classic walking taco needs the base of Doritos tortilla chips to make it flavorful. Who doesn’t put a handful of Fritos on top of chili? While those examples might be simplistic, it is a small sample how iconic snacks weave their way into people’s lives.
When PepsiCo created the Culinary Advisory Board, the concept was more than bringing together influential people within the culinary world. The group found ways for everyone and anyone to see their favorite foods in a new way. Additionally, it was the creative spark to reenergize the snack and beverage aisle.
During a conversation with Chef Tiffany Derry, she shared why she decided to join the group. Specifically, she said, “I loved the concept. Growing up in a very Southern household that eats what everyone else in America eats, I have a love for these foods. At the same time, I have a love for things that I can elevate, recreate, or apply some techniques that I have learned over the years.” This role allows her to bring together those aspects in a creative way.
Chef Tiffany's appreciation of snacks and their versatility is similar to others love affair with favorite foods. What starts as a flavor obsession extends beyond finishing a small bag in a single setting. It is an appreciation for using those ingredients in various ways.
When this board kicked off the partnership, Chef Tiffany created a braised pork dish cheek using Pepsi. Her approach to the dish was simple. She adapted a technique and ingredient that she would use in a carnitas recipe and swapped in the Pepsi.
She explained, “Pepsi, when it is braised down, offers that caramel sweetness. Then, I added spices and let it braise down with some scotch bonnets and served it over a plantain puree. It’s the idea that ingredients do not have to stay in a single aisle. We can use more of these items into our every day dishes and think about them differently.”
That sentiment drives the purpose behind the Culinary Advisory Board. No one is saying that every bag of Cheetos must be pulverized into a dust and used as a coating for a pickle. What the group wants is for people to appreciate that the half eaten bag of Cool Ranch Doritos can be used as a crunchy topping for a baked potato or a thickener in a sauce instead of just being another snack hour indulgence.
That mindset is a concept many people in the food world appreciate. From the younger generation on social media to professional chefs, they see ingredients as potential, not just single use food items.
Having been on several food television shows, Chef Tiffany shared her approach as a way to get home cooks to think differently. She said, “for those of us (chefs) who do competitions, we don’t look at things for what they are. If I only see a potato, it limits me. Instead, I see a potato as a starch. What can I do with that outside of the use that it is presented as.”
“As a chef, especially when you’re put under the microscope of a competition, it trained me to think outside of the box. How do we take it from just the snack to the main plate? It is more than just a crumble on a dish. It is figuring out how to make it an intricate part of the dish, how to substitute it for something else. It is a thinking challenge and applying all the different ways that we can create flavor.”
While Chef Tiffany loves a Cheetos coating on some fried mozzarella, she believes that oats is one of the underutilized ingredients in the pantry. From using that ingredient in a crust for a lemon dessert or exploring the savory side of oats, that versatile ingredient needs a little more love.
In the end, what is the biggest takeaway from chatting with Chef Tiffany Derry about her role as a member of the PepsiCo Culinary Advisory Board? The pantry is full of food and flavor possibilities. Think about the purpose, see the finished product, and layer ingredients to create flavors. Crack open that bottle of Pepsi, open a bag of Lay’s, and smash out a dish that will have everyone talking around the table.