An old cook in New Orleans showed me a better way to chop an onion

I was working a line at a place in the French Quarter about six months ago, and this guy named Leo saw me fighting with a pile of onions. He just said, 'Kid, stop trying to stab it. Let the knife do the work.' He took my knife and showed me how to angle my cuts toward the root without going all the way through first. I swear I cut my prep time by a third. Anyone else pick up a simple trick from an older cook that stuck with you?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin3mo agoMost Upvoted

Stop trying to stab it" is the best cooking advice ever. Sounds like Leo saved you from a kitchen meltdown. Those old guys always know the one trick that changes everything.

oscarwright3mo ago

Leo's advice is a perfect example. It's not just about onions, it's about efficiency. You see it everywhere, from how my grandad folds a map to how a mechanic holds a wrench. There's always a smarter, easier way to do a thing that only comes from doing it a thousand times. Those little tricks are like secret handshakes for getting through the day.

noahward18d ago

Yeah @the_robin that line stuck with me too, I still hear it in my head every time I pick up a knife. That and an old baker who told me to wet my hands before working with sticky dough, changed everything.