Chef at Home is about real food and real cooking for real people.
Chef at Home is a television cooking series that inspires and empowers home cooks to improvise in their kitchens, venture beyond recipes, and instinctively create flavourful, simple food for family and friends.
Chef Michael Smith invites you into his home kitchen and shows you how to create uncomplicated, tasty meals for your family and friends. Close your cookbooks, look in the fridge, fire your imagination and let your instincts and appetite be your guide!
In each episode Michael inspires home cooks to create a meal by choosing flavours and ingredients that naturally go together, using basic cooking techniques and sharing insight every step of the way.
Chef at Home gives you the freedom to creatively experiment in your own kitchen and prepare memorable meals for your family and friends.
Episode 26 – BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
Some of the very best flavours in any kitchen come from patience. Michael rubs a pork shoulder with an infinitely customizable spice blend then slowly BBQ’s for a pulled pork sandwich. The pork shares top billing with a soft white potato flavoured roll and a simple coleslaw. The addictive flavours of slow food!
- Coleslaw [1]
- Potato Rolls [2]
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches [3]
Episode 25 – Breakfast for Dinner
Michael finds that the traditional flavours of breakfast are just as good for dinner! He braises fresh bacon, pork belly and serves it with tomato ginger jam. Sweet potato home fries and a round of simple omelets complete the AM PM celebration.
- Sweet Potato Home Fries [4]
- Braised Pork Belly [5]
- OJ Martini [6]
- Cheddar Thyme and Chive Omelet [7]
- Tomato Ginger Jam [8]
Episode 24 – Local Flavour
Michael finds dinner inspiration with local ingredients from his own neighborhood. Local food is a great way to add flavour to the table and chicken baked with ham, and cheddar, croissant bread pudding, apple pie flavoured carrots, salsa stuffed twice baked potatoes don’t disappoint!
- Apple Pie Carrots [9]
- Canned Tomato Salsa [10]
- Chnicken Broth [11]
- Croissant Pudding [12]
- Ham and Cheddar Chicken Rolls [13]
- Salsa Stuffed Potatoes [14]
- Spinach Sauce [15]
Episode 23 – Cook a head Sunday
With some weekend time on his hands Michael shows how easy it can be to turn your kitchen into a prep kitchen and get ready for the busy week ahead. He shows how convenient it is to slow cook a French onion chicken stew. A batch of always-needed tomato sauce is packed with hidden veggie flavour. He also creates a lunch time favourite with a classic Nicoise tuna salad.
- Nicoise Salad & Bulgur Pita Rolls [16]
- Hidden Veggie Tomato Sauce [17]
- French Onion Chicken Stew [18]
Episode 22 – Brunch with Friends
Michael gets up early to make a houseful of guests brunch. Smoked salmon rye bread pudding, minestrone soup, banana fritters and caramel sauce start everyone’s day off with lots of sunny flavours!
- Banana Fritters [19]
- Caramel Sauce [20]
- Minestrone Soup [21]
- Smoked Salmon Rye Bread Pudding [22]
Episode 21 – Breakfast in Bed
Michael and Gabe surprise Mom with breakfast in bed. Fruit salad smoothies, granola muffins and Rachel’s favourite oatmeal complete with almond cappuccino foam are a big hit, and Gabe is impressed with his very own green eggs and ham!
- Apple Pie Oatmeal with Almond Foam [23]
- Fruit Salad Smoothie [24]
- Green Eggs & Ham [25]
- Never the Same Way Twice Muffins [26]
Episode 20 – Lemonade Stand
Michael and Gabe have fun setting up a neighborhood lemonade stand. After Gabe and his friends plow through their bowls of pizza soup their hand squeezed lemonade and old-fashioned doughnuts are a sell out hit!
- Fresh Squeezed Lemonade [27]
- Homemade Doughnuts [28]
- Pizza Soup [29]
Episode 19 – Bake Sale
Michael is asked to contribute to a local charity bake sale and comes up with a table full of treats. After fueling up with a batch of his signature whole grain pancakes he gets baking. A batch of three layered chocolate peanut butter crunch squares and old-fashioned Monkey Bread are the tasty results!
Episode 18 – No Knead Bread
Michael shows off an amazing new way to make bread that doesn’t require tedious kneading. With it he creates two amazing loaves of bread: a crusty classic loaf of city bread, and a hearty loaf of whole grain country bread. He dips the bread into cheddar ale soup.
- Brown Butter Spread [33]
- Chedar Ale Soup [34]
- No Knead Bread [35]
Episode 17 – Gnocchi with Roast Tomato Sauce
Michael explores the fundamental role that salt and pepper play in all cooking. He seasons a simple roast cherry tomato and black olive pasta sauce, his favourite fennel salad and a batch of handmade potato gnocchi. He even uses salt and pepper to make a batch of homemade spicy strawberry sorbet!
- Fennel Salad [36]
- Handmade Gnocchi [37]
- Roasted Cherry Tomato and Olive Pasta Sauce [38]
- Spicy Strawberry Sorbet [39]
Episode 16 – BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
Some of the very best flavours in any kitchen come from patience. Michael rubs a pork shoulder with an infinitely customizable spice blend then slowly BBQ’s for a pulled pork sandwich. The pork shares top billing with a soft white potato flavoured roll and a simple coleslaw. The addictive flavours of slow food!
- Pulled Port Sandwich [40]
- Potato Rolls [41]
- Coleslaw [42]
Episode 15 – Breakfast for Dinner
Michael finds that the traditional flavours of breakfast are just as good for dinner! He braises fresh bacon, pork belly and serves it with tomato ginger jam. Sweet potato home fries and a round of simple omelets complete the AM PM celebration.
- Braised Pork Belly [43]
- Cheddar Thyme and Chive Omelette [44]
- OJ Martini [45]
- Sweet Potato Home Fries [46]
- Tomato Ginger Jam [47]
Episode 14 – Local Flavour
Michael finds dinner inspiration with local ingredients from his own neighborhood. Local food is a great way to add flavour to the table and chicken baked with ham, and cheddar, croissant bread pudding, apple pie flavoured carrots, salsa stuffed twice baked potatoes don’t disappoint!
- Apple Pie Carrots [9]
- Canned Tomato Salsa [10]
- Chicken Broth [11]
- Croissant Pudding [12]
- Ham and Cheddar Chicken Rolls [13]
- Salsa Stuffed Potatoes [14]
- Spinach Sauce [15]
Episode 13 – Cook Ahead Sunday
With some weekend time on his hands Michael shows how easy it can be to turn your kitchen into a prep kitchen and get ready for the busy week ahead. He shows how convenient it is to slow cook a French onion chicken stew. A batch of always-needed tomato sauce is packed with hidden veggie flavour. He also creates a lunch time favorite with a classic Nicoise tuna salad.
- French Onion Chicken Stew [48]
- Hidden Veggie Tomato Sauce [49]
- Nicoise Salad & Bulgur Pita Rolls [50]
Episode 12 – Kids Party
Michael cooks for Gabe and a gang of his friends. He starts with some healthy snacks: pumpkin pie pumpkin seeds and olive oil popcorn. Chinese chicken balls, steamed broccoli trees and sweet potato soup round out the menu as he discovers how much fun it can be to cook for the toughest crowd of food critics ever!
- Steamed Broccoli Trees [51]
- Olive Oil Popcorn [52]
- Sweet Potato Soup [53]
- Pumpkin Pie – Spiced Pumpkin Seeds [54]
- Chinese Chicken Balls [55]
Episode 11 – Roast Organic Chicken
Michael gives in to his comfort food cravings with a menu full of organic choices. A simple roast chicken dinner shares top billing with dark chocolate pudding topped with white chocolate whipped cream. Garlic steamed broccoli and roast garlic mashed potatoes round out the feast as Michael and his family get comfortable with their organic choices.
- Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes [56]
- Garlic Steamed Broccoli [57]
- Roast Chicken [58]
- Old Fashoined Chocolate Pudding [59]
Episode 10 – Beer Can Chicken
Michael discovers how tasty it is to grill a chicken perched on a beer can. But does the beer actually flavour the chicken? He finds out! And the results share the picnic table with Greek potato spinach salad, grilled corn and basil butter and an incredible grilled banana split
- Beer Can Chicken [60]
- Greek Potato and Spinach Salad [61]
- Grilled Banana Splits [62]
- Roast Chicken Spice Rub [63]
Episode 9 – Fresh Herb Picnic
Michael finds inspiration for a picnic in his fresh herb stash. He flavours a grilled chicken and pineapple salad with mint. He adds thyme and bay leaves to warm bacon cabbage slaw. Basil flavours a surprisingly good watermelon feta salad while cilantro becomes a tasty pesto. When rain threatens to spoil the fun the picnic moves indoors along with mint flavoured limeade!
- Mint Limeade [64]
- Pineapple Chicken Salad [65]
- Warm Bacon Cabbage Slaw [66]
- Watermelon Basil Feta Salad [67]
Episode 8 – Big Beefy Ribs
The gift of a special bottle of wine inspires Michael to match food to wine instead of the other way around. He braises big beefy ribs in a big beefy red wine and serves them with roasted asparagus and purple mashed potatoes with a cabernet sauvignon reduction mashed in. A mulled chardonnay apple vanilla ice cream sundae rounds out the menu for dessert.
- Cheesy Potato Pie [68]
- Grilled Steak [69]
- Dark Chocolate Paté [70]
Episode 7 – Grilled Steak
Michael shows how easy it is to fill your kitchen with the very best ingredients to inspire your cooking. He and Gabe share a thick juicy grilled steak dinner with cheesy potato pie, dark chocolate pate and a steakhouse salad.
Episode 6 – Clam Boil on the Beach
Michael heads for the beach and orchestrates the ultimate picnic: a clam boil! He fills a pot with clams, lobsters, mussels, corn, potatoes and sausage. Smoked salmon potato salad and chocolate chip cookie brownies tag along for the fun in the sun!
- Smoked Salmon Potato Salad [74]
- Clam Boil [75]
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies [76]
Episode 5 – Cornmeal Crusted Catfish
Michael discovers that one of the best places to practice sustainability is in the kitchen. As he cornmeal crusts a great green choice, catfish, he reveals a surprising array of simple tricks that anyone can use to make their cooking sustainable. A potato cheddar casserole and farmers market salad completes the menu.
Episode 4 – Lobster Feast
A kitchen full of your favourite ingredients is a great way to rev up your cooking. Michael steams off a pile of lobsters and they end up in a lobster pesto salad, dipped in lemon brown butter and in a batch of decadent lobster mashed potatoes. His favourite pantry shelf inspires a three chocolate extravaganza for dessert!
- Lobster Basil Salad [80]
- Lobster Mashed Potatoes [81]
- Saltwater Steamed Lobster [82]
- Three Chocolate Mousse Cups [83]
Episode 3 – Seaweed Salmon
Michael sets out to cook dinner and finds adventure every step of the way. He explores ancient cooking methods by cooking salmon in seaweed. Adventuresome ingredients flavour luxurious saffron rice and exotic Asian long bean salad. To top it all off a round of Caesar cocktails turn into a whirlwind presentation extravaganza!
- Bloody Ceasers [84]
- Saffron Almond Rice [85]
- Seaweed Salmon [86]
- Asian Green Bean Salad with Three Sesame Dressing [87]
Episode 2 – Backyard Smoked Salmon
Michael sets out on a backyard culinary adventure and shows two different ways to smoke your own salmon: hot and cold. The tasty results inspire a smoked salmon Caesar salad and an incredibly simple pasta dish that makes it’s own sauce!
Episode 1 – Fish Taco
Michael explores the role that spices play in the kitchen as he makes spicy salmon tacos with avocado salsa and brightly flavored southwestern brown rice and black beans for dinner. He promotes plain vanilla to the star of the show in a pineapple vanilla upside down cake and even slips some spice into a round of ginger melon mojitos!
- Fish Tacos [91]
- Pineapple Vanilla Upside Down Cake [92]
- Rice and Beans [93]
- Avocado Salsa [94]