Toni Michael Chef
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Where I learn

Where do I get my inspiration?

A restaurant

Baso

Houston, TX

This place made one of the most beautiful dishes I've ever eaten.

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A cooking school

Central Market Cooking School

Houston, TX

Tons of classes, zero sales pitch, and teachers who've been in the industry forever -- including a Michelin-starred chef demo I'm still thinking about.

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A kitchen tool

Cuisinart Stockpot

Cuisinart · Stainless stockpot

The pot every good batch starts in — my mom's red sauce and my homemade chicken stock that ends up in half the recipes here.

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Michelin Star

Ever

Chicago, IL

My first ever Michelin star experience: Ever in Chicago

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A kitchen tool

Le Creuset Everyday Pan

Le Creuset · Enameled cast iron

The one pan I reach for on autopilot — it sears, it simmers, and it goes stovetop-to-oven without a word of complaint.

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Bib Gourmand

Nobie's

Houston, TX

Puff, puff pass everything right on over, please!

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Small Business · Butcher

Premier Meat Market

Houston, TX

Excellent customer service - unique cuts of beef - way better than a grocery store

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A wine school

Texas Wine School

Houston, TX

WSET 1 in progress -- I peeled a grape in class and finally understood what tannins are.

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A cooking school

The Cookery

Houston, TX

I've taken almost every class they offer and never once left without learning something -- plus it feels like cooking in someone's actual home.

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A book

The Flavor Bible

Karen Page & Andrew Dornenburg

When I feel like crafting a meal of my own imagination instead of from someone else's recipe...

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Small Business · Farmer's Market

Tomball Farmer's Market

Tomball, TX

Very broad selection of grocery items - exactly what you hope every farmer's market is...

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A cooking school

Well Done Cooking School

Houston, TX

Six months at Well Done is where I went from stumbling through recipes to writing my own -- the actual origin story.

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