4 Levels of Risotto: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious

[@Orwellian-Purple-Grapes-1984]

Everytime someone in the west made an Asian ancestor cry with their rice cooking methods, but this time it was an Asian who made the Italian ancestors cry with her rice dish. 😂

[@dyleon0756]

Lish is probably the coolest level 3 chef after frank. She acts and speaks like a regular person, while using her expertise and technique. Does not aim to feel better than everyone else just because of her knowledge. Please bring her more often!

[@veronicacuratolatobar186]

Her, Saul and Frank are Epicurious holy trinity!

[@deenaallen7668]

Completely agree with everything you said. Her risotto looks incredible!

[@kalin962]

Lish is awesome but you HAVE to put Saul in there as well.

[@pagandreamer5584]

You can hear her pure passion in her voice when ever she talks about food

[@iRaps1]

bruh

[@fromthewest0074]

I feel like Diane made more of a rice pilaf than a risotto. I think risotto needs that creaminess and her rice looks a little dry on the plate.

[@canaisyoung3601]

That is the main difference between risotto and pilaf. And why I find making risotto easier than making pilaf (even if it's the store-bought, Rice-Aroni, San Francisco treat pilaf).

[@lucaskobain]

It looks like a warm cous cous salad

[@TheRealDioBrando]

I mean she used Paella rice and then didn't stir it... which is also what you do when making paella so as to not release the starches. No idea what she was thinking, but the dish was already ruined when she went with corn anyway.

[@louislebreton182]

Level 1 is level 2 today

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

and level 2 is level 0.5

[@NataliaSteck98]

Soon he's going to level up, just like Emily

[@jbearclowater]

I feel like John has been like a level 1.5-1.9 more so than a level one for a long time now. He's a very talented cook in the kitchen! There's a lot of times his dishes are better than the level 2 I find (today included)

[@midnightcsy]

Inflation is everywhere

[@elisabasta]

YES.

[@ffkeixi]

The level 2 chef really made some choices

[@2knano992]

Why is she even level 2? 😭

[@mts.camilo]

@@2knano992she really should switch places with the level 1.

[@eXJonSnow]

@@mts.camilo she really should not have been on this episode and not actually made risotto

[@elifschitz]

That’s a great way putting it

[@Chicken-coop]

Not only does it fail as a risotto, it doesn't even pass as stock rice

[@LordShockwave9]

Lol at everyone in the comments waiting for the Italians to complain. On that note, John is elevating his game. He stuck to the traditional risotto recipe and did the dish justice. I've watched Lish before so she's got liberty to riff on the dish.

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

Lis has Liberty to riff b/c she's a professional chef and that's what they do.

[@TheMrCC21]

@@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808 There are many variations of a traditional risotto. It's all about execution and knowing what you're doing.

[@Thatonegirl989]

To be fair Italians are constantly in the comments complaining. Not just on this channel, all over the internet

[@Gronkiy]

tbf I'm not even Italian but it just wasn't a risotto

[@AishwaryaM-nu6jm]

Chef Lish is so much fun. Seems like a very heart warming, honest and energetic person to be around.. and she was so happy throughout the video!

[@kozmobluemusic]

i think john is slowly turning into a level 2 chef...

[@_Toxicity]

John being the second Epicurious chef to get promoted after Emily would be a VERY amazing and fun day! :D

[@interchris]

It’s just the juxtaposition that gets him the promotion

[@moviejeff08]

Honestly, John's was the best-looking dish here...

[@jbearclowater]

John did better than the level two chef here, in my opinion

[@yngclothing]

Exactly that’s what I said

[@teampenit]

I can tell that Rose did NOT approve of the no stir method at ALL!

[@amydeel8653]

Came here to say that!

[@caglr88]

Well if you dont stir the rice - liquid mixture and leave it to slowly cook, it happens to be 'pilaff' not risotto.

[@davinar34]

I haven't gotten to that point of the video yet but I can already guess who

[@cronoz-sensei4259]

@@caglr88 technically this is also the paella method of cooking rice.

[@mgraffma61]

The no stir method isn't where she went wrong, fyi

[@jasmineraww]

rinsing the rice with stock.... wait what 😰 Whenever Lish explains the rationale behind making risotto, the lady breaks every single rule, and Rose confirms what Diane did was the opposite of what she wants to achieve 😂

[@danielcues]

Level 2 chef lied on her resume. What on earth did she make, this is outrageous.

[@SayNoobB4ULeave]

2nd person didn't make risotto, they just made rice with shrimps.

[@lauraqueentint]

nah level 2 is just asian mom cooking what she thinks is risotto lol

[@AstolfoGayming]

It's probably tasty, but definitely not risotto

[@aldrensiscar3988]

I think its jambalaya?

[@AmyBluesoul]

It was very confused. It had a Mexican feel and then toss with basil because risotto is Italian and basil is used in Italian cooking. Also her add butter because it gives that je ne sais quoi? Maybe because it needs it because it was dry and needs the moisture after the abuse she did.

[@ZeldaOtaku1]

what happened is she messed up early by not cooking the shallots and onions so I think after that it was like F it

[@craigslitzer4857]

13:33 The tasting is my favorite part of this video series. That's the moment you fully realize it's not a competition against one another, but simply each chef making what they consider to be a fantastic dish meant to be enjoyed. They are all great in their own way. 4 levels is a very enjoyable show with a great format.

[@ormonde021]

yeah but level 2 wasn't risotto and probably was a waste of ingredients

[@wateasa]

Why didn’t they bring Beth. My favorite Italian grandma

[@jarrottbarker7135]

I love this series but admittedly I kind of wish it was entirely made up of episodes featuring Emily, Saul, Beth, Lorenzo and of course Frank.

[@maromania7]

Because Beth is smart and probably turned them down. Every part of Italy has strong opinions on the only correct way to make any dish. Italy is one of the countries famous for barely tolerate a neighboring city's way of doing things. They're also notorious for hating other country's ways with a BURNING passion. Doubly so since she should know how to do it their way. Would not surprise me if she just decided to dodge this, especially since she has her own channel now.

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

possibly b/c Risotto is more of a Northern Italian dish and Beth makes Southern Italian dishes? I grew up in the most heavily populated by Italian Americans in the US and never saw any of my friend's mothers or g'mas make it nor was it on any of the family style Italian restaurant menus. maybe that has changed, but I think of this as a more technique driven dish rather than homey

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

Beth doesn't care what people in Italy think....she's grounded in her Italian American heritage which is slightly different@@maromania7

[@WeDwellinaFiefdom]

@@maromania7Beth has a channel???

[@rimmymindplease8120]

Level 2 is a hot mess. I was shaking my head throughout!

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

same

[@eliadelphi2459]

I wonder if Diane (Level 2 Chef) has ever even seen risotto before, let alone eaten it, lmao

[@kylam4830]

Level 2 pissed me off, like it looks so dry risotto supposed to be creamy, they should switched level 2 and 1

[@guidosaur7506]

Chef John's risotto is my favorite balance of easy to make and great flavor

[@MGD313]

John will follow Emily's path and become Level 2 at some point.

[@2knano992]

Level 1 and 2 need to switch because that lady don’t know what she doing😭

[@fluasch]

Chef Johns risotto was not level 1 at all, he really put a lot of effort into it

[@jarrottbarker7135]

The parmesan rinds in the stock is a great call. I save them for when I'm making tomato sauce and they add such a nice salty/creaminess. And yes, they're a great snack for when it's all finished too.

[@jamccc671]

My grandmom use to use parmesan rinds in her broth....yummy.

[@zDiegoChz]

I´m so glad lvl 3 Chef showed us how Risotto is actually supposed to look like. Wavy, kinda loose but creamy, not supposed to have much height. Most people don´t know about this, even in professional kitchens

[@Chanzlyn]

I love the dynamic of John and Lish in this. John with the traditional approach, while I love Chef Lish showing the "once you know the rules of cooking, you can break those rules" in her way of using a different type of rice or creme fraiche instead of butter. Diane's was fun to show the no-stir method and I loved the idea of using summery veg to kind of lighten a typically decadent dish!

[@warmtoiletseat7362]

Dianes dish wasn't even risotto...

[@Halaa7]

Level 2 Chef traumatized me.

[@rovadomiles2842]

level 2 chef made an incomplete creole jambalaya

[@jamccc671]

John's risotto had too much asparagus in large pieces, Diane's was dry but Lish's was perfect. Risotto is never thick or dry but has a slight creamy liquid as was shown with Lish's dish. I never thought of fennel in risotto, it is a must try.

[@olihargrave7366]

At least John made risotto, cough level 2 👀

[@Ifechukwuadeshina-cj2hf]

Lish made the risotto. That's professional

[@snapgab]

This "level 2 chef" is a great example of "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing 😂 Sometimes you just have to follow the rules instead of getting cocky and thinking you know better. I still can't believe that she said "looks great" when she unveiled a "risotto" that was dry as the desert, with every grain separated and no creaminess in sight.

[@christinaefthimiou9156]

Lish is one of my favorite chefs. You can tell she's a pro yet she's humble and really cool! I love the videos on this channel in general, but I gotta say, I absolutely love the ones with Frank and Lish 👩‍🍳

[@aeybonbon9013]

Chef Lish is always warm and comforting to watch! ❤

[@pedronascimento7235]

13:33 C'mon Diane, taste the rice too... not only the shrimp 😂

[@j3r3miasmg]

Arboreo rice is the way to go. Level 2 only ate and talked about the shrimp (13:30). For the first time, my choice to eat is the level 1's plate.

[@KyleBaran90]

I like John's simplicity of ingredients, it's the most relatable to me. I enjoyed Diane's presentation the most, even though I don't enjoy seafood, and I also liked Lish's selection of ingredients and flavor strategies. All three have something pleasing about them!

[@lauraqueentint]

Level 1: what you'd actually make on a weeknight dinner Level 2: What your asian mom makes you Level 3: What you actually get at a restaurant

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

nah, your Asian mom *knows how to cook rice properly* and would never serve you that mush

[@Rudy2k5]

To be fair, the broth looks very simple. Surely I'll try this week or next week :p

[@eirxd5658]

They have switched level 1 and 2...😂 Also, John, Beth, Frank would be great for this episode.

[@mattcarlucci]

Yeah, was expecting this to be a Frank.

[@ericjensen7580]

He's still busy growing the rice in Italy

[@Samizouza]

I can see why "level 2" was more of a cross between paella and pilaf than actual risotto since she used bamba rice.

[@martingarcia2800]

This video was a whole experience to watch, let's just say that.

[@candyleroy2423]

i can swear in italian now and im not even italian

[@nicthommi]

I was wonder if Rose was going to admit that number 2 wasn't risotto. She didn't disappoint.

[@ahonanzb]

I would be so SAD if someone served me risotto #2 ...

[@yesitsme712]

So happy to see John again! He makes me smile. John... you did great!!!! I wish i could try some! 😋

[@justing9370]

Level 2 chef genuinely made what we call in France a "salade de riz"

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

actually I believe it is called "salade de merde"

[@ROMANTIKILLER2]

John actually did a pretty nice job: simple, but all the elements were there. Diane made a nice rice dish, but calling it risotto I feel it would be a bit of a stretch.

[@bellacjay]

love lish's energy !!!!

[@Midnight_Cereal-x9u]

Chef Lish is delightful to see. She conveys a joy cooking a dish.

[@AS-kq7hw]

I would eat them all! I do feel like John made the one I wanted to try the most, I've never had asparagus in risotto before. I am okay with fennel, but I don't love it and Lish (who is awesome, always) seemed to be making a very fennel-forward risotto. The level 2 chef made a dish I would 100% eat, but I agree with everyone here who says it looked more like a pilaf.

[@_Toxicity]

Welcome back John! Welcome back Lish! :)

[@SouthernSouthAsian]

Whenever I think of Risotto, all I hear is Gordon Ramsey yelling, "where's the Risotto!"

[@Metroid22540]

♪ And that's how you make a perfect risotto ♪

[@Gambit17]

"The Risotto is burned! Shut it down! Shut it down!"

[@cjmahaffey]

I was looking for this 😂 ❤

[@MDeLorien]

I want John's risotto 😊

[@beeble2003]

I want Lish's. John's looks delicious but I feel I could do as well myself (though he really needs to use freshly grated cheese -- pre-greated smells gross). Diane's looks tasty but not stirring means not really risotto.

[@ontologger]

lv3 - ruins delicate caviar with parm and fennel lv2 - cooks some random rice dish lv1 - actually makes a nice reasonable risotto what a twist, Epicurious

[@sephiraskye9606]

I love how bubbly Jon is and I squealed when I saw Lish again. Love her to pieces ❤

[@haithamdana4382]

Frank would have grown his own rice.... just sayin 😏

[@Monster1472580]

He would also hand dive for his own scallops

[@melbell0865]

He’d also ferment his own wine.

[@nnooaaahhh]

Frank would make another Frank to cook for him

[@Cherry01449]

😂😂😂😂 facts

[@MatthiaGryffine]

The only dish I can still think of for 4 Levels is Spinach Dip. Maybe for the Super Bowl next year?

[@Zarsla]

On Level 2, it remined me of like the difference between I like for oatmeal while what my younger sister likes for oatmeal. Mines is more creamy/soupy, while my sisters method it's more together and thick. Basically Level 2 is like a thicker oatmeal/porrige the kind that is more solid and less soupy/creamy.

[@enyawthethird758]

Level 3 please all the way, looks like actual risotto...and i have a weakness for caviar lol

[@CaptinPoser]

Scallops Fennel Chives Fennel seeds Bay leaf Garlic Thyme Lemon zest Shallots Parm Rice Bubbles Crème fre Caviar Fennel pollen

[@nik_evdokimov]

Epicurious makes great videos with explanations as always, thanks for this one!

[@melonjuice7441]

10:07 The rice was hard af

[@nickmastmann1073]

Love all the dishes. I thing Lish should do one of Frank Protos 101 Lessons 😍

[@elena6516]

As an Italian Level 1 I approve! Job well done! Thank you for replicating such a delicious dish!

[@kopiovastaava4648]

You being an Italian means absolutely nothing

[@jefffarley9223]

I must say I am proud of John. He really stepped up.

[@UltraInfiniti]

John has been improving!!! Go john!! 🙌🏾🔥🔥🔥

[@purpleiguana208]

The only thing I feel like this series is missing is if everyone got to taste everyone else's dish.

[@carmenneumann9479]

And say truthful reaction

[@Becausing]

Level 2 wouldn’t have made it out alive 😂

[@keridiausjones7213]

I miss this series...😢

[@codylundin8656]

Props to the editors for making this coheasive while telling a story

[@alexhoffmann3002]

If they ever put me on this show as a level 1, I'm bringing caviar and chives and everything to put on at the end too!

[@Drake844221]

Honestly, I feel like John could pretty reasonably make the move up to level 2 chef in time, like Emily.

[@coralkitty]

Lish never fails to make my mouth water

[@solibanezz9666]

John shines here and he definitely deserved it, rooting for you, chef level 2 🎉

[@kateguevarra9277]

Love seeing Lish!!!

[@JaniceDAgostino]

Molten lava is my description of texture at the end adjusted if necessary with stock. I love to make fresh tomato basil risotto using chicken stock. Simple fresh beautiful. Everyone adds flavors they like. These did not appeal to me but they like them so it’s ok. Way too much fennel for me. No stir = not risotto to me. Just flavored rice. No need to constantly stir though, a little after stock is added, increasing when it is ready for more stock.

[@Cherry01449]

Lv1 did a great job really ☺️☺️ just smaller pieces of asparagus and would be top 👍🏻

[@yuliaivanova6843]

Chef Lish is always making such amazing dishes!❤

[@reed6514]

Taste testers would be a cool addition to this series

[@pkmitl]

I've been watching for years and lv-1 chefs are still lv 1.

[@avuci]

The level 3 dish is truly beautiful. Really want to make that. I would absolutely buy that dish

[@MegafaunaMinds]

More Lish please 🎉

[@mynala110]

More of this chef. She was fantastic.

[@yngclothing]

Level 1 is beyond level 1. A true level one chef wouldn’t even be familiar with risotto much less have a recipe for it. I think the guy was level one for sure

[@paolaguerrero6323]

That level 2 risotto was an actual nightmare

[@MeggsNEggs]

Chef is is such a delight. Always positive, informative, and entertaining!!

[@aftwelve]

Let John graduate to level two you haters!! He’s been consistently making solid level 1 food!

[@djtaybae]

i love john SO much lol!! what a vibe of a human!!

[@lancebeltran2002]

TBH, Jhon need to become a lvl 2 chef

[@TraciPeteyforlife]

Level 2 became level one. While John jumped to level two. Risotto should be creamy and smooth. Diane didn't make risotto, she made pilaf.

[@kusren5079]

Lish is greatttt. She actually makes me want to cook and learn. Definitelya level 3 I wanna listen to

[@carlogallucci4070]

Chef 2 is not making risotto!!! terrible!!!

[@ignacioe10]

Love the 3, they all explain so well and with joy

[@justinmiller5141]

The level 3's dish looks beyond amazing...

[@Lynn17]

I'm not a vegetarian, but I smile every time I see a chef doing a vegetarian take on a dish that usually uses some kind of meat or fish. Ah, John, you and your store-bought broth. Never change! Unpopular opinion but Diane made Risotto, it's just different. Obviously I'd put in my aromatics first since that's where the flavor base is, but she did a fine job. Also she used shrimp and I love shrimp. That being said, Lish's use of scallops makes me want to try hers super bad. I haven't had scallops in forever. All three chefs are way ahead of me, who would just use basic white rice.

[@waylondesnoyers4606]

Technically, none of them were vegetarian 😅

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

risotto is often Italian and his choices were totally classic for risotto

[@Multifandomgirl1499]

Does the Level 3 chef have a restaurant? Her risotto looks delicious!

[@mrsillytacos]

Petition for Rosemary to actually cook in one of these:

[@bailylamountain3628]

Is 4 levels done with? Been 3 months since a new one.

[@leenaabed1817]

I have never seen negative comments on these videos 😂😂 but I’m happy I wasn’t crazy thinking that wasn’t risotto lol

[@feiery]

Diane’s presentation was a lesson of what NOT to do.

[@zeldastorms]

If Chef Lish would share where she got that amazing Tee Shirt that would be amazing

[@kunodleM]

John is very close to being promoted to level 2 chef

[@Deer_God]

I Love Lish. Thank You for Coming to my Ted Talk

[@trapomcn]

Lish’s recipe looks great

[@jinil9002]

wow, this is very similar to korean traditional juk. there are tons of juk recipes.

[@chefscorner7063]

As a Pro Chef with over 3 decades experience, I liked the style of Lish Risotto the best as it was the classic style I'm familiar with, but I'd prefer to have the Mushroom and Asparagus with the Scallops for my personal taste. I've always added a touch of color by browning my rice a touch, never knew it was a thing.🤷‍♂️ I've never used Parmesan Rinds like Lish did in her recipe. Has anyone else used them in the same or similar way? Just curious as to what it adds to its flavor profile to anything you'd use it in. I'd love some actual answer's.🤞 Thanks and Cheers to my fellow pros. Only we know what it takes. 🤙🌄

[@nowakowski_xyz]

Im so happy we all agree in the comments that level 2 was a big mistake