$88 vs $15 Tacos: Pro Chef & Home Cook Swap Ingredients | Epicurious

Professional chef Danielle Alex and home cook Ross are swapping materials and hoping for the best! We set Ross up with a treasure chest of ingredients from chef Danielle’s kitchen, along with a recipe for her delectable $88 chicken tacos. Fortunately, food scientist Rose dialed in for a tutorial teleconference and pep talk to help Ross along his way. Meanwhile, over with chef Danielle, a much more modest $15 worth of ingredients were being finessed by the creator of Diversity Kitchen in a quest to improvise her way up to gourmet. Watch and see whose tacos were supreme under these mixed up circumstances!
Chef Danielle is on Instagram at @danielleginet
Follow Ross on Instagram at @rosscooksthings
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$88 vs $15 Tacos: Pro Chef & Home Cook Swap Ingredients | Epicurious

[@2091AmandaPanda]

The professional chef is so cool. She seems so enthusiastic and happy with cooking, you can tell by the giggle she had when rolling out the cilantro tortillas. Always nice seeing someone love their profession. 😁👍🏾

[@gerardacronin334]

I love Danielle, she is so passionate and relatable. And I’m an old white lady.

[@joshuatang69420]

You clearly have not seen frank before

[@gerardacronin334]

@@joshuatang69420 I have watched Frank in numerous videos and subscribe to his own channel, Proto Cooks. In fact I watched his newest video on making gnocchi this afternoon. You should check it out.

[@thevioletskull8158]

Danielle is amazing

[@2091AmandaPanda]

@@joshuatang69420 I had a feeling I would get this type of response. Frank is cool and enjoys his job as well and I've commented on his related videos stating so 😁👍🏾. Now, when it comes to this video, the spot light is on 2 cooks that are not Frank. Though Frank is awesome, my compliment this time is simply directed at Danielle only (since I've complimented Frank only on his videos). 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@alexislaforte6749]

I don’t even remember how I found this channel but I’m glad I did

[@zerocodm8387]

Me too bud

[@dantethunderstone2118]

Anyone else form stake dinner swap between Lorenzo and Frank

[@beyonderhell7825]

@@dantethunderstone2118 me to same video

[@tariqkamal376]

Probably Frank brought you here

[@AlisonReviews]

I was about to say same but I found it through the ice cream gadgets video

[@karoljohnson8916]

All of us Hispanics know that the proper way to stop tortillas from sticking to the press isn’t by using parchment paper... you gotta use grocery store bags man

[@ytreece]

😂 recycling at its finest!

[@LadyASolveg]

I've used scaran wrap

[@gehrmansparrow1060]

Being cheap isn't to be proud of

[@karoljohnson8916]

@@gehrmansparrow1060 it’s more about the *lack* of money rather than about being cheap. But thanks for your unnecessary comment.

[@gehrmansparrow1060]

You're welcome

[@letarogers6380]

Love how Danielle is teaching us and explaining why she’s doing things

[@AldoTorresblexaz]

No Saul for THE mexican dish?? :(

[@Hi-vn2yj]

Ikr

[@christopherwilson88]

Literally my first thought when seeing the thumbnail: "how you gonna not get Saul for this one???"

[@gf_real]

No Saul fo' today

[@claudialuna9216]

I know!!! Like wtf, its TACOS. WHERE'S SAUL?

[@tzvigross4519]

Not everyone is available for every episode. They do have jobs and lives

[@radostalina]

Ross is trapped in his little kitchen! They won't let him out till he cookes the tacos😃🙈

[@therainmakerinsider]

Welcome to New York. A small apartment cost $2000 a month.

[@radostalina]

@@therainmakerinsider my kitcheb in Budapest is even smaller! Although it's much cheaper than this🙈

[@genesisreyes5815]

@@therainmakerinsider so thats a apartment KITCHEN IN NY!? 😫

[@genesisreyes5815]

@@therainmakerinsider thats small and expensive tho

[@iCanbEYOURrUKIA]

@@genesisreyes5815 lol thats NYC for you. Everything is small and expensive

[@nolimitnailz]

I'm so glad this time even the pro chef plan is not as crazy as they usually are. I can actually take from both and put my own twist on it. Thank you for making it more budget and ingredients friendly. I don't like the ones so crazy I would have no way of making because their so out their. Its so funny y'all did chicken tacos. We've been on a chicken taco kick lately. Thanks again!!! Wishing you all well!!!

[@KingKeseGaming]

Danielle has stock in the rubber spatula industry clearly

[@firemaker282]

every pro chef in this series "but i think i can elevate these simpler ingredients with my chef skills" what this actually means apparently is just going into their pantry or fridge and using their own ingredients anyways.

[@richardteal5678]

I feel like I want this to be a different show - like they should have to use everything in the basket like Chopped

[@jacksonkloes4967]

I wish they had to stick with what they were given

[@craigcissel5042]

I mean they aren’t adding anything special. Flour, lard (maybe not but it’s easy to get), and basic seasoning should be had by every home cook. I like that it shows you to throw some things you have in your kitchen into a dish to elevate it from a basic dish. I much prefer them adding fun spins.

[@cutmeloosebruce1955]

None of these ingredients are hard to get or expensive, it’s kinda nice seeing them add cheaper ingredients

[@fashionablechangeling1988]

@Stephen Carr Some others didn't add anything, Frank usually sticks to the recipe exactly and the girl in the Fried Chicken Sandwich episode with Lorenzo also didn't change anything

[@casfmsantos]

Danielle is amazing, i love the fact that she always explain what she's doing

[@sir_phnx3582]

I like How The pro does all the talking and the home cook doesn't saying anything cause he's never seen the ingredients

[@amyhansen6318]

I was thinking that also. He was all; cilantro, my least favorite herb; when he pulled it out of her box. So I was confused that he had cilantro in his box😂

[@rushjl92]

@Ava Tade if she was my aunt I would be at her house all the time 🤣

[@pikass13]

Ross: I don’t like cilantro. Ross’s ingredient: cilantro

[@RangeRov49]

Staged much? Nah.

[@brookerowe6423]

im still in shock that he doesnt like cilantro im obsessed

[@CorynWarriorKitty]

I’m curious if he doesn’t like just cause he doesn’t or if he has that gene where it makes cilantro taste like soap

[@andrewthezeppo]

@@CorynWarriorKitty it runs in my family but thankfully mom and I don't have it, my dad and siblings do

[@yz4043]

Yeah that confused me too

[@MagnusUltor]

If you're paying $12.25 for corn, you're shopping at the wrong place.

[@wakeuphoez]

Girll right they probably got it from whole foods

[@awesomeecuadorian]

i’m thinking a farmers market kinda deal? she did say fresh corn? that’s the only way i could see someone paying that much for damn corn lol

[@ytreece]

Definitely. That’s insane. Maybe the corn is from far away???? Corn is 25 cents an ear in season everywhere I’ve ever lived.

[@windyhawthorn7387]

3 for a dollar right now but it gets as low as 10 or 20 for a dollar in my area.

[@andrewthezeppo]

Lol yeah being from the Midwest you just buy it from a stand on the side of the road, get a whole bag for just a few bucks

[@ellentmarlow]

Ross is so fun and likable!! He needs his own cooking show! ♥️

[@mrudulasrivatsa]

I really like Ross. Looking forward to seeing more of him

[@timg3504]

Rose is like everyone’s favorite Aunt. I just love her.

[@bendierking6986]

Don't know how to make corn torillas? Better call Saúl!

[@thevioletskull8158]

I'm surprised that Saul wasn't in this one, I guess they have been showing him also lately.

[@Hope12Grace90]

Saul: You want the pepper to be burned, but you don't want it to taste burned, got it?

[@juanstaroldchannel3553]

*yes,you want the floor to be White,but you do not want to see it White,got it?*

[@ivetterodriguez1994]

Char it basically.

[@kadeezzell3964]

@@juanstaroldchannel3553 after you do the floor you want to make sure you don’t see the glass for the windows but you see the glass,got it?

[@yespur87]

Frank growing his own rubber tree for that spatula

[@benlawless6526]

jokes about frank and his long preparation time, **incoming**

[@515aleon]

Really like this Danielle. To me she seems so accessible--like she wants everyone to love to cook as much as she does. I could follow this. Ross otoh, appears to be making very large amounts of Ayahuasca.

[@trina4199]

Love that we are seeing new faces! Fan faves are nice but I do love the variety!

[@prettyblkgyrl74]

Danielle is officially my favorite level 3. Her smile seals the deal 😁🥰

[@quedizzle7378]

I like her too but I didn't like how she changed his recipe so much. That's cheating

[@michaelbcohen]

For some reason I was hoping Chef Saul would be doing this one. I mean Chef Danielle and great and love the vids she is in, but when it comes to Mexican food I just have to expect Chef Saul who I just love watching as well.

[@emilyhawthorne5204]

Protect Ross at all costs. Give the people more Ross!!!

[@cwg73160]

29:27 “That crema does everything for it.” That was a brutal backhanded compliment.

[@kenjq9160]

The editing on these videos are always amazing, everything is just so seamless!

[@tejinderkaur3641]

I wonder if Frank has finished preparing the soil for growing corn 🤔

[@charinakita5599]

I think this was my favorite episode! I really enjoy Danielle as a chef. Her personality is just so uplifting!

[@wedzi]

I hope the swap videos keep being filmed from home. I love the intimacy and also like that the home chefs get to have ingredients that are not at their normal price point in their kitchens

[@ytreece]

I wish they could taste each other’s dishes though.

[@jayo_z]

Meanwhile, Frank is still sitting on his eggs to keep them warm until they hatch.

[@AndrewFStewart]

Give Ross my number! ❤️ however, what cute as hell “home chef” has: a stone mortar and pestle, A mandolin and a vita mix?!?! Lol Ross is pro!

[@casarina]

I am GAGGGEDDDDD

[@joshuatollesmith40]

Actually though

[@Forgefaerie]

I have those at home as well. well not vitamix, but rather a ninja, but still. I am definitely NOT a pro chef by any stretch, I'm more of an Emily level at best :P gadgets are just fun :)

[@davidmyers-wakeman5515]

Andrew, right!? I checked out his Instagram, and it looks like he is pretty advanced for being a home chef!

[@ytreece]

I’m a home cook and I have all those things. Actually two types of mortar and pestle. I do love cooking though, and despite my lack of an Instagram presence am probably a little more advanced than average at ethnic cooking. I live in a small Wyoming town. There isn’t even a Mexican restaurant. I do Indian, Mexican, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and all things Southern including smoking meats.

[@Soggyoldsock]

Everyone waiting for them to call Rose...the real MVP

[@lindacsmith13]

Yummy - way to up the basic ingredients. Nice job chef and Ross. Glad you didn't lose any body parts!

[@lindafreeman7030]

Danielle sent him the tortilla press along with the ingredients; maybe she included the mandolin and morter&pestle too?

[@passiveagressive4983]

Finally they gets the chefs to try each other’s creation, it has been a looooong time coming

[@JessicaSilva-sl1on]

I love how she says in the beginning, “and WAS going to be delicious”

[@monique7885]

Anybody else want the chef to actually use the ingredients for the cheaper meals and only those ingredients

[@andycalimara]

Nah. Bring on the seasoning.

[@Lalameniaa]

YES! Where's the fun and creativity when they change every ingredient to make the dish different?

[@aazimqawi3835]

She used ingredients that basically everyone has

[@anthropomorphisis]

@@aazimqawi3835 this! and showed you how to elevate a simple dish very easily with ingredients that are common

[@Rebecca-dm5ul]

Nope. We all add our identity to our food. Love that chef's make it better with home stuff.

[@Dubsketti]

This series is basically just Masterchef vs Hell’s Kitchen

[@lebronjahames2685]

why?

[@Dubsketti]

Masterchef is Home cooks and Hell’s Kitchen is semi-professional (usually)

[@tokwamgtofu9728]

Rose: "Hey Ross" Ross: "Hi Rose"

[@Barry_TopG]

Frank is still growing the corn for the tacos in Mexico.

[@deadpeach07]

Actually corn is naitve to the Americas and corn isn't really a big thing here in Arabia

[@carloscorpus4413]

@@deadpeach07 actually is from mexico, and here in mexico we have 64 different

[@RangeRov49]

I can't tell the difference between both your avatar pictures.

[@iCanbEYOURrUKIA]

@@deadpeach07 Mexico is part of the Americas technically. We do share the same continent after all 😊 proud to have them as our neighbors!

[@Alwerien]

Aww, the end was so adorable. Ross is fun to watch. I was so worried for his security deposit too. GL in the future! And Danielle seemed so nice and happy! Also, yay rubber spatulas.

[@kristathehungrymelon]

Danielle is so relatable and easygoing, im glad to have her on board. Can't wait to have Penny back though (a little bourbon in everything!)

[@caitymiller3332]

Ross ATE this challenge up- great work. Definitely a skilled home chef!!! Danielle of course delivered an excellent dish:)

[@1djose]

I wish the pro chef makes tacos out of that ingredients only or just add few new ingredients. 😃 On the other hand she explain how to make/cook tacos very well, 👍

[@nikolasgamer6737]

You should make pro vs pro chef cook off

[@pastelfluff5131]

I’ve not seen Ross before but he’s one of my favourites now ! Such a fun personality

[@alexianallen8420]

Ever since I started watching I can't stop

[@andreagonzalez2621]

25:05 *chicken reveal !😂😂😂 I love how he makes it sound like a baby shower! Ohh man! . 😄😁

[@Caronage_]

when is julie gonna be in an ingredients swap

[@renatosilva9142]

I mean, half of her ingredients are smuggled from different countries. There must be some legal implications...

[@krisandres2011]

@@renatosilva9142 The perks of having diplomatic immunity jk.

[@darylco4349]

Are we related by any chance?

[@passiveagressive4983]

The question is, how does Ross get out of his kitchen?

[@natin0m]

Its not a counter he put a table there

[@gf_real]

He doesn't

[@timothyking4388]

The window duh!! 🧐

[@passiveagressive4983]

Timothy King 😂😂😂❤️🙏

[@eddiesustarsic4066]

He can’t he’s standing on his bed and his tv is in the microwave

[@MrKirby365]

I love the golden reflection on her eyes it makes her stand out in this fantastically beautiful way. It's like be able to see her personality!

[@maddielee4307]

The one thing I have learned from this is I need to head straight to the store and to the rubber spatulas.

[@hillaryfuller5204]

Really like Pro Chef Danielle! She seems sweet and enthusiastic plus she explains her steps really well, you could actually follow along with her. I also loved how although she “leveled up” the dish it was super crazy where we couldn’t try this at home. More of her please!

[@arnoldgraham5533]

Chef Danielle sounds like she worked on the radio before she started cooking, what a lovely voice!

[@erichumphrey4094]

You know what this series really says to me? That buying expensive ingredients really isn't worthwhile...

[@Stuntman707]

The way I see it, it’s about being creative & finding ways to elevate the cheap ingredients to make them taste better.

[@krisandres2011]

In reality, cheap and expensive food items are almost the same. Organic milk factories, for example, pack the same product and label them as regular milk. White eggs taste just the same as brown and blue eggs.

[@ytreece]

$12 for 3 ears of corn though...

[@JoseEncarnacao]

Professional chef Danielle Alex has the greatest nicest smile. Lovelly :)

[@Hope12Grace90]

This is the first time I see a home cook say "noooo" when his ingredients are taken away and the pro cook saying "hey~" when she sees the cheaper ingredients

[@Rebecca-dm5ul]

Lordy Danielle you rocked this. Everyone on a budget now has a pantry filled with ingredients, you showed us how to upscale. Brava

[@ItsKiraLyn]

Hehe I just love her! I’m gonna go see if she’s in more videos when this one is over!

[@anneatambo3231]

She is amazing!!!!!

[@StayshaS]

You need to make this series into a cookbook! I need all these recipes!

[@RangeRov49]

I couldn't concentrate on anything but how concerned this dude was about making a mess of his surroundings

[@Ben-jj1xq]

4:30 GET THE NOTEBOOK OFF THE STOVETOP!

[@rashmikalita]

When the homecook said cilantro is his least favourite herb, he got me there! I HATE CILANTRO

[@ruzanezu1798]

A chef were trained to make everything a bit different than other people did. And they have every right to be creative all they want. If you want a challenge video, this is not it.

[@sockergurl1221]

Have I hyper-fixated on watching every episode of this series? Yes. Do I regret it? No.

[@ellalandry3389]

okay I love Ross. His personality is greattttt, he's so funny.

[@adrienne3277]

🤣😂🤣🤣 fancy taco. 🤣😂 his kitchen narrow and deep that way. 🤣🤣 petting the herbs 😊 he’s funny

[@Miisalchicha]

I'm Mexican and I approve these tacos 👍🏼 They look super yummy omg

[@kayleemoore9729]

Keep these videos coming please ! I love love love watching them. Probably my fav on KZbin 😂❤️

[@nonexiste4899]

I love when the chef says: with my chef skills I can make it better ♥️

[@taerrificpjms4133]

I really love this chef she radiates such positive kind energy

[@anuskadas2216]

We absolutely need more Danielle. She is so cool! ❤️

[@niteshrai7036]

Saul shakes his head for the lack of NYC water

[@misscompassionate]

I love their personalities. They make me feel like this 🥰 inside.

[@shaycrowley3262]

Can we talk about how chill Danielle was about her tongs just randomly catching light?

[@caleblecrow2207]

The reason I never learned how to make my own Tortillas is because in my family, once they know that you can make Tortillas, that's all you do every family gathering. The entire day.

[@mathfincoding]

Living for Ross's energy

[@Celticshade]

im so happy the recipe for the ancho chicken is on danielle's website i finally got my peppers so im cooking this tomorrow. so excited.

[@WJames-vk2kp]

$88 tacos? JESUS.

[@Heegaherger]

They have done worse: $103 pancakes $75 Grilled Cheese $109 Omelet $98 Burger $260 Pock Chop $250 Pasta Bolognese $500 Steak Dinner (Christ, that's almost rent...)

[@shivamchari3574]

That amount is for the entire list of ingredients. But in the recipe only 10%-20% of packed ingredients are used

[@WolverineBeast86]

Ill never pay that for tacos!

[@johnmaher7078]

@@WolverineBeast86 too bad, $88 please

[@DenEr0c]

@@Heegaherger easy to amount to that if your using a 3.99 lime and similarly overvalued ingredients.

[@KewBlinkla]

Can we just pause and realize that rose is probably quite successful and her home isn’t stupid and outrageous looking? It looks cozy and comfortable. And she probably make some pretty good dollar. ♥️

[@Fenix199X]

It is amazing not only because the food looks delicious but also the chef is a charming person with great culinary skills

[@PachouWeb]

Love these VS episodes!. A tip: if you don't have a gas stove, or an outdoor barbecue to char the peppers, I find that an air fryer at max for 6 minutes works really well. In fact I don't do it any other way now, though pre-air-fryer I nearly pulled out a oxy-acetylene torch.

[@amandacazares82]

I dry roast mine, on my comal or a griddle, on the stove. 🤷🏼‍♀️ It was the way, I was taught 20 years ago and I like being able to check and manage them easily.

[@njrob8025]

I love Danielle's enthusiasm!

[@smddmarisss802]

I love how Ross stays saying he doesn’t like cilantro but he has it as one of his ingredients 😭

[@lonnieadams7841]

If Ross would have turned the guard a quarter turn, using the mandolin would have been easier. The wings ride the rails when the food gets lower, preventing the spikes from getting too low, close to the blade.

[@Drake844221]

I've sworn by silicon spatulas and spoons ever since I started really making soda bread ages ago. You want something that needs silicon? Soda bread dough. That stuff is wallpaper paste.

[@joemoreno1751]

Who couldn’t fall in love with Danielle. We need more of her

[@erikl3528]

I want to see the home cook talkin 'bout "forget all that. They cheat, so I have another pack of flour tortillas and some fire sauce right over here."

[@andrewthezeppo]

Yeah the pros always add stuff, the home cooks should too.

[@alexachen996]

Agreed.

[@aubreemitchel7612]

Can we acknowledge the, "The chef is always right" sign in her house

[@christopherreedphx]

This series would be so much better if you included recipes. I'd love to make the flour tortillas but after trying and failing so many tortilla recipes I know that tortillas are on of those things where measurements are a big key and just showing what's in it doesn't help much. I know what the ingredients are I need measurements!

[@manitz42]

I love her so much, protect her at all costs

[@adrianmanivanh2915]

Where is Saul :(

Here 🥺

[@dianakolarova9428]

Danielle is great! I love her style 🙌 looking forward to seeing more of her

[@madmh6421]

Rose is the greatest!!! Tiny kitchens, but I envy the gas stove!!!

[@steffurness]

$12.25 for 2 ears of corn?!?! $2 each, tops! Dozen for $4 more likely.

[@dawnibolical]

Ross is a complaining mess. Love how informative chef is

[@ev01ve14]

Home cooks in this series: How do I do this? Pro Chefs in the is series: I like your idea, except, it sucks, so why not let me make the idea, then it might be really good.

[@iliketowatch1978]

oh hellloooooo Ross! I love the fact that the Food scientist is also a chef (Yassssssss Rosemary!)

[@BomaniChisulo]

I'm jealous of Ross' ability to mince garlic like that, I had to start buying the precut stuff because I kept cutting my thumb. Last time I cut up some garlic I cut the corner tip of my thumb off.

[@emily1813]

is ross doesn’t like cilantro why did he put it in his box? 🤔