We had the opportunity to interview Nancy Silverton because we believe her recommendations will resonate with you. The items highlighted in this piece are from brands available in the NBCUniversal Checkout Marketplace. If you make a purchase through the links provided, we may earn a commission. Nancy Silverton stands out as a culinary luminary with a remarkable journey, starting as the pioneering pastry chef at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, then venturing into the beloved artisan bread realm with La Brea Bakery, and establishing acclaimed eateries like Campanile, Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza, and chi SPACCA. In addition to her culinary ventures, Silverton is an accomplished author with nine essential cookbooks under her belt. Truly, she is a legend in the culinary world!
During our conversation with this trailblazing chef at E!, we delved into burning questions, exploring topics such as kitchen essentials, thoughtful gift-giving in the culinary realm, and the art of savoring mozzarella—Silverton’s personal favorite being “bufala mozzarella paired with Spanish anchovies.”
Furthermore, Silverton shared insights about a simple $18 kitchen tool that has had a profound impact on her culinary journey.
Known for her transformative culinary wisdom, Silverton penned the cookbook The Cookie That Changed My Life in 2023. Today, she identifies two items as “life-changing,” with the first being the versatile microplane.
Silverton praises the microplane for its simple yet effective design that doesn’t require electricity—a feature she highly values in kitchen tools. She appreciates the various configurations of the tool, from different hole sizes to ribbon and slash options, utilizing them for tasks like zesting, grating cheese, and garlic. Her affinity for the mortar and pestle dates back to her days at Le Cordon Bleu in London, where she honed her culinary skills.
The chef’s preference for a porcelain mortar and pestle stems from its utility in preparing pounded sauces, pestos, nut-based sauces, and dressings. She emphasizes the stability of a heavy porcelain mortar for mixing dressings, contrasting it with lightweight bowls that may shift during preparation. While endorsing HexClad mixing bowls for their secure rubber base, Silverton also praises the brand’s pizza steel and cooking pans, particularly highlighting their stainless-steel base for efficient heat conduction.
Expressing her aversion to electric kitchen gadgets, Silverton humorously dismisses the electric can opener as possibly outdated. However, she does make an exception for the KitchenAid mixer, acknowledging its value in dough and batter preparation, making it an ideal gift choice for culinary enthusiasts.
For those seeking gift inspiration, Silverton suggests considering wooden spoons, flat heavy-duty spatulas, quality peelers, and well-balanced rolling pins as thoughtful presents. Her approach to gift-giving involves sharing things she personally loves, reflecting her genuine passion for culinary craftsmanship.