Private chef Cory Helm praises produce flavor and consistency

Respect the Vegetable: Private Chef Cory Helm Praises Produce Flavor, Consistency and More

Cory Helm is a private chef, providing his uniquely creative and flavorful dishes and menus to an owner of an NFL team—and he has also been an honored guest at The Chef’s Garden and the Culinary Vegetable Institute (he recently told us how he’d like to host a dinner at the CVI someday, as well!).

And, he uses our farm-fresh vegetables in his culinary dishes.

“What I love about them,” he says, “is how these delicious vegetables are already perfectly sized when I’m preparing a fine dining dish. This means there’s less prep involved—which is turn means I can spend more time on other details in the dishes, knowing the vegetables are already exactly right.”

Other days, Cory cooks a more rustic menu, and the vegetables fit in just right there, too. Nineties menu, anyone? Veggies are just right. So, whether you’re creating a high-end menu like Cory, or are a home cook wanting to feed your family a delicious and nutritious meal, our fresh vegetables are perfectly sized.

“I love everything from the farm,” Cory continues. “The winter carrots, for example, have such sweetness, such concentrated flavors. I also love the beets and other root vegetables. The micros are also great, with as much flavor in each micro-sized bite as a typical one of the fully grown herb.”

He then compares produce from the farm to what’s available in stores. “At a store, you buy the produce that’s been grown through commercial farming techniques, grown to their maximum size without attention to the actual flavor,” Cory says, “so you need to add other ingredients to brighten up those vegetables’ flavor. With The Chef’s Garden, veggies are grown and harvested with full attention to the vegetables’ flavor.”

Cory also appreciates the variety of products available at the farm. “I’ve been able to use some parts of produce,” he says, “that I didn’t realize were edible! And, when I get boxes from The Chef’s Garden, I respect the vegetable and use all of it. That’s right. Respect the vegetable.”

He points out that, from a chef’s perspective, the consistency of the farm’s produce is very helpful. “The sizing charts are useful, so I know what to anticipate. When you say what a product will be, that’s just what it is. Very much appreciated!”

Fresh Vegetable Boxes for Home Chefs and Cooks
If you’d like to have farm-fresh vegetables and herbs sent directly to your home, here are boxes that are available:

Plus, here is information about the veggies and herbs that may be in your boxes, including the incredible flavor and nutrition in each one—with easy prep tips also included!

Finally, if you’d like to use cuisine-specific blends of fresh herbs, greens, and microgreens in your dishes, we have five signature blends. Blends are carefully curated and chef inspired, each selected with love to enhance specific cuisines. Each of these selections adds layers of flavor to delicious dishes, with each bite serving as a punch of extra nutrition.

Here are direct links to specific blends:

Try the ones that appeal the most—or give them all a try! Enjoy.