Single Man Cooking: Anybody can make this dinner for two

I didn’t want to be that guy, the one who opens up the refrigerator and sees nothing but a pizza box and a few beers. I wanted to cook for myself, minimize fast food and go out to fewer restaurants.

                                                         

My goals were simple: Eat fresh, healthy food, cut costs, and entertain my friends and family.

It all started during the Great Recession. Now not only has my cooking improved, I’ve also been able to maintain normal weight, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Socially, I’ve found that a single man cooking turns an evening into an adventure. I like to add Miles Davis to kick up the flavor profiles.

My editor suggested I get some tips on cooking for company from real chefs. I started with Richard Chamberlain, who has been a top Dallas chef for more than 20 years.

“It’s really a great idea, and it comes down to simple techniques,” says Chamberlain, owner of Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House in Dallas and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill in Addison.

In his home kitchen, he shows me how to cook an amazing meal for two for less than $30. The menu includes a bottle of pinot grigio and a simple ice cream pie, and there are leftovers.

“Food is about sharing, and sharing is what life’s about,” Chamberlain says, “whether it’s somebody showing me how to shoot a basketball better or me showing somebody how to make a vinaigrette real fast and real flavorful.”