Summary
“Selena + Nancy Silverton” proves a calamity of episode, with the house near enough burning down, but at least there are some edible vegetables at the end of it all.
This recap of Selena + Chef Season 1 Episode 6, “Selena + Nancy Silverton”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
Am I the only person worried about Selena’s hood in Selena + Chef episode 6? Something to keep an eye on — if it dips in a pan of oil or something, don’t say I didn’t tell you so.
This episode’s guest chef is Nancy Silverton, legendary chef, baker, author, and restaurant owner, who has planned a very ambitious day. Liz and Raquel are on-deck for sous-chef duties. Nancy immediately dispenses old-school contrary wisdom — apparently more cooks the better. But what about the broth?
“Selena + Nancy Silverton” is apparently pretty vegetable-centric. They’re making an Italian party buffet with loads of the stuff, a good excuse for Nancy to pretend she’s in Italy. Leeks and tomatoes in the oven — Selena’s quick to show off her newfound knowledge about her oven’s convection setting. I’m weirdly proud of her, for some reason.
Time to braise some leeks, which Selena can’t identify and is oddly fascinated by. Remember, kosher salt for seasoning, flaky salt for finishing. Halving tomatoes stresses Selena out a bit, but Nancy insists this is stress-free cooking — easier said than done considering neither of Selena’s oven lights is off. Even after the carrot preparation, the oven still isn’t ready, and the thermometer has gone walkabout. It ends up being in the back of the oven, which is about 300 degrees below where it needs to be.
Luckily, making pesto doesn’t require an oven, but the hob isn’t working either. It’s a disaster! Whoever’s working production tells Selena to enlist her papa to fix the oven, which he manages off-camera. We’re back in business!
After figuring out what a pestle and mortar is, Selena uses it to mash up basil that is far from finely chopped but let’s not be picky. Besides, it turns out okay. The leeks, though not so much — especially once Selena tips them all over the oven.
As the asparagus comes out, the smoke alarm goes off. This truly is a calamity of an episode. And that’s before the teapot starts burning and the parchment paper in the oven sets on fire.
Despite all this chaos, there’s something kind of warm about Nancy lovingly watching the girls eat all the vegetables. The house might have almost burned down, but at the end of the day, they’re eating at the end of it. And it’s the favorite meal Selena has made, so there’s that.
The donation in Selena + Chef season 1, episode 6 goes to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to support their mission in curing cancer.
