A couple of years ago I learned that the reason we eat so much guacamole around January as we watch the Big Game is that it’s the time of year when the harvests come in for the three big avocado producing regions—that would be California, Central America, and southern hemisphere growers like New Zealand. Neat, right? We’re in high avocado season! It’s the same high avocado season for us everyday people as it is for fancy people like Beyoncé, so I thought we’d celebrate— with celebrity guac! Why? Why not, really. It’s more fun to make Beyoncé’s super-basic guacamole than it is to make plain old generic super-basic guacamole, even though they are in fact the same thing. Right? Right! Celebrities bring the glitter. And the guac!
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Beyoncé’s Mom’s Super-Basic GuacamoleTwo avocados, one lime, one tomato, one onion, one clove of garlic—Beyoncé doesn’t even mess with cilantro. Or rather, her mom didn’t. This is the most basic recipe there is, and if you think you can’t make guacamole from scratch, start here, because you can! I am not going to make a joke about how: "All the Single Ladies can do it, or about how you’re not ready for this jelly" — you are ready.
Jose Andres Guacamole with Tomatillo and Queso FrescoSpanish chef Jose Andres has made a name for himself the last year feeding people with his group World Central Kitchen in disaster-struck Puerto Rico, disaster-struck California, and lately he’s been feeding people in the manmade-disaster of the government shutdown. But he started out as a fancy chef, and if you want a next level guacamole with a little surprise, his restaurant version with tomatillo and queso fresco is not only extremely delicious, it’s interesting to think about what you can do when you’ve reached the top of your profession—the answer is so much, so very much.
Jack White of the The White Stripes GuacamoleWhy do rock stars want so much tomato in their guacamole? I don’t know, but this is Jack White’s guac from his concert rider, and maybe you should make it so you can say you did?
Alex Stupak’s Basic GuacamoleI’m crazy about Alex Stupak, the very fine cooking Mexican chef with the many New York City restaurants. His is the recipe for guacamole I make the most myself—because I like cilantro, and have doubts about tomato in guacamole. Also tomatoes are not in season right now so I don’t much want to mess with them. Though if you’re a tomato guacamole person like Beyonce and Jack White, I’m fine with that. You’re clearly a rock star in your heart.
Rick Bayless Luxury Guacamole BarHow can you take your guacamole situation into the stratosphere? Garnishes! Good old Chicago chef Rick Bayless has imagined a luxury guacamole bar with his roast-garlic guacamole in the center, and all kinds of garnishes for the guacamole set around—garnishes like pumpkin seeds, queso, different salsas, and more. If you’ve ever thought, "I’d like to have guacamole for dinner", here’s how.