As our kids head into their last week of school, teacher thank-you notes in tow, it got us thinking: What about our teachers in the kitchen? What about all the little voices that instruct us as we whip our cream, brown our chops... and overcook our dry-aged ribeyes? I'm not only talking about the Marcellas and the Julias and the Bittmans, but roommates, coworkers, grandmas, Scorsese characters, and all the random cooks who've imparted culinary gems of wisdom over the decades. Herewith, our belated notes of appreciation.