Today at the Teaching Kitchen--a class where Googlers can go to learn new cooking techniques and how to create different dishes-- we created Flavor Profiles. Each column has a designated flavor (Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter & Spicy/Pungent) and in each one there are 7 different ingredients that are "profiled" in this flavor category.
Flavor Profiles help expand the students' palettes. It encourages them to taste food with more than just the "it tastes like chicken" response. This exercise forces students to search for flavors beyond the appearance of the ingredient. For example, we ask them to think about the different kinds of sweet they taste or the different layers of flavor they find rather than just using a single-noted 'sweet' label.
Shannon this is so cool! Trying to categorize flavors and distinguish between similar tastes is surprisingly difficult. I've been trying to recreate Panda Express (ironic I know) and man, there are so many spices to use.
I can't wait to see some of your delicious dishes!
During this class I had to help out at another cafe- so unfortunately I wasn't there when the tasting was done. However, we do these flavor profiles fairly regularly so I will let you know when the next one comes around!
Shannon this is so cool! Trying to categorize flavors and distinguish between similar tastes is surprisingly difficult. I've been trying to recreate Panda Express (ironic I know) and man, there are so many spices to use.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see some of your delicious dishes!
Did you get to hear any descriptions of flavors? Was anything particularly interesting?
ReplyDeleteDuring this class I had to help out at another cafe- so unfortunately I wasn't there when the tasting was done. However, we do these flavor profiles fairly regularly so I will let you know when the next one comes around!
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