sharp_as_knives: (Default)
sharp_as_knives ([personal profile] sharp_as_knives) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2014-01-24 12:31 am
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Flavors, Food Choices, and Menu Planning - Friday, 4th period

When everybody had gathered around the counter again, Hannibal nodded and began.

"Last week we covered the basic tastes. Of course, no food is simply one or the other. Even foods that are mostly one particular taste will have differences. A lime and a lemon, for instance, are both mostly sour, but they don't taste the same.

"Quite a bit of that difference is down to smell; scent is a vital part to cooking. Also, every food is a different combination of the basic tastes." He placed a number of dishes in front of them.

"Today we will focus on bitter tastes. Both because they seldom get much appreciation on their own," he grinned at Rilla, "and because they are first alphabetically." He indicated each of the dishes.

"Olives are naturally quite bitter. Once cured, traditionally in brine or salt, they maintain a bit of the salty flavor as well as their bitterness.

"Radiccio. Often served in Italy grilled in olive oil; grilling cuts its bitterness somewhat. You will also see it in salads to give them a bit of color. You wouldn't want a salad containing nothing else, but they can be quite a nice addition.

"Artichokes. You may often see the hearts marinated, but grilled or steamed they maintain a stronger - although not unpleasant - bitter taste, combined with a very slight sourness.

"Coffee. Bitter, but with a much more complex combination of flavors. It can be affected by the region of origin of the beans, how long they are roasted, and how they are brewed. It can be floral, or citrusy, or with notes of any number of flavors. We could do an entire class on just this, but not right now." He smiled.

"And dark chocolate. This particular blend is eighty-five percent cacao. Obviously it has some sweet tones to it, although probably not as much as you would expect.

"So." He nodded them towards the foods. "Taste them, take note of the bitterness and how it interacts with the other flavors, and how each food's bitterness differs from the others. Ask questions if you have them. Then choose one of these, find a recipe, and make me something." He chuckled. "Again, feel free to ask questions."
selfhelphero: ([neg] this is a fail plan)

Re: Sign in!

[personal profile] selfhelphero 2014-01-24 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Billy Kaplan

Re: Sign in!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Sholeh Zeela a Zhahar

(Zhari)

Listen to the lecture, ask questions

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Don't be too bitter.

Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
And ask questions about cooking. At least none of you is likely to burn the place down accidentally!

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
Rilla made the mistake of trying an olive, then a piece of chocolate.

She didn't say "ew", but the look on her face was priceless.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
"You may want to have a bit of coffee between the other foods, Miss Rilla," Hannibal told her with a chuckle. "It serves as somewhat of a palate cleanser."

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thank you," Rilla replied, sounding a little breathless. "That was...not something I'd recommend repeating."

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"So, there is one lesson," Hannibal pointed out. "Even foods in the same class of taste don't always go well together."

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"At all," Rilla said vehemently.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"So we combine them with other flavors," Hannibal pointed out. He poured her a cup of coffee and handed it to her.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 12:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Rilla took a little sip as she thought about it. "So olives with...something salty but sweeter?" she guessed. "Like ham or cheese?"

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Precisely. Cheese goes very well. Also, some other vegetables, which is why you may often find them in a mix or a salad."
selfhelphero: ([neu] listening and looking up)

Re: Cook!

[personal profile] selfhelphero 2014-01-24 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Billy was tempted to mix the dark chocolate and the coffee in some way, especially after getting a taste of that chocolate, but in the end he decided to go for a spinach-artichoke dip instead, because he'd always wondered what went into that.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
It wouldn't have been anything Hannibal would have chosen to make, but Billy seemed to be making it correctly. Hannibal nodded at him as he walked through the class.
myownface: (Throwin' Crap.)

Re: Cook!

[personal profile] myownface 2014-01-24 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
What could Sparkle make with coffee?

It took him a bit of poking around, but he found a recipe for a barbecue sauce that seemed easy enough to make, and then, if he put it on a steak...

Aw, yeah. A caffeine kick, cooked almost rare enough to kick back.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-25 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
"An interesting choice," Hannibal noted. He would have preferred something that didn't make use of catsup, but it was regrettably common in tomato-based sauces. And it was good to see a bit of originality in choice. "You prefer your meat rare?"
myownface: (Mmmhmm.)

Re: Cook!

[personal profile] myownface 2014-01-25 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, yeah, when I have the luxury of knowing the meat's not going to kill me if I don't cook it through," Sparkle replied with a shrug. "Not really a huge issue lately. But, I mean, if I strain something trying to chew it, what the hell's the point? I might as well eat a boot."

At least it would be a well-seasoned boot.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Properly cooked, even well-done meat shouldn't be leather." Hannibal smiled. "That said, it wouldn't be my choice, either."
myownface: (Grin!)

Re: Cook!

[personal profile] myownface 2014-01-26 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nah? How do you like your steak?"

See Sparkle, see Sparkle all curious.

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Fresh. And formerly rude.

"It depends upon the meal," Hannibal answered. "Just shy of medium, generally."
myownface: (Yeah Sure)

Re: Cook!

[personal profile] myownface 2014-01-26 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Tastes better, right?" Sparkle nodded knowingly. "I mean, uh, like you said. Depending."

He shrugged his shoulders. Depending, right?

"When would well-done be better, anyhow?"

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Hannibal chuckled. "Unless the person you're cooking for prefers it, I'm not aware of any recipes where it would be better. But some recipes might work better with very rare meat, and others with meat cooked a little more."
myownface: (Mmmhmm.)

Re: Cook!

[personal profile] myownface 2014-01-26 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll have to keep my eye out for those," Sparkle decided. "In the meantime..."

Steak! With coffee in the sauce!

Re: Cook!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2014-01-26 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Zhahar was in a chocolatey mood this morning for reasons that were none of your business, so pretty much as soon as Dr. Lecter stopped talking, she was grabbing up the dark chocolate. A corner to nibble on (it really was very strong, wow!) and the rest to make dark chocolate truffles (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Twilight-Dark-Chocolate-Truffles/Detail.aspx?evt19=1). She'd be cutting the timing a little close, but...chocolate. In her face.

Eat Hannibal's food

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
Riffing on a theme...

Artichokes braised in lemon and olive oil (http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/2000s/2008/11/artichokes)

Radicchio and endive salad with pecan vinaigrette (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Radicchio-and-Endive-Salad-with-Pecan-Vinaigrette-101147)

Vacuum-brewed Yemen Mocha Sanani (organic cream and sugar available)

Dark chocolate truffles (http://www.valrhona-chocolate.com/Truffles-recipe)

And, a two-for-one because he won't have to watch you after you eat them - dark chocolate-covered espresso beans!
Edited 2014-01-24 05:34 (UTC)

Talk to Hannibal!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
If you have anything for after class.
Edited 2014-01-24 05:34 (UTC)

Talk to the TA!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
When he pings in.
myownface: (Smirky)

Re: Talk to the TA!

[personal profile] myownface 2014-01-24 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Sparkle was all about the bitter, today. Not, like, emotionally. But damn. Coffee? Olives? He loved this stuff.

... Just, maybe not together.

OOC!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-01-24 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
Damn it, why do I always end up hungry when I write this class??