FLAVOR is the most compelling aspect of food and drink. Many factors influence flavor including genetics, farming practices, climate, and cooking. Our ability to perceive and enjoy flavor is also influenced by our own genetics, awareness, experience, and surroundings.
Understanding Flavor will explore how flavor is affected by plant variety and animal breed, by climate and soil, by the way farmers cultivate their crops and raise their livestock, and by the preparation methods used in commercial facilities and home kitchens.
As the website develops, we will provide information, products, and resources that enhance the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of flavor in food and drink. And we will make the connection between flavor and scale: both the scale of the farm that provides the raw ingredients and the scale of production on which a product is made.
We believe that the best flavor is created by farmers and producers who have an intimate knowledge of their land and animals and a hands-on approach to guiding their products through harvesting, cooking, preserving, fermenting, baking, aging, and distilling. And we believe that developing a discriminating palate is a matter of practice and awareness.
The path to Understanding Flavor is fascinating and fun. The reward is better food, better farms, and healthier communities.
