Taste like you mean it

Oftentimes we inhale our food without really tasting it. Food becomes a necessity and sometimes we just don’t have the time or presence of mind to really pay attention to what we are eating. For your next meal, take the time to follow some of the suggestions below. Or, to make this cheese relevant, head to your cheese shop and splurge on a cheese you have always wanted to try (go by instinct, not price tag) and follow these simple guides to getting the most out of taste…

• Behold the power of smell. Pinch your nose shut and pop a piece of cheese into your mouth. All you will taste is salt, and maybe a little tanginess. Now release your nose and inhale. You will be hit with a barrage of different flavors, and it should feel like your taste buds are holding a raging party in your mouth. Remember, your tongue can only perceive salt, sweet, sour and bitter. Use your nose to get the full experience.

• Ditch the fork. Use your fingers to explore your food. Note different textures and temperatures. Squish foods together and lick your fingers clean. Touch can tell you a lot about your food. In fact squishing cheese between your fingers is a technique for testing ripeness and quality. Playing with your food in this way also promotes losing yourself in the moment. Maybe try this alone at home to get really comfortable, and so as not to gross out your fellow diners.

• Want you to want me. When you are presented with an amazing bit of food, maybe something rare or exquisitely prepared, you are probably familiar with the feeling of desiring your food. I propose making that a two-way street. Imagine the food in turn, desires you. Don’t get too hung up on the intellectuality of it, just imagine the food you are about to eat wants to be eaten by you, and let the relishing by mutual. If it helps, you can imagine a 9-½ weeks scene where some human object of desire is feeding you the food you are consuming. You will know you are doing it right when the pleasure train parks on your tongue, even after you are “done”.

Comments

[Seven Hills Las Vegas]

We have to enjoy our food. Especially these ones since they probably cost a lot more. Pair it up with some more good food and we will have a great day.

[Lea]

I'm so happy I'm not the only loon who projects a personality on the food I am eating. I am always looking at tastey morsels... ripe fruit... fresh veg... and saying.. "ooohh look at that... it is just BEGGING to be eaten!!!" Sometimes.. I even go so far as to feel guilty if I can't finish what I'm eating... thinking the food might be dissapointed because it didnt fulfil its life purpose of being eaten... O_O

Hey I never claimed to be normal.