Is food science really that authoritative? The science of food is fascinating, but Barb makes it seem that food scientists have nailed it down. Have they? I mean, in the past eggs were not good for you, but now they are. The issue of cholesterol is so controversial. She talks about some scientific discoveries in the field, but they may turn out to be wrong in the future. Also, what's up with "edible prototypes?" For some reason I immediately thought about Michael Pollan.

It is important to keep in mind that there is a social and cultural context in which these tastes are formed as well.

Friday 16 March 2012 Englewood, New Jersey

Good Show.

Where is Myrivold's (Microsoft) $750 six volume cookbook (2011) on these discussions of the science of
cooking, and taste by intuition?

I have not heard a word about his new book since it's publication. I saw him on the Charlie Rose Show.
Get him on Please Explain. I'll be listening.
AC/MD

Kudos to Ms Stuckey for making a complicated subject understandable. She is wonderfully informed and has the talent of articulating her knowledge very well. I enjoyed this segment.

I love very hoppy beer-very bitter. My wife if a "super taster" can't stand hoppy beer. As a true certified omnivore, there is basically one flavor I dislike that is licorice/anise/Sambucca. Is licorice a love hate flavor.

My sense of taste declined significantly about 20 years ago. Is there anything I can do to get it back after so long a time?

I have always, since early childhood, loathed the taste of raw onions. However I love garlic in all its forms. I have met a few other raw onion haters and we all think there must be something we taste in raw onions that most people can't taste or else they would hate them too. Is this true?

Is it true of bell peppers?

What about the taste of alcohol? Beer, hard liquors, etc. Those seem to be tastes that people grow into.

Could you improve taste?

Do economics play a role in what foods people find delicious? In my experience, wealthier people tend to love bland, no nonsense food while less wealthier people get very excited over manufactured feats of hamburger science.

How does spicy (scovile index)play a rolein balancing flavors? I understand it is a toxic reaction but not a "taste"?

can your guest talk about how M-berry works? It makes sour things taste extra sweet

Sometimes I'll bite into a dish and go, "HM, this is GOOD." 2 bites later, I'll realize: of course, it's ALL SALT.

Too much salt--and we get PLENTY in this country--destroys and overwhelms the other tastes in a dish, imo.

A friend of mine was hit over the head as a teenager and lost his sense of smell, and most of his taste. He has been using Zinc pills to get it back, but with little success. Any advice I could give him?

My sense of taste and smell will usual disappear, but come back when the cold is over. However, on one occasion it never came back. My sense of smell and taste taste has been gone for a long time. I have a faint smell sometime, but seldom do I have any taste. I can taste sweet, sour, salt and bitter. Any explanation or soulution?

Folks with weak hearing tend to turn up the volume to compensate or ask others to talk louder. Do tolerant tasters tend to prefer more intensly flavored food?

What's the difference between "umami" and our concept of "savory"?

Since I can remember, I've never had a sense of smell (likely due to a concussion sustained when I was about 2 or 3 years old). Contrary to popular myth, I *can* taste, but no doubt it's different from the population that can smell (and I am an incredibly picky eater and am one of the few New Yorkers who actually dislikes eating) - would love to hear your insights on taste for those of use without an olfactory sense!

Sugar tastes great! Does that mean sugar is good for us?

P.S., I love this business of "creating foods." The foods we were EVOLVED to eat are the ones that are good for us. The ones that are "created" are probably more questionable, I would think.

When I have a cold, or simply pinch my nose shut, I can taste NOTHING, not even the basic salty, bitter, etc. Does this mean my taste buds don't work at all?

What is unami?