CRUSH bin #082 - January 2010
BALANCING FLAVORS
By Laurie Gilchrist
[Excerpt] "Achieving balance in life is a never ending journey. Work and play, friends and family, rest and exercise, healthy eating and splurging, etcetera, etcetera. When we are balanced, we are calm, centered, and focused. When our lives are out of balance we might feel restless, depressed, anxious, or angry. The Chinese refer to this balancing act as yin yang. In fact, Asian cultures believe so strongly in the importance of this perpetual state of universal balance that they even apply it to their cooking. Oriental medicine dictates that balancing food flavors “promotes physical and mental well-being.” The balance of flavors in a dish and among the dishes served at a meal is the most important aspect of any style of cuisine. An understanding of the basic flavor groups and how they interact will exponentially enhance your cooking and give a whole new meaning to balancing your meal."
BREWDOG: Hardcore IPA (9.0% abv)
By Sir Lucky Day
[Tasting Note] "Dedicated readers know that I am an IPA guy, and this example is really funky. It pours a hazy copper gold with a minimal head. On the nose is citrus and hops with a hint of pepper. Almost as soon as a nice malt character hits the front palette it is obliterated by big hops and wildly dry, moisture sucking finish. Drinker beware, this one really is 'hard core.'"
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
- Classroom: Food & Wine In Balance
- Retail Wine Selections
- The Cigar Bar's Cigar of the Month: Alec Bradley Cigars
- Calendar of Events