Top Chef-Style Taste Test

The Taste Test

I had seen the blind tasting done on the TV show Top Chef a handful of times but what made me actually want to sit down, get blindfolded, and do it was an article in the April 2009 issue of Saveur, titled "Dream Job."  It was written by Bryan Miller a restaurant critic for the New York Times from 1984 to 1993.

Miller said that he would place dried herbs on his tongue a few times a month to try and identify them.  Like culinary push-ups, now I was intrigued by the blind tasting.  His Kryptonite?  Dried turmeric, Miller states "To this day, I wouldn't know the spice if you rolled my pillow in it."

We set up our own Top Chef-Style Taste Test.  With three people, we each tasted the other's picks, not tasting our own.  One of us would set up their tray and administer to the test to one while the third was in another room.  

I went first.

Dave's Picks
  1. Currants
  2. An Orange wedge
  3. Turmeric
  4. Raspberry Jam
  5. Oyster Sauce
  6. Smoked Paprika
  7. Coconut Oil
  8. Wasabi Peas
Dave:  "As I suspected, currents threw them off, they were a sneak attack and I put them in the pole position so as not to give them a chance to second-guess.  The Orange I thought they would think was a trick, even though it wasn't.  Turmeric was impossible.  Raspberry Jam was a "gimme" but Oyster Sauce was a doosie (both Heather and Dan were really close though).  I thought the Smoked Paprika would have been easy but the smoke proved too thick.

I had planned on Coconut Oil being a challenge but, then again, it tastes just like coconut.  Lastly, I had picked up the wasabi peas on the way - I find it very strange that Dan and I would both pick up a surprise wasabi snack food to throw into the taste test.  The Wasabi Peas were on the tip of both of their tongues - but alas, still missed."
Dave vs. Heather
  1. Currants - raisins
  2. An Orange wedge - tangerine "too small to be an orange"
  3. Turmeric - dried Draino, "nasty"
  4. Raspberry Jam - fig preserves
  5. Oyster Sauce - yeast, "MSG, like yeast"
  6. Smoked Paprika - dried chipotle, smoky
  7. Coconut Oil - almond butter, "clean, like something from my childhood
  8. Wasabi Peas - ???, "snack mix you get at bars, can I have some more?"
Dave vs. Dan
  1. Currants - raisins
  2. An Orange wedge - tangerine, "too small to be an orange"
  3. Turmeric - celery root, "Familiar"
  4. Raspberry Jam - raspberry jam - got it!
  5. Oyster Sauce - thick hoisin
  6. Smoked Paprika - bacon salt
  7. Coconut Oil - fava bean paste, "like something from a nut"
  8. Wasabi Peas - those green things!  not edamame but...
Results:  Dan 1 - Heather 0
The Taste Test Taster

Heather's Picks
  1. Vegetable Oil
  2. Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Flavored Pudding Snacks
  3. Frank's Red Hot Sauce
  4. Soy Sauce
  5. A Cheeto
  6. BBQ Sauce
  7. Truffle Salt
  8. Miso Paste

Heather:  "Alas, the 8 ingredients I had originally picked out on the day of the test never graced the palates of my fellow taste-testers. As many of my painstakingly, cleverly-selected ingredients were perishable, they were relegated to a fridge in the back of the salon upon my arrival for my hair appointment.

 

You see, I simply had to get my hair done before said test took place. It’s very important to have not only your taste buds, but also your tresses, in order before commencing with such a monumental undertaking as a blind taste testing.

 

It wasn’t until after I had left salon that I realized I had left my babies behind. And sadly, at that point the salon had already closed, so there was no way for me to retrieve them. Argh. ARGH!

 

In case you care, the original ingredients were:

1.     Raisins
2.     Lemon Juice
3.     Fresh Cilantro
4.     Tangerine
5.     Curry Powder
6.     Kiwi
7.     Chocolate Chips
8.     Walnuts

 

(As I went shopping that day at a health food store, I was a bit limited in my selections, but still, I thought they were rather creative)

 

My boyfriend Dan had already raided our food supply at home to come up with his eight ingredients, so I was forced to sift through what was left in our (mostly empty) cupboards and fridge to put together my “B Team” offerings. Here’s what I managed to scrounge up:

  1. Vegetable Oil (Olive oils poor, distant cousin)
  2. Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Flavored Pudding Snacks (Dave’s fave! See previous post)
  3. Frank's Red Hot Sauce
  4. Soy Sauce
  5. A Cheeto (picked up a bag at Walgreens on my way home from the salon)
  6. BBQ Sauce
  7. Truffle Salt
  8. Miso Paste (aka Umami, the elusive 5th taste!)

 

All in all, my B Team really delivered, as the popcorn pudding and miso paste completely stumped the other contestants. I think the Cheeto threw them off a bit as well, because really, who expects a Cheeto in the middle of a blind taste test?"

 

Heather vs. Dan
  1. Vegetable Oil - olive oil
  2. Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Flavored Pudding Snacks - butter pecan ice cream
  3. Frank's Red Hot Sauce
  4. Soy Sauce - got it!
  5. A Cheeto - got it!
  6. BBQ Sauce - got it!
  7. Truffle Salt - got it!
  8. Miso Paste - oyster sauce
Heather vs. Dave
  1. Vegetable Oil - olive oil
  2. Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Flavored Pudding Snacks - butterscotch pudding
  3. Frank's Red Hot Sauce - got it!
  4. Soy Sauce - got it!
  5. A Cheeto - got it!
  6. BBQ Sauce - got it!
  7. Truffle Salt - got it!
  8. Miso Paste - oyster sauce
Results:  Dan 5 - Dave 5

 
Dan's Picks
  1. Cayenne Pepper
  2. Grey Poupon
  3. Chili Powder
  4. Whipped Cream Cheese
  5. Craisins
  6. Apple Jelly
  7. Honey
  8. Wasabi / Soy Sauce Almonds

Dan:  "Heading into the taste test, I knew I was a heavy underdog.  I don't write a food blog nor did I attend culinary school.  My two favorite food groups are "Pepperoni" and "Cheese."  Before moving in with my girlfriend I did not even own salt or olive oil.  I lived off of condiments and grilled chicken.  I knew my opponents were picking ingredients I had never heard of, let alone tasted.


My strategy going in was to level the playing field. I decided to come in with some serious heat with ingredient number 1 in the form of Cayenne Pepper.  Then I backed it up with some Grey Poupon, followed by some Chili Powder.  I would be lying if I said I did not get any enjoyment watching their eyes tear up from the cayenne. Or, hearing Dave ask if I just fed him Chili Cream Cheese (#4).  Ingredient number 5 was some year-old Craisins which were not very exciting.


After hearing them complain since being forced to eat the teaspoon of Cayenne, I think the smooth Apple Jelly and Honey were a soothing relief on their tongues.  The wasabi/soy almonds were something I picked up on the way home as a snack and saved some for the competition. My desire to sabotage their taste buds provided nothing more than that, a desire.  Both of them were able to overcome my 1-2-3 punch of heat and deliver a score of 7 out of 8."


Dan vs. Dave
  1. Cayenne Pepper - got it!
  2. Grey Poupon - stone ground mustard, "really hot!" - got it!
  3. Chili Powder - got it!
  4. Whipped Cream Cheese - got it!
  5. Craisins - dried cranberries,  - got it!
  6. Apple Jelly - Apricot jam
  7. Honey - got it!
  8. Wasabi / Soy Sauce Almonds - got it!

Dan vs. Heather
  1. Cayenne Pepper - got it!
  2. Grey Poupon - Dijon mustard - got it!
  3. Chili Powder - cumin, "taco seasoning, chili powder?"
  4. Whipped Cream Cheese - got it!
  5. Craisins - dried cranberries - got it!
  6. Apple Jelly - strawberry jelly
  7. Honey - got it!
  8. Wasabi / Soy Sauce Almonds - got it!

Results:  Dave 7 - Heather 6

 

Posted
Authordavid koch
CategoriesHumor, Science
Tagscooking, food, science, taste test