Guide to Art of Foreign Cooking For Beginners And Dummies

All this makes cooking the most versatile art form and in a way, a spiritual activity. Unlike other artistic mediums, it has the capacity to engage all the senses. Chefs have long known that the presentation of a dish is as important as the taste, aroma and texture of what is served. However, recent research shows that sound, too, is a critical element in creating the right dining experience. Heston Blumenthal of the three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire, England, has a curious dish on his menu called 'Sound of the Sea'. It features a collection of seafood served on a bed of sand-like tapioca resembling the seashore. But what makes the dish really unique is that diners are encouraged to listen to the sound of waves playing on an iPod while savouring this culinary treat. Blumenthal came up with the idea after research at Oxford University proved that sound could influence and enhance the sense of taste.