Umami Generation

By Andrew Hunter

Ben and Nick are my best taste testers. Their young palates are sensitive and bright. They are Generation Z…a generation of young foodies who unknowingly love bold flavors and appreciate the umami sensation. Even though they giggle when Marilyn and I say that “silly word!” So what does this silly word mean?

We all taste sweet, sour, salty and bitter, and the fifth taste is umami. A Japanese scientist who was doing research on amino acids and their effect on flavor discovered it. Commonly described as brothy, meaty or delicious, umami is difficult to explain, though you know the sensation when you eat a gorgeous tomato, aged Parmesan, stir-fried mushrooms or just a whisper of naturally brewed soy sauce. Then you know umami.

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Use Your Bean

By Katie Barreira

Cooking with dried beans requires minimal effort and begets peak results. Why haven’t I been using them all along?

Canned beans tend to be overly soft and bland, when compared to their recently re-hydrated counterparts. I’ve taken to incorporating canned beans into a dish only during the last few minutes of cooking, to maintain their texture. While it’s unlikely that I’ll ever banish the canned variety from my pantry, a dried bean is a terrible thing to ignore.

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