Mark Miller, founder of modern southwestern cuisine and explorer of cuisines in over 100 countries, discusses the most underrated chili pepper, the best food cities in Asia, Mexico, and Europe, the problems with sous-vide, mezcal versus tequila, the decline of food brands, and why the next hipster food trend should be about corn.
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Quick takeaways
Southwestern cuisine combines Mexican, Native American, and European influences, making it underappreciated in the culinary world.
Hungarian cuisine is an underrated European cuisine with a rich food culture and unique flavors.
The importance of memory in taste perception allows individuals to develop a deeper appreciation for taste and enhance their sensory experience.
Deep dives
Underrated: High Noon
High Noon is an underrated movie that is an iconic representation of the American West and our cultural mythology.
Underrated: Southwestern cuisine
Southwestern cuisine is an underrated culinary tradition that combines Mexican, Native American, and European influences. It requires extensive knowledge of ingredients, flavors, and techniques, making it underappreciated in the culinary world.
Underrated: Hungarian cuisine
Hungarian cuisine is an underrated European cuisine with a rich food culture and unique flavors. Budapest, in particular, offers amazing food and wine experiences that rival some of the more well-known cuisines.
Overrated: The Michelin dining guide
The Michelin dining guide is considered overrated because it is seen as outdated and focused on status. It doesn't always accurately reflect the evolving culinary landscape and younger chefs who are pushing boundaries and redefining authenticity.
Importance of Memory in Taste Perception
In this podcast episode, the speaker emphasizes the role of memory in taste perception. The speaker explains that taste occurs over time and space, and that flavors are not immediately recognized by the brain. Instead, the brain scans and categorizes the perceptions based on preset categories and past experiences. The importance of memory is highlighted as it allows individuals to fill in the complexity, richness, and length of flavors that may have been missed initially. By understanding this, individuals can develop a deeper appreciation for taste and enhance their sensory experience.
Gender Differences in Cooking and Perception
Another key point discussed in the podcast is the difference in cooking and perception between men and women. The speaker explains that women tend to be more focused on internal experiences, emphasizing the importance of subtlety and time. Women often prefer to coax natural ingredients into complex and satisfying dishes rather than transforming them. On the other hand, men may be more inclined to use spices, heat, and intense flavors to create new and transformative dishes. These differences in cooking styles reflect the different ways in which men and women perceive and experience taste.
Mark Miller is often called the founder of modern southwestern cuisine, but his unique anthropological approach to food has led him to explore cuisines in over 100 countries around the world. He joins Tyler for a conversation on all that he’s learned along the way, including his pick for the most underrated chili pepper, palate coaching, the best food cities in Asia, Mexico, and Europe, the problems with sous-vide, mezcal versus tequila, the decline of food brands, why Michelin guide is overrated, how to do fast food well, and why the next hipster food trend should be about corn.