The Dave Chang Show How Do You Like These Apples?
Nov 13, 2025
Dive into an autumnal exploration of apples as Dave and Chris engage in a fun measuring game. Discover how apples serve as a secret weapon in savory dishes, including a kimchi apple salad and apple-soy marinade for pork. Dave crafts an invisible apple cake and a unique tarte tatin, improvising without precise measurements. Get insights on seasoning, with a focus on the dominance of salt and the intriguing role of black pepper in elevating flavors. The tasting round brings delicious reactions to their creative apple-based dishes.
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Measuring Reveals Hidden Skill Gaps
- Dave experiments with a measurement game to test intuitive estimating skills using a scale and household items.
- The playful contest reveals how poorly people gauge weight by feel and suggests measurement reduces error.
Apples In Savory Restaurant Dishes
- Dave describes using apples in unexpected savory contexts like salads at Sambar with lychee and bacon fat.
- He credits colleagues for expanding his use of ingredients like labneh and kimchi-style dressings with apples.
Why Apples Boost Umami
- Harold McGee explained that malic acid in apples pairs well with glutamic acid in soy to sharpen savory flavors.
- Malic acid raises perceived sweetness and acidity while focusing umami, making apples a powerful savory enhancer.
