Kevin Jeung, YYZ Chef of Research and Production The Fermentation Lab at Noma.
Apr 23, 2024
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Kevin Jeung, the YYZ Chef of Research and Production at Noma's Fermentation Lab, shares fascinating insights on fermentation techniques and culinary innovation. He delves into the rich flavors of Danish rye bread and pork culinary traditions, highlighting their cultural significance. Kevin discusses the art of flavor infusion, including the use of roses and umami extraction from miso. Their exploration of foraged ingredients leads to unique products, while Kevin emphasizes safe fermentation practices and new technologies, like automated distillation, shaping the future of cooking.
Kevin Jung discusses innovative fermentation techniques at Noma, showcasing how they scale flavors for both restaurant and industrial contexts.
The podcast highlights the role of community on Patreon, allowing listeners to engage directly and gain exclusive content and benefits.
Jung outlines Noma's shift towards sustainability and collaboration, aiming to expand their impact beyond traditional dining experiences and reduce food waste.
Deep dives
Introduction to Cooking Issues and Patreon Benefits
The podcast features the host, Dave Arnold, who introduces the episode and discusses the unique format of this doubleheader. The guests include co-host Joe Hazen and Nastassia Lopez, highlighting their dynamic interactions and highlighting their backgrounds in the culinary world. They explain the Patreon platform, which allows listeners to access live recordings and special benefits, such as food discounts and priority questions. This discussion emphasizes the value of community engagement through Patreon, providing an avenue for listeners to interact directly with the hosts and guests.
Insights from Noma's Fermentation Lab
Kevin Jung, a Research Chef from Noma, shares insights about his work in the restaurant's fermentation lab, highlighting the innovative techniques used in food production there. The discussion reveals how products created in the lab, such as miso and shoyu, are not only designed for meals but also for larger-scale projects. They explain the importance of maintaining flavor and quality while scaling recipes up from small restaurant sizes to industrial quantities. This focus on balancing creativity and commercial demand illustrates how Noma strives to enhance dining experiences beyond traditional restaurant limits.
The Evolution of Noma Projects
The conversation shifts to the future of Noma and upcoming initiatives under Noma Projects, aiming to diversify their culinary offerings. The approach emphasizes less reliance on the restaurant model and more on research and collaboration, highlighting goals such as reducing food waste and engaging with various collaborators. Jung outlines how Noma evolves its ethos to become a broader culinary institution with sustainability at its heart. By doing so, they seek to reach a larger audience beyond the confines of their dining room, providing educational value and engaging consumers in new ways.
Experiential Dining at Noma
Jung discusses the unique dining experience at Noma, emphasizing their commitment to hospitality and the extensive staff-to-guest ratio. Guests then start their meal in a greenhouse atmosphere before being led through a carefully curated dining experience highlighting various seasonal dishes. He describes the meticulous planning involved in managing a dining service where guests are pampered by staff dedicated to each part of their meal. This extravagant attention to detail creates an immersive experience that leaves a strong and positive impression on diners.
Creative Collaborations and Culinary Backstories
Throughout the episode, various culinary collaborations and personal anecdotes are shared, illustrating the interconnected world of chefs and restaurateurs. The guests recount experiences from visiting other restaurants, such as a memorable pizza outing with chef Francisco Magoya, showcasing the networking that occurs within the food industry. These stories highlight the vibrant culture in which chefs exchange ideas and techniques, commonly pushing boundaries to create exceptional dishes. This interconnectedness emphasizes how modern culinary practices continue to evolve through collaboration and mutual influence among chefs.