The Taste of Chocolate

An Investigation of the Nature of Taste

 

Professors Joseph D. Sloan
and David M. Whisnant

 

 

 

Recipe Links

Tentative Course Calendar

Minor changes may be necessary but major changes are not anticipated.

Date Tasting Lectures & Classroom Activities Assignments
Thu.,
Jan 3
Chew vs. Melt
Six Step Tasting

Basic Chemistry
Tasting Basics

Read (before class): Appendix in On Food and Cooking (OF&C):
Read: Chapters 1–4 in The Chocolate Connoisseur (CC)
Email: Cooking experience & most involved cooking

Fri.,
Jan 4
Breathing
Components
Percentages

Food Molecules
More Tasting Basics

Read:Chapter 15 in OF&C
Tasting Notes from Thursday

 

Mon.,
Jan 7
Percentages
Types of Cocoa Beans
Brand Tasting: Bonnat

Finish Food Molecules

Read: Section on Chocolate in OF&C (pp. 694–712)
Read: Handout on Cocoa
Tasting Notes from Friday

 

Tue.,
Jan 8
Country: Venezuela
Vintage: Palmira

Chocolate Production

1:30 Movie: Chocolat

Read: Handout on Cookies

 

Wed,
Jan 9
N/A In the Kitchen: Cookies

Review recipes and be prepared to cook

Thu.,
Jan 10
Vintage: Ampamakia
White, Milk, & Dark

Chocolate Production
Chocolate Substitutions

Tasting Notes from Monday and Tuesday

Fri.,
Jan 11
Vintage: Gran Couva
Milk Chocolate Comparison

Brand Tasting: Michel Cluizel

Finish chocolate production
Tempering

Read: Handout on Substitutions
Read: Handout on Tempering

Mon.,
Jan 14
Brand Tasting: Valrhona
White Chocolate
Percentages

Physiology and psychology of taste and smell

1:30 Baking videos

Read: Handout of Taste
Read: Article on website on taste

Tue.,
Jan 15
Country: Madagascar
Brand & Country:  El Rey & Venezuela

Fudge

1:30 Movie: Like Water for Chocolate

Read: Section on Sugar in OF&C (pp. 645–693)
Read: About vanilla in OF&C (pp. 430–433)

Wed.,
Jan 16
  In the Kitchen:
Cakes

Review recipes and be prepared to cook

Thu.,
Jan 17
Organic Chocolate
Nibs

Physiology and psychology of taste and smell

 

Read: Article on website on taste

Fri.,
Jan 18
Beans
Percentages
Brand & Country: El Rey & Venezuela

Taste interactions
Thorne essay

Read: Thorne essay
Read: Coe & Coe (pp35–66, pp67– 124)

Mon.,
Jan 21
Filled Chocolates
Brand Tasting: Valrhona
100% Cacao

Eggs, Sugar, Cream & Chocolate

History of Chocolate

By Sign-up: Nose Kit

Tue.,
Jan 22
Vintage Repeat: Palmira
Chuao Tasting

Cinammon Tastings, Sauces and Syrups

1:30 Movie: Eat Drink Man Woman

By Sign-up: Nose Kit
Read Section on Custards in OF&C

Wed.,
Jan 23
  In the Kitchen: Soufflés, Mousses, & More 

Review recipes and be prepared to cook

Thu.,
Jan 24
Sugars
Brand Tasting: Domori
Vintage: Ampamakia

More History

By Sign-up: Nose Kit

Fri.,
Jan 25
Chocolate with Nibs
Brand Tasting: Amedei
Temperature Test

Chocolate economics
Chocolate & health

By Sign-up: Nose Kit
Read: Dallas Food on Noka Chocolate
Read: Chapter 8 in CC
Turn in this week tasting notes

Mon.,
Jan 28
Porcelana Tasting
Brand Tasting: Pralus
Vintage: Gran Couva

Cooking this week
Food and culture

Read: Chapters 9 & 10 in CC

Tue.,
Jan 29
  In the Kitchen:
Savory Dishes
 
Wed.,
Jan 30
Criollo, Brand, & Percentage
Individual Blind Taste Testing

Class evaluation

Turn in this weeks tasting notes

 


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  Last updated on: 3-Jan-2008