Neurogastronomy

Leading neuroscientist Gordon M. Shepherd embarks on a paradigm-shifting trip through the "human brain flavor system," laying the foundations for a new scientific field: neurogastronomy. Challenging the belief that the sense of smell diminished during human evolution, Shepherd argues that this sense, which constitutes the main component of flavor, is far more powerful and essential than previously believed. Shepherd begins Neurogastronomy with the mechanics of smell, particularly the way it stimulates the nose from the back of the mouth. As we eat, the brain conceptualizes smells as spatial patterns, and from these and the other senses it constructs the perception of flavor. Shepherd then considers the impact of the flavor system on contemporary social, behavioral, and medical issues. He analyzes flavor's engagement with the brain regions that control emotion, food preferences, and cravings, and he even devotes a section to food's role in drug addiction and, building on Marcel Proust's iconic tale of the madeleine, its ability to evoke deep memories. Shepherd connects his research to trends in nutrition, dieting, and obesity, especially the challenges that many face in eating healthily. He concludes with human perceptions of smell and flavor and their relationship to the neural basis of consciousness. Everyone from casual diners and ardent foodies to wine critics, chefs, scholars, and researchers will delight in Shepherd's fascinating, scientific-gastronomic adventures.

“A personal yet magisterial account of the new brain-based approach to flavor perception . . . [a] panoramic view of science, culture, and behavior.”—Avery Gilbert, author of What the Nose Knows Leading neuroscientist Gordon M. Shepherd embarks on a paradigm-shifting trip through the “human brain flavor system,” laying the foundations for a new scientific field: neurogastronomy. Challenging the belief that the sense of smell diminished during human evolution, Shepherd argues that this sense, which constitutes the main component of flavor, is far more powerful and essential than previously believed. Shepherd begins Neurogastronomy with the mechanics of smell, particularly the way it stimulates the nose from the back of the mouth. As we eat, the brain conceptualizes smells as spatial patterns, and from these and the other senses it constructs the perception of flavor. Shepherd then considers the impact of the flavor system on contemporary social, behavioral, and medical issues. He analyzes flavor’s engagement with the brain regions that control emotion, food preferences, and cravings, and he even devotes a section to food’s role in drug addiction and, building on Marcel Proust’s iconic tale of the madeleine, its ability to evoke deep memories. Shepherd connects his research to trends in nutrition, dieting, and obesity, especially the challenges that many face in eating healthily. He concludes with human perceptions of smell and flavor and their relationship to the neural basis of consciousness. Everyone from casual diners and ardent foodies to wine critics, chefs, scholars, and researchers will delight in Shepherd’s fascinating, scientific-gastronomic adventures. “Those who make the effort will be rewarded: they’ll never look at eating the same way again.”—Library Journal

"An invaluable book for anyone following a plant-based diet." Ching He Huang, TV Chef and cookery author The first vegan cookbook to merge the science of flavour with the art of cooking, Cooking for the Senses explains how understanding sight, smell, touch, taste and sound can help you make flavourful, healthy food in your own kitchen. With over 100 simple plant-based recipes, this cookbook shows how the rich variety of flavours available to the vegan chef can be combined to make delicious plates of food from exotic carrot and lime leaf kebabs to comforting butternut squash and spinach curry. An extensive flavour encyclopaedia, drawing on the latest research into flavour and world cuisine, and a helpful guide to the science behind our senses means the home cook will never be stuck for ideas on what to make with vegetables. Whether you are a committed vegan, looking to eat less meat and dairy, or want to enjoy tasty vegetarian meals this first book on neurogastronomy will transform your cooking.

In his new book, Gordon M. Shepherd expands on the startling discovery that the brain creates the taste of wine. This approach to understanding wine's sensory experience draws on findings in neuroscience, biomechanics, human physiology, and traditional enology. Shepherd shows, just as he did in Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It Matters, that creating the taste of wine engages more of the brain than does any other human behavior. He clearly illustrates the scientific underpinnings of this process, along the way enhancing our enjoyment of wine. Neuroenology is the first book on wine tasting by a neuroscientist. It begins with the movements of wine through the mouth and then consults recent research to explain the function of retronasal smell and its extraordinary power in creating wine taste. Shepherd comprehensively explains how the specific sensory pathways in the cerebral cortex create the memory of wine and how language is used to identify and imprint wine characteristics. Intended for a broad audience of readers—from amateur wine drinkers to sommeliers, from casual foodies to seasoned chefs—Neuroenology shows how the emotion of pleasure is the final judge of the wine experience. It includes practical tips for a scientifically informed wine tasting and closes with a delightful account of Shepherd's experience tasting classic Bordeaux vintages with French winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet of the Chateau Petrus and Dominus Estate.

"We build tools to create culinary happiness" - Foodpairing.com "There is a world of exciting flavour combinations out there and when they work it's incredibly exciting" - Heston Blumenthal Foodpairing is a method for identifying which foods go well together, based on groundbreaking scientific research that combines neurogastronomy (how the brain perceives flavour) with the analysis of aroma profiles derived from the chemical components of food. This groundbreaking new book explains why the food combinations we know and love work so well together (strawberries + chocolate, for example) and opens up a whole new world of delicious pairings (strawberries + parmesan, say) that will transform the way we eat. With ten times more pairings than any other book on flavour, plus the science behind flavours explained, Foodpairing will become THE go-to reference for flavour and an instant classic for anyone interested in how to eat well. Contributors: Astrid Gutsche and Gaston Acurio - Astrid y Gaston - Peru Andoni Luiz Aduriz - Mugaritz - Spain Heston Blumenthal - The Fat Duck - UK Tony Conigliaro - DrinksFactory - UK Sang Hoon Degeimbre - L'Air du Temps - Belgium Jason Howard - #50YearsBim - UK/Caribbean Mingoo Kang - Mingles - Korea Jane Lopes & Ben Shewry - Attica - Australia Virgilio Martinez - Central - Peru Dominique Persoone - The Chocolate Line - Belgium Karlos Ponte - Taller - Venezuela/Denmark Joan Roce - El Celler de Can Roca - Spain Dan Barber - Blue Hill at Stone Barns - USA Kobus van der Merwe - Wolfgat - South Africa Darren Purchese - Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio - Melbourne Alex Atala - D.O.M - Brazil María José San Román - Monastrell - Spain Keiko Nagae - Arôme conseil en patisserie - Paris

In the West, we have identified only four basic tastesÑsour, sweet, salty, and bitterÑthat, through skillful combination and technique, create delicious foods. Yet in many parts of East Asia over the past century, an additional flavor has entered the culinary lexicon: umami, a fifth taste impression that is savory, complex, and wholly distinct. Combining culinary history with recent research into the chemistry, preparation, nutrition, and culture of food, Mouritsen and Styrb¾k encapsulate what we know to date about the concept of umami, from ancient times to today. Umami can be found in soup stocks, meat dishes, air-dried ham, shellfish, aged cheeses, mushrooms, and ripe tomatoes, and it can enhance other taste substances to produce a transformative gustatory experience. Researchers have also discovered which substances in foodstuffs bring out umami, a breakthrough that allows any casual cook to prepare delicious and more nutritious meals with less fat, salt, and sugar. The implications of harnessing umami are both sensuous and social, enabling us to become more intimate with the subtleties of human taste while making better food choices for ourselves and our families. This volume, the product of an ongoing collaboration between a chef and a scientist, won the Danish national Mad+Medier-Prisen (Food and Media Award) in the category of academic food communication.

The authors of The Perfect Meal examine all of the elements that contribute to the diners experience of a meal (primarily at a restaurant) and investigate how each of the diners senses contributes to their overall multisensory experience. The principal focus of the book is not on flavor perception, but on all of the non-food and beverage factors that have been shown to influence the diners overall experience. Examples are: the colour of the plate (visual) the shape of the glass (visual/tactile) the names used to describe the dishes (cognitive) the background music playing inside the restaurant (aural) Novel approaches to understanding the diners experience in the restaurant setting are explored from the perspectives of decision neuroscience, marketing, design, and psychology. 2015 Popular Science Prose Award Winner.

This book aims to open the doors to this multidimensional world by focusing on the conceptual framework of gastronomy and providing readers with new intellectual frameworks and perspectives. The content of the book has been designed considering the current gastronomy trends worldwide. In this context, initially, neglected concepts in gastronomy literature were identified, and their shape and content characteristics were explained by drawing on existing literature. For instance, concepts such as gastronomy museology, gastronomy literacy, and gastronomic value typology were addressed independently for the first time in this book, and the overall framework of these concepts was established. Additionally, some commonly used concepts in gastronomy literature were reinterpreted and defined. The book consists of sixteen interconnected chapters. These chapters, focusing on the specific features of global gastronomy concepts, are structured to appeal to academics, students, professionals in the industry, employees of local governments, and individuals interested in gastronomy. We are grateful to the authors and publishing staff who contributed to the preparation and publication of this book, as we believe it would contribute to the gastronomy literature and provide opportunities for a better understanding of the conceptual framework of gastronomy.