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I am embarrassed

2K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  chefdrewwatkins 
#1 ·
Ok, So I may be posting in the wrong thread, but I really need a real chefs help from somebody that doesn't know me. I am currently in my second semester of Culinary Arts, I love the field and I love the chefs, I love it all. The only problem is...I can never recall what I JUST ate or pick apart flavors. Every time I try I am completely wrong and everybody laughs. Granted they are laughing in good humor and I am okay with it. However, it is getting really old. For example, I was asked what kind of pie I was eating, I said "apple" when it was sugar cream! Today I was asked what I had for lunch, I said it was a type of peanut butter filled ravioli...later to realize it was butternut squash! I really want to train my palate and not be so embarrassed. So chefs can you help? 
 
#5 · (Edited)
Ill be honest, i think you have a poor palette. 

It needs to be trained, this means tasting things over and over, and tasting different foods. 

Your brain will memorize many flavor reactions and tastes, but if this ability is never tested or used its just useless.

Mistaking butternut squash for peanut butter, how is that even possible??

And how do you mistake apple, its such an comman fruit, most people eat it even as babies... 

This reminds me of one time i had apple strudel and the restaurants publicist thought it was banana...

Then again you are just a culinary student, and you arent obligated to have a trained palette, its something you will and can develop over time. 
 
#7 ·
A problem with taste is more often a problem with one's ability to smell. Do you smoke? May want to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist. There are number of issues in the nasal tract that can cause issues.
Great info!! My brother in law had this same exact problem. He had a deviated septum. Had the operation and he now tastes everything. Any nasal blockage can cause this.
 
#8 ·
No I do not smoke actually. I do seem to always have a stuffed nose. Thanks for the advice chefs! I will do anything to this thing under control. 
 
#9 ·
No I do not smoke actually. I do seem to always have a stuffed nose. Thanks for the advice chefs! I will do anything to this thing under control.
I don´t think a stuffy nose will be the problem...

I too have a stuffy nose, and it doesnt completey infere with my sense of smell.

Also a nice tip i have is right before putting the food in your mouth, make sure you breathe (as in inhale and exhale). It hightens the senses when tasting. At least its what i have been told, and have experienced.

I guess maybe i should thank my high immunity because i have never been fully sick enough that it interferes in me tasting food.

Check into some palette disfunctions that maybe you have.

You could have hypoguesia (im not a doctor), but its a palette disfuntion/condition in which the taste process and senses are drastically reduced, making it very hard to distinguish flavors and tastes.

Some people also have what is known as a ghost/phantom taste condition, where they taste one thing, and identify it as another.

Maybe consult a doctor??
 
#10 ·
First don't be embarrassed. the problem could be any umber of things 1)memory 2) smoking 3) sinuses. these pretty much the main factors that would affect your ability to taste.

    Memory your brain does not have the ability to process taste of a new ingredient. In otherwords the more you eat or taste that ingredient the mor your brain can process the flavor to what that ingredient is.

    Smoking. I myself am a smoker (not good) but flushing your palette with water can help with your taste buds especially after eating your lunch or dinner. Get in a habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day to keep your palette cleaned.

    Sinuses. without your ability to smell properly will dramatically decrease your ability to taste.

just like having a head cold its very hard to taste the food your eating that's why a lot of people lose theire appetite while sick.

hoped this helped you and keep it up your be fine.
 
#12 ·
There's a lot to consider with a soft palette. Could be a variety of things, but keep testing and taking time to memorize flavors. One thing I haven't seen considered yet is vitamin deficiency. If you aren't getting enough folic acid, b-12, zinc, thiamin your taste buds may not be as healthy as they should be. And for a stuffy nose get a bottle of simple saline nasal spray. It will open you up and clear out so you can smell better.
 
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