Molecular Gastronomy != Food Science

My brother assures me that the title of the post is nerd for “Molecular Gastronomy Ain’t Food Science”. I hope this is true. He’s a very convincing liar.

The term molecular gastronomy has gone from niche jargon to a standard phrase in discussions of food. In many ways, molecular gastronomy is synonymous with modern cuisine. I find this ironic, because  it is anything but modern. Techniques have been honed and the array of available chemicals has expanded, but that is a difference in degree, not a difference in kind.

Two hundred yeas ago, if we wanted to make something like an aspic*, you would boil down pig skin to extract the gelatin. Today, we can buy a packet of powder from the store. The source of gelatin, be that a vat of boiled pig skin or a convenient sized packet), does not make the molecular processes that occur during the cooking different. Continue reading “Molecular Gastronomy != Food Science”

Meet the Olinguito

Photo Credit: Mark Gurney

The Smithsonian has just released the news that a new species of mammal has been discovered in the Andes. The Olinguito is a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae) and it is distinct from olingos. This cutie creature has been aptly described as a cross between a house cat and a teddy bear in appearance. Like a lot of incredibly cool animals, these guys hang out in the cloud forests. Continue reading “Meet the Olinguito”

Scientists against the “War on Drugs”

drugsEveryone has heard about the “War on Drugs”. Most Americans of my generation have sat through D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) classes in middle school learning how to “just say no”. In addition to their intended effects on rates of drug addiction and, perhaps, unintended effects on the size of the prison population, the laws regulating psychoactive drugs are having a less well-recognized effect.

In a special section of Nature Reviews Neuroscience (Neuroscience and the law-Science and Society) there is an interesting editorial about how Schedule I drug laws are stifling neuroscience research and the development of new treatments. I’ll be honest, my first thought was, “Are these guys just old hippies or do they have a good point?”. David Nutt, Leslie King, and David Nichols may be old hippies, but they also have a point. Continue reading “Scientists against the “War on Drugs””

Happy Phi Day! – now with added Pyrofibonacciology

Today is one of the annual celebrations of my quixotic quest to have the “days” associated with particularly important numbers, like Phi (φ) and Pi (π), placed upon days that actually reflect the math behind the numbers. The number Phi (φ) is the ratio between a longer line segment and a shorter line segment in a variety of geometric shapes, including the famous golden rectangle, pentagrams, and the Fibonacci spiral. August 14th is the day in the calendar year that best creates this same ratio between the total length of the year and the date in question. Therefore, August 14th is, or rather should be, celebrated internationally as Phi Day.

Since I run this joint, it is officially Phi Day at The Finch & Pea. If we had merchandise, there would probably be a discount. I suspect this would not change the likelihood that you would buy The Finch & Pea merchandise.

In honor of Phi Day, I thought it might be fun to revisit the foundational text of the field of pyrofibonacciology. Continue reading “Happy Phi Day! – now with added Pyrofibonacciology”

The Art of Science: Building on Sand

castle-5

castle-4

Masterplan, an installation by Chad Wright, is a subdivision of sandcastles based on typical American postwar houses, like the one he grew up in. By allowing his sand suburb to be washed away by the ocean, Wright comments on the death of the American dream, particularly the damage done by the real-estate bubble and bust. But the piece also brings to mind a consequence of climate change: rising oceans and eroding beaches that may force thousands, even millions, of coastal dwellers out of their homes in the years to come.

Photographs by Lynn Kloythanomsup (via ThisisColossal)