Before I began this Flavor Blender blog, I studied a number of food and wine blogs to get ideas, find styles, etc.  They all made it look so easy.  Recipes that worked perfectly, food that tasted great and looked amazing, and beautiful photos of the process and finished results.  “I can do that” I recall saying to myself.

So imagine my surprise when I attempted my first recipe for this blog over the weekend and things didn’t go so well.  Hmmm a learning process indeed!

So I have been thinking about how to post this first attempt and have decided that perhaps just telling the whole truth would be best.  My “challenges” might just save someone else from those same things.  It also confirms that things don’t always turn out perfectly.  So for this post and probably for most posts I’ll include “What went right”, “What went wrong” and “What I would do differently” sections.  I also realized I need to improve my photo skills.  Most of my pictures turned out like a middle school art class still life.

At least I have a lot to work on and improve.  So look for better posts in the future.  For now its a work in process.

Tim

For me, flavor is everything.  Creating a great meal with layers of flavor is one of my pastimes.  Finding a great wine that goes well with a meal is one of my passions.  But when you combine the two, great things can happen.  Thus the name, Flavor Blender.  Combining tastes, ingredients, textures and more is what this little endeavor is all about.

So what will you be seeing here?  Well recipes for sure.  Probably some wine reviews too.  The occasional restaurant review.  And most importantly, the combination of flavors and the experience that creates.

I feel like I should share some of my “philosophies” that will guide what I write here.

First, a recipe is only a suggestion.  I find that adjusting a recipe to my own tastes usually works out best for me.  That usually means more flavor or some extra ingredients to match other parts of the meal.

If it doesn’t taste good, don’t eat it.  Occasionally, it just doesn’t work.  Either the flavors don’t work, or something is over-cooked.  In these cases, call the Pizza guy.

If it doesn’t taste good, don’t drink it.  Everyone’s wine tastes are different, and you should drink wines you like.  No one, no matter what type of “wine expert” they are, can tell you what you should like.  Now, you should try new things, because it’s a great way to learn, and you may just find a new favorite.

There are actually bad wines.  Wines can go bad, either from being too old, or not being stored properly, or from having a bad (tainted) cork.  Don’t drink these thinking you don’t appreciate fine wine.  Stick with the thought above, if it doesn’t taste good, don’t drink it.

I think that’s enough guiding principles for now, I’m sure others will come up as we go along.

So now that Flavor Blender is officially off the ground, I need to start getting some posts together.  I’ll be working on that and get some content up here.  Let the journey begin!

Tim