The Chemistry of Food | FYS 158, Centre College

As CentreTerm winds down…

January 23, 2014 by Dr. Haile

Today, we learned about a lot of artificial flavors. Tomorrow, we will go to Maker’s Mark. Here you will observe the differences between a heritage distillery and a craft distillery.

To prepare you for your field trip please read “The Legend Goes On” An Interview with Bell Samuels, Jr., President of Maker’s Mark.

Your blog post for Friday is a post about your artificial flavor.

Looking ahead:

Monday’s blog post prompt: Kentucky is famous for the art of bourbon production, and many small distilleries are joining the Bourbon trail. Compare and contrast your two bourbon distillery field trip experiences.

Tuesday’s blog post prompt: As you get ready to write you last blog post of the term, reflect on your experiences in this class. For example, what was the most challenging aspect of the course? What was the most enjoyable? What advice would you give future students in this course?

Take care,

Dr. Haile

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To celebrate Founder’s Day

January 21, 2014 by Dr. Haile

The only homework for tomorrow is to complete the blog post prompt: Describe the one thing that you have learned from this course that you will never forget.

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Bread, bread, bread

January 20, 2014 by Dr. Haile
For Tuesday–
- Reading: No reading for today.
- Don’t forget we are meeting at 10 AM to start the process of completing our bread.
- Blog post: Describe the process of making bourbon and what you learned from visiting Wilderness Trace Distillery.
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Eat more chicken?

January 17, 2014 by Dr. Haile
DON’T FORGET: BE BEHIND YOUNG HALL at 8:45 AM on Saturday (tomorrow) morning.

We will continue to discuss bourbon on our field trip for Monday morning. We will leave behind Young Hall at 9:20 AM to head to Wilderness Trace Distillery.

We will gather together again to meet with a guest speaker, Dr. Bob Perry. He will cover a variety of topics.

For Monday:
- Inquisitive Cook: Chapter 6
- The Omnivore’s Dilemma: pgs. 277 – 411
- Blog post: How has reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma, visiting Marksbury Farms, watching Food, Inc., learning about GMO’s changed the way you view food? If it hasn’t changed the way you view food, discuss why.
Have a good weekend! See you TOMORROW MORNING!
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And more on fermentation…

January 16, 2014 by Dr. Haile
Today in class, we began to talk about fermentation as it relates to bread. Tomorrow you will learn more about bourbon; this is Kentucky after all.

For tomorrow–
- “Bourbon of proof: Is Kentucky’s heritage spirit compromised by GMO corn?”
- ‘Fermentation’: When Food Goes Bad But Stay Good. Fresh Air. NPR.
- Develop questions for your guest instructors. Each of you should ask at least one question. You will receive 5 points for a reading quiz grade for your question.
- The Unsettling of America:: pgs. 17 – 48
- Your blog post will center around Wendell Berry’s The Unsettling of America. Using Berry’s arguments, which do you find the most convincing: a crisis of character, agriculture, or culture? Or is it a combination of one or more of these?
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The rise and fall of bread

January 15, 2014 by Dr. Haile
In class today, we discussed genetically modified foods. We discussed the science behind GMOs and then watched Food, Inc.

For tomorrow you should,
- Read “Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear” in Vanity Fair.
- Prepare your Deviled Egg Presentation. These will be given at the beginning of class.
- Culinary Reactions: Review Chapter 9
- The Inquisitive Cook: Chapter 4 and Chapter 5
- Blog post prompt: After our class discussion on GMO products, what would you tell your family if the topic came up at your dinner table?
Questions to ponder

1. What difference does the type of flour make?

2. What is the purpose of yeast in bread?
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GMO’s?

January 15, 2014 by Dr. Haile
In class today, we discussed flavor. You should enter the flavor experiment into your experimental notebook.

To prepare for tomorrow you should read the following.
- Culinary Reactions: Review Chapter 11
- The Inquisitive Cook: Chapter 6
- “Torn at the Genes: One Family’s Debate Over Genetically Altered Plants”
- “This GMO Apple Won’t Brown. Will That Sour the Fruit’s Image”
- “GMO’s are here to stay” The TODAY Show
- Your blog post should address how this class has transformed how you think about science?
Have a good evening!
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Why does this taste SO good?

January 13, 2014 by Dr. Haile
In class today, we discussed eggs. You were also assigned your first presentation project. Over the next few days, you should work with your partner to develop a unique recipe for your own deviled egg.

Today, in class you were assigned
- The Deviled Egg Presentation (Due January 16 at the beginning of class)
- Your first video progress report. Each group should turn in one report.
- Please comment on this blog post with what you found most interesting or confusing about either the reading or the video.
- Your second blog post on The Omnivore’s Dilemma is due tomorrow before 10 AM. Please see you assignment sheet for the prompt choices.
To prepare for tomorrow you should read the following.
- Culinary Reactions: Chapter 12 and Chapter 13
- The Inquisitive Cook: Chapter 7
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The Astonishing Egg

January 10, 2014 by Dr. Haile
Today, in class, we finished talking about dairy, and we are moving on to eggs. Eggs are an great source of nutrition.

In class today, you were assigned completed your second experiment: The Making of Mozzarella. It should be included in your experimental notebook.

Don’t forget your blog post responding to the assigned pages in The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry.

To prepare for class on Monday, please read the following and respond to the prompt on your assignment sheet.
- Culinary Reactions: Chapter 3
- The Inquisitive Cook: Chapter 3
- The Unsettling of America: pgs. 3 – 14; 51 – 79
- Please comment on this blog post with what you found most interesting or confusing about either the reading or the video.
Remember you should be working on your video projects over the weekend. We only have 18 days until it premieres. You should also continue to read The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

Have a good weekend!
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More cheese, please

January 9, 2014 by Dr. Haile
Today in class, we learned about dairy and performed our first edible experiments. Tomorrow in class, we will continue our discussion of dairy, but we will move on to cheese.

In class, you were assigned the following.
- Your first The Omnivore’s Dilemma blog post is due tomorrow at 10 AM. The prompts you can choose from are on your assignment sheet. Please let me know if you need another copy of the assignment sheet.
- We will have a quiz covering all the material we have learned through Thursday. It will be a 30 point quiz that will take approximately 20-25 minutes.
To prepare for class, please read and watch the following.
- “Blessed of the Cheesemakers” by Andy Extance in Chemistry World
- Good Eats video, “For Whom the Cheese Melts”
- Culinary Reactions: Chapter 9, especially pgs. 140-145
- The Inquisitive Cook: Chapter 2
- The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Part I
- Please comment on this blog post with what you found most interesting or confusing about either the reading or the video.
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