Hi.  I’m the Mister.  My wife, to whom this wonderful blog belongs, said that it might be a good idea for me to write up a guest blog for her.  In my almost six years of married, I’ve learned a few things.  One of those things being, if my wife says something is “a good idea,” the direct spousal translation is, “You will do this.”

People who know me know that I love food.  I’ve always loved food.  Steak, burgers, pizza, enchiladas, spaghetti, lasagna, beef stroganoff, TSO chicken; the list goes on, and it’s not limited by international lines.  However, my ability to appreciate good food began to grow after the Mrs. and I were married.

She would whip up something delicious and after a quick prayer (the length directly in proportion to how hungry I was), I would consume said food as I always had, fast; too fast, for my wife, the budding chef.

One night, before I could eat my first bite of deliciousness, she pulled my plate away.  I was perplexed.  I couldn’t eat?  Had I done something wrong?  What was this cruel and unusual form of torture???  My face was a study in confusion mixed with deep and abiding sadness.

I looked at my dear, dear wife, and she said, “I want you to take a bite and tell me what you taste.  Tell me what’s in the dish.”

I looked at the plate and slowly took a bite.

I started with the obvious.  Unimpressed, my wife then asked what seasonings had been used.

Salt. Pepper.  Garlic?  All correct answers.

“What else?”

This is where my culinary expertise ended, the one I thought I had.  Up to this point in my life, I’d only ever thought about the immediate flavor of whatever food I was eating.  Dissecting individual flavors from my food was not a foreign concept, I watched plenty of Food Network; I just never practiced it.

This was the night my “palate training” began.

I have since learned to recognize and appreciate the bold flavor of basil (one of my favorites), the warm smokiness of cumin, the subtle yet necessary addition of bay leaves, and the heady aroma of lavender.  Not to mention garlic and butter.  Garlic, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways…

My training is ongoing.  My palate and its ever-developing Jedi Master level abilities of taste has never been the same.

-The Mister