Flavor is that elusive key that opens up the experience of eating, it is something that chefs spent their careers in search of, food manufacturers toil over, restaurant customers embed in their memories, and culinary instructors try to teach – yet few people really understand it like a flavorist. This is the person with the knowledge of a food scientist, the palate of a great chef, the memories of a food lover who has picked that sun ripened tomato in July and enjoyed the richness of the fruit, remembers biting into a first pick September Macintosh apple, savors the smell and flavor of caramelized onions or sautéed wild mushrooms, and closes his or her eyes to bring back the smell and taste of a fall pumpkin pie just pulled from the oven. Sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or umami -to truly understand flavor is to have the power to control it and re-create it time and again. Join me for this episode of CAFÉ Talks as I welcome one of the country's most accomplished flavorists: Dolf DeRovira – founder of FlavorDynamics – a business dedicated to the art and science behind the products that we enjoy.

A seasoned chef, Ph.D. in food studies, culinary educator, program administrator, research chef, sustainability advocate, and food waste warrior – Chef Jonathan Deutsch is on a mission to help us all see the big picture. The fragile food supply chain in America is broken and our collective malaise concerning food waste is a crisis that must be addressed. According to a United Nations study – nearly 1/3 of all the food produced for human consumption is wasted. With an alarming percentage of the world's population experiencing food insecurity or worse – this is simply unacceptable. Carry this through the issues of over-packaging and transportation energy costs associated with the food supply chain and it is easy to see why Chef Deutsch and many others are raising the red flag about a needed sustainability attitude. Join CAFÉ Talks podcast as we learn more about what Chef Deutsch is working on at Drexel University and how we all might help to make a difference for our industry, for our country, and for the world. As educators we can make that difference through one student at a time.

A highly successful chef chooses a different direction – a chance to give back, to be a mentor for others, to open eyes and open doors – to teach. Years later, his personal accomplishments are transformed into student accomplishments. He built a program based on an experience that goes beyond the classroom and beyond the curriculum. He created and maintains lifelong connections with students who became part of his commitment as a teacher. Join CAFÉ Talks for a close up look at Chef Peter Sproul, learn about his acquired philosophy of teaching and training, and feel his passion for making a difference.