Off Menu

The Secret Science of Food and Dining

By: Nell McShane Wulfhart

Narrated by: Katie Schorr

Off Menu is a charming, fun-fact-filled deep dive into the little-known science of food and dining: why we eat what we eat, the nuances of our experience of taste and flavor, and the tiny, easy hacks and tweaks that, when mastered, can make a huge difference in our diets, meals, and relationships with food and drink.

Have you ever noticed that a café’s coffee tastes better in a mug than it does in a to-go cup? Or that hearing the sound of a cocktail being prepared - the sloshing of the liquid in the shaker, the clink of the ice as it’s stirred - makes you enjoy it even more? In Off Menu, journalist Nell McShane Wulfhart explores the facets of food science that you’ve probably never thought about - lighting, background music, the brain’s reaction to the ping of a microwave - but have nonetheless played a role in how you’ve experienced a meal, a drink, or an entire night out.

This lively, accessible audio project distills cutting-edge research into lessons on everything from what quick fixes can cover up your mistakes in the kitchen to what meal to serve when you’re planning to break up with someone. It’s the perfect listen to devour as you’re strolling through the farmer’s market, washing the dishes, or planning your next dinner party.

©2020 Nell Wulfhart (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Off menu review

This is a fun and a very informative book. It peaked my curiosity about future events!!! I enjoyed this book!!!

Fascinating

I loved this book! I need it in print so I can highlight, dog ear and write notes in the margins. I learned so much and realize that I now have so much more to learn through my senses and food experiences.
Katie did a great job narrating! If I hadn’t paid attention in the beginning, I would have thought Nell was describing her own discoveries. I love a narrator who tells a story versus just reading one. Nell, Katie, I’ll be looking for more of your works.

Excellent!

Highly recommend this one. Perfect for chefs, cooks, restauranteurs, sommeliers, and for anyone who loves hosting dinner parties. Shares excellent industry wide tips and knowledge on food and hospitality lifestyle!

Very interesting

A good read, I skipped most of the drinks part but it was good overall

Wrong narrator

The book was interesting and informative but the narrator was just wrong for this book. I would have preferred a more mature voice.

Less about food, more about perceptions.

Less about food, and more about how we approach food. If you consider yourself a foodie and enjoy hosting - you’ll probably enjoy this book, but might learn very little about food itself. Pulling heavily from a mindful eating practice, the author points out how our perception of food is shaped by our senses and advertising that truly has little to do with the food itself. An intentional manipulation of the snobby wine connoisseur’s senses and the modest home cook can come out on top!

Need it in book form

Wonderful book, but needs to be available in print. This would be Three Xmas presents, but I can’t find it in print form and the recipients don’t do audible.

For Foodies

This audiobook is for foodies - people who find anything food-related to be fascinating (like aroma added to ice cream packaging so you get that vanilla whiff when you open it -- because frozen food doesn't smell). Many marketing ploys take advantage of these biases that people have, such as wine in a heavier bottle is better (in fact, any food in a sturdier container like glass instead of plastic will be perceived as better quality). This book is filled out with all sorts of information about how our senses affect what we taste.

Really Enjoyed !

Now I need to purchase the book to highlight some of the recipes and ideas that were suggested.
Really made me think about what I enjoy and the reasons why. I will be implementing some of these into my next gathering...after Covid!

Such interesting facts

I loved this informative compilation of facts and fiction about smell, taste and how we’re sometimes easily influenced by advertisers. It’s almost satirical in that this book uncovers myths about highbrow wines and exotic foods. Do we really love the $200 bottle of wine? Or are we influenced by the label, brand, or even heaviness of the bottle.
The author also gives honest information about how to really understand our own tastes and how to get the most out of the foods we eat and the choice of drink. How the shape of the glass scientifically influences our first smell and then taste of something.
I took this book with me to a small cocktail party and actually practiced some of her experiments mentioned at the back of the book. Fun.