Smell: The First Signal

Smell is the first real signal in the kitchen. It draws people in before they see the plate, and it tells the cook what is happening in the pan.

Raw garlic, fragrant garlic, and garlic that is about to burn do not smell the same. Neither do dusty spices and spices that have bloomed in warm oil.

• Smell ingredients before they hit the heat, then again as they cook.
• If the dish smells heavy, lift it with herbs or citrus.
• If you barely smell the spices you added, they may never have had time to bloom.