2005.08.12
And suddenly I had a vanilla epiphany. The rice, a truly bland food, forced the vanilla to take center stage. But vanilla is essentially a supporting actor. It is a sociable flavor, at its best when bringing out the best in other distinct ingredients, softening their acidity, drawing out their intensity, helping them to cohere.It's always been my favorite, and I appreciate its willingness to get along with other flavors...in fact, sometimes I use chocolate vs. vanilla as a metaphor for things that will try to dominate and grab the spotlight vs. things that are happy to fit in.