Science and Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science
GENED 1104
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
How can we use scientific principles to make better food, for ourselves and for the world?
Food and cooking are part of your everyday life. Whether you are a skilled chef or a home-cook, what you do in the kitchen is deeply rooted in science. This class brings together top chefs and Harvard scientists to explore how everyday cooking and haute cuisine can illuminate basic principles in physics and chemistry. Throughout the semester you will watch as chefs reveal the secrets behind some of their most famous culinary creations. Inspired by such cooking mastery, we will then explore the science behind the recipes. Students will gain a solid understanding of the properties and fundamental behaviors of soft matter materials. All food is made of soft materials, and cooking relies on many of their fundamental properties. Topics will include: emulsions, illustrated by aioli; elasticity, exemplified by the done-ness of a steak; and diffusion, revealed by the phenomenon of spherification, the culinary technique pioneered by Ferran Adria. The course includes laboratory work where students develop their skills as experimental scientists. Other assignments include weekly homeworks, in-class exercises, and a final project where students explore the science of a culinary topic of their choosing.
Course Notes
Occasionally there will be an optional 15-30 minute question and answer session with visiting chefs.
Class Notes
Sectioning for this course will take place during Add/Drop. Once you have enrolled in the course and the placeholder (“DIS”) section, please rank your section preferences by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 28. To do this, click on the cog icon next to the Gen Ed course in your Crimson Cart. You will then be prompted to rank the section times. Once we have your ranking, we will do our best to find you a seat in your highest-ranked available section.
If none of the times work for you, you are welcome to not set any preferences and remain in the placeholder for the time being. However, please note that if enrollment does not significantly change during Add/Drop, no additional sections will be added and you will ultimately need to enroll in an available section or drop the course.
Not Available for Cross Registration
NOTE: This course requires additional sections; you will be prompted to choose secondary components during the Add to Cart process
