In A Way, Recipes Are Like Sheet Music

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    chefhacker
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      A musician may use sheet music to learn a song. For an orchestral performance, having each member closely follow their parts as written is key to playing as a cohesive unit. However, for a skilled musician playing individually or in a Jazz or popular music ensemble the sheet music may be most valuable as a rough guide over which to improvise. In this way the musician or vocalist can explore creative ways to express themselves within the overall structure of the music.

      In a way, recipes can be thought of similarly.

      If you are learning a new dish, scrutinizing a recipe is a fine way to learn about it. You may even want to follow the recipe precisely the first few times you make it. Similarly, for a cook who is part of a professional kitchen where each member of the brigade needs to coordinate their specific tasks to reliably produce dishes of consistent quality on demand, adherence to standards as articulated in recipes is critical. If on the other hand, you are cooking for your self, family or friends and you are sufficiently skilled, using a recipe as a “jumping off point” could make cooking more fun and enjoyable for both those who are cooking and eating the food. Change some quantities, alter preparation or cooking methods, add or remove certain ingredients. In other words modify it in some way and make it your own just as a musician might make a particular musical piece their own.

      Do you agree that sheet music and recipes can be thought of as analogs in this context?
      If not, why not? If so, what are some of the key drivers of success on the cooking side?

      • This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by chefhacker.
      • This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by chefhacker.
      • This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by chefhacker.
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