Tag: science

Coffee is an entirely Italian emotion: science proves it – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

Coffee is not just a drink: inside a cup there are emotions, memories, sensations that tell about us, and about Italy. Indeed, coffee is associated with Italianness, home, love, family. Now science is also saying it, thanks to a research by Nespresso in collaboration with AINEM – Italian Association of Neuromarketing which analyzed our reactions when drinking coffee, discovering a world that perhaps until now we have taken for granted.

I study

The research, supervised by Vincenzo Russo, member of the Scientific Committee of AINEM and Full Professor of Consumer Psychology and Neuromarketing at IULM Universityinvolved 44 people who – without knowing what coffee it was or the brand – tasted some coffees from the line Italian inspiration from Nespresso. Line that includes six references – Ristretto, Roma, Venezia, Livanto, Napoli, Kazaar and Arpeggio – which trace the different habits linked to coffee in our country, of which the actress Miriam Leone is the testimonial.

During the tasting, the participants were divided into three subgroups, each of which drank the coffee in different contexts: in the presence of stimuli associated with Italianness (such as images of iconic Italian panoramas), in the presence of stimuli unrelated to Italianness (as iconic panoramic views of foreign cities), in absence of stimulusthe. Meanwhile the researchers examined theirs emotional and behavioral reactions via – respectively – encephalogram and an Implicit Association Test which tests the skin and cardiac reaction times to certain stimuli. In a second moment the scientists then examined the rational reactions of the subjects involved in the test by asking them to answer some questions to investigate the relationship between coffee and memories.

The results of the study

In each of the subgroupsThe emotional response values proved to be extremely positive: that is, the coffee evoked sensations of pleasantness and comfort. Not only: in all tests participants identified a link between coffee and Italy. In addition to those who drank coffee in a context with references to Italianness (in which the values relating to the association were – obviously – higher), there were also others. Another very interesting fact concerns memories: from the answers to the questionnaires it can be seen that in all the participants, coffee brought to mind images of family warmth, company, joy, typical of the Italian dimension. Another curiosity (among many) is the fact that among the Nespresso coffees tasted, the capsule of the “Ristretto” blend was the one most appreciated by the sample exposed to the stimulus consistent with Italy, due to the taste particularly linked to Italian tradition.

Researchers’ comments

«The study showed an emotional and mnemonic activation linked to coffee that we did not know before, as well as a close link between coffee, Italy and Italianness says Professor Russo. «This – he continues – means that there is a strong connection between coffee, memory and emotions: it is as if coffee had a more symbolic than functional value. It is a drink linked to affection, to family, to everything that evokes typically Italian values.”

«This research carried out with Nespresso in the field of neuromarketing has clearly outlined the strategic role of this discipline in understanding and evaluating the impact of emotions and cultural identity on consumer behaviour. The study revealed how the simple act of drinking a cup of coffee is not just a way to satisfy the palate, but rather an experience full of emotions, always intimately connected to Italianness”, comment Caterina Garofalo, President of the Italian Neuromarketing Association – AINEM.

Milk is more moisturizing than water: science says it – Italian Cuisine

The lactose, protein and fat content causes the body to retain milk in the stomach longer than water, to better metabolize the elements

No one had ever doubted it. But science did it, who discovered that the most hydrating drink is not water. It is the milk: research carried out on theSaint Andrews University in Scotland, which compared the moisturizing power of some beverages. Even if its intake remains fundamental in order not to exceed calories, allow liver and kidney functions and maintain skin elasticity, water «quenches short-term, while liquids containing small amounts of sugars, fats or proteins allow a longer hydration of organs and tissues ", as explained by Ronald Maughan, author of the study.

It is the nutrient composition of milk that makes it more moisturizing: the content of lactose (which is a sugar), protein and fat causes the body to keep it longer, compared to water, in the stomach, to metabolize the elements. Sodium also contributes to its persistence in the body: it holds liquids like a sponge and prevents them from being eliminated too quickly with urine.

On the other hand, it is the same principle on which the rehydrating solutions that are taken in case of diarrhea are based: the small amounts of sugar, sodium and potassium which they contain favor the retention of liquids in the body, to compensate for those lost. Electrolytes contribute to effective hydration, while a small amount of calories keeps the liquid longer in the body.

Be careful though: this does not mean that very sweetened drinks are more moisturizing. Instead, they push the liquid into the small intestine ready to be eliminated. The best solution is alternate water with milk skimmed or whole, or orange juice and tea in moderate quantities.

More than 75% of the body and cells are water, which is lost through breathing, perspiration and sweating, and which must be replenished. "It is sufficient, in fact, a slight dehydration, equal to 2% of body weight", explains Maurizio Muscaritoli, president of Sinuc (Italian Society of clinical nutrition and metabolism), "to unleash a sense of confusion and disorientation, fatigue, loss of strength, coordination and cognitive functions in general. The consequences of this mild deficiency can be falls, traumas and accidents, but also damage to the kidneys and muscles, increased risk of contracting infections ". This is why remembering to drink is really essential for health.

Gordon Ramsay’s Crispy Salmon

Gordon Ramsay’s Crispy Salmon

Try this delicious looking salmon any time you are up for a quick and easy to prepare seafood meal. Gordon Ramsay serves this salmon over a New Potato Crab Salad^[1] mix. Gordon says you don’t need to be afraid of cooking fish, as it’s not rocket science. Score the fish, keep your hands off of it while cooking (NO TOUCHING!), and turn it once. Watch the fish while you’re cooking it, use a fish slide^[2], and you should end up with a masterfully prepared salmon.

This recipe is very simple, as you can see by watching the video at the end of this post. I’ll cover the steps it takes to prepare a perfect crispy salmon.

Prep time: Less than 2 minutes. Cook time: 4 1/2 to 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Salmon Filet
Olive Oil
Salt
Herbs if you want them (Gordon recommends Thyme, Rosemary, or Basil)

Directions:

Take your filet of salmon, and roll it up, skin side facing out. Place the rolled up salmon filet on a cutting board, and score the skin crosswise about one half inch deep. Keep your cuts close together to get extra crispy salmon skin, and score the entire length of the salmon filet. Scoring the salmon filet prevents it from curling while cooking, ensuring it’s cooked nice and evenly.

Open each score and sprinkle salt into the cut (ouchie!). Gordon suggests you can also add Thyme, Rosemary, or Fresh Basil at this point of the preparation. Glaze the top of the salmon filet with olive oil.

Heat a heavy skillet over med heat, and add olive oil when the pan is hot. Add the salmon, skin side down, as soon as the oil begins to lightly smoke. Keep your fingers on top of the salmon filet for a bit to keep it nice and flat. Season the top of it with salt, and DON’T touch it anymore! Watch the salmon, and turn it, when it has colored 2/3rds of the way up the filet. Once you have flipped the salmon, tilt the pan, allowing all of the remaining olive oil coat the bottom of the salmon for a nice evenly cooked salmon filet. Cook for another minute or so, watching the color. Remove the pan from heat, flip the salmon back to the skin side, and let it rest a minute.

Now you have a wonderful, masterfully prepared filet of salmon. Serve it with Gordon Ramsay’s New Potato Crab Salad^[3] for a tasty meal.

Gordon Ramsay starts preparing the fish at 2:06 of the video.

References

^{^} New Potato Crab Salad (gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
^{^} fish slide (linksynergy.walmart.com)
^{^} Gordon Ramsay’s New Potato Crab Salad (gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)

Gordon Ramsay Recipes