Taos Center for the Arts Taos, NM
Sam Blackburn, CEC, CCA, CDM / CFPP
Senior Culinary Manager; Executive Chef
The Taste of Things— Feeding curiosity: The science of taste and flavor
Program Description
Explore the intricate science behind how we experience taste and flavor by uncovering the role of taste buds, taste receptors, and the five fundamental tastes. Delve into the discovery of umami, the fifth basic taste, and its flavor-enhancing properties. Gain a deeper understanding of how taste, smell, and texture shape our perception of flavor. Looking forward to sparking engaging discussions on the science of taste and flavor!
Presented At
Taos Center for the Arts Taos, NM
Film Synopsis
France, 1889: Simmering passions between a master chef and his longtime partner bubble over in this sumptuous award-winning period love story.
Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel), a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie (Juliette Binoche). They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.
Photo credit: IFC Films
About the Speaker
As a Senior Culinary Manager for the Healthcare Operational Excellence Team, Sam has spent over 20 years in the foodservice industry. Influenced at a young age by his great-grandmother who was an excellent cook, it became clear to Sam by the age of 15 that the kitchen was where he belonged. Sam’s culinary journey has included Executive Chef roles in the restaurant industry as well as food sales and distribution, and most recently Healthcare. Sam’s key areas of focus in his role are mobilization and deployment of new business as well as training and development for Sodexo’s many operational teams in the field.
Sam holds many certifications through both the American Culinary Federation and the Association of Foodservice and Nutrition Professionals, and is a firm believer in life-long learning. Sam recently represented the United States in the Global Sustainable Chef Challenge in Landsberg, Germany and was the winner of the Sodexo Love of Food Innovation Challenge for both 2021 and 2023.