Have you ever been in a loud, overcrowded restaurant and upon leaving, feel as though you can barely recall what you just ate? That’s not just down to being flustered – being overwhelmed with certain sounds does have the potential to actually dull flavours and others, to enhance them. Noise also has been shown to affect our perceptions of aroma and our expectations from food, which in turn leads to further altered flavours. However, that’s not to say that food is best enjoyed in silence, you just need to choose your soundtrack with caution.
With food critics worldwide commenting on noise levels in a restaurant right there alongside reviews of the food itself, sticking on any old album to accompany a dinner party is a serious culinary faux pas! It’s time to consider your audio contributions if you want to wow your guests…