I was reading about Chef Samin Nosrat and her cookbook and TV show entitled “Salt Fat Acid Heat.” she explains that it is these four elements that can make an amazing dish.
Learn to balance them perfectly and you’ll learn to create the perfect meal. Take the grilled cheese: if the pan is too hot, the bread will burn without the cheese melting; too cold, and the sandwich will turn soggy. The butter on the bread is the best fat to marry with the heat for this result. The cheese on the inside provides the necessary saltiness to cut through the butter, and the pickles on the side provide the acidity needed to balance a rich meal.
I just made a grilled cheese sandwich today for lunch. So this is especially apropos. Alas, I forgot the pickle. —JM
