The Dynamic Dish

This is a site dedicated to food and drink, flavor and aroma, culinary science, cultural exploration, and family, friends and good times. I’m Erin – a geophysicist by day and a foodie by night. Food and cooking has long been an important part of my life and was a significant cornerstone of my upbringing, in everything from holiday feasts with family and friends to experiencing local food while traveling the world. I believe food and drink have the power to bring people together and to cross cultural boundaries, opening up a world of diverse flavors and endless possibilities.

This site is called The Dynamic Dish because the food we eat and the culinary experiences we can have truly are dynamic. That is, they are characterized by constant change and activity and are full of energy and new and evolving flavors, across many scales. In other words, food done right should never be static and never be boring, but instead should be vibrant and delightful at every bite.

The flavors and aromas that we taste and enjoy vary across the world and over the course of our lives, as any good foodie is always striving to try something new. Those flavors, aromas, and textures can even evolve in the course of a single meal. A light effervescence in a freshly opened bottle of rosé dissolving away into a smooth gulp with hints of citrus fruits and sea kelp, or the saltiness of prosciutto combining with the sweetness of melon and the creaminess of avocado to create a perfectly umami experience.

Food is also dynamic because it is a source of energy for our bodies and stimulates change and growth within our systems with the nutrition it provides. I strongly believe in the power of good, wholesome and sustainable food to nourish us when we are healthy and heal us when we are sick, though a little something sweet or decadent now and then never hurt. Ultimately, food and drink, but perhaps more importantly, the experience of that food and drink, is sustenance for not just our bodies, but for mind and soul, and it is my goal to share such flavors and experiences with you through this site.

I created this site, first and foremost, as a repository for all my favorite recipes, both those I have collected and modified from other sources over the years and original ones that I have developed. This site is a source for delicious recipes, both for food and drink; articles about ingredients and food science; stories about different dishes or methods; and eventually instructional information on cooking techniques.

I am not a professional chef, but I am constantly learning and developing expertise every day and with every meal. Some of the recipes here are works in progress, and I welcome constructive feedback and suggestions from readers in the comments sections of the recipes. This is also a relatively new site, launched in October of 2020, and much of the aforementioned content has yet to be added. I plan to expand this content over the coming years, time permitted in my busy graduate school schedule.

The recipes on The Dynamic Dish run the gamut from the almost obnoxiously healthy and earthy to stuff-your-face decadent holiday fare and include cuisines from the world over. As I have also managed to turn myself into an amateur mixologist over the last couple of years, the cocktails page is a favorite. Drinks include traditional cocktails, new twists on traditional drinks, our own craft concoctions, and our attempts to recreate some beloved favorites from great restaurant bars.

Each recipe has its own dedicated page, with metadata on cooking time, servings, dietary tags such as gluten free or vegetarian, etc. included at the top for at-a-glance reading. A wine pairing for foods with a link to that wine on Vivino, or other relevant wine and spirits site, is also given for some dishes (though hopefully eventually most of them), as well as the source of inspiration for the recipe. Please note that the serving sizes are adjustable via clicking on the number and using the slider.

True to its name, The Dynamic Dish is set to be a developing and constantly evolving site. I look forward to all the yummy recipes I will continue to add over the years and the exciting informational content that is soon to come, and I hope you do too. Enjoy the site and get cooking!