Coming Soon — The Culinary Darwinist

Featured

Apr 24, 2020

Expedition 002: Roasted Strawberry Jam

Apr 24, 2020

Apr 17, 2019

Species 013: Banana Layer Cake with Chocolate Ganache Filling & Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Apr 17, 2019

Apr 10, 2019

Expedition 001: Pistachio Paste

Apr 10, 2019

Apr 4, 2019

Species 011: Roasted Banana Cream Donuts with Speculoos Glaze

Apr 4, 2019

Apr 1, 2019

Species 007: Toasted Vanilla Sugar & Cinnamon Soft Pretzels

Apr 1, 2019

Mar 24, 2019

Species 014: Espresso Brown Sugar Cake with French Praline Buttercream

Mar 24, 2019

Species 004: Miso Mushroom and Parmesan Turnovers

Mar 24, 2019

Mar 23, 2019

Species 005: Sweet Potato Snacking Cake with Torched Meringue and Caramelized Pecans

Mar 23, 2019

Mar 21, 2019

Species 006: Brown Sugar & Angostura Bitters Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

Mar 21, 2019

Mar 20, 2019

Species 003: Crispy Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Jalapeño Biscuits

Mar 20, 2019

Welcome to The Culinary Darwinist! In the simplest terms, TCD is a food blog for the nerdy and adventurous baker.

What’s the gist?

Just as plants and animals are products of the environment they are born into, so too is food. But while plants and animals are subject to the influence of Mother Nature, food is subject to the influence of the human being who created it. We, as humans, leave our fingerprints on anything we make, especially food. We adapt existing tastes, textures, and flavors to delight our own sensibilities, but we rarely talk about the process of adaptation. My goal as The Culinary Darwinist is to illuminate the mechanisms behind the evolution of delicious—the processes involved in designing a recipe that speaks to something so unique and personal to you, you might say it’s in your DNA. My hope is that, through my writing and recipes, I can empower others to create culinary treasures of their own—influenced by the things that make them truly unique creatures.

“My goal as The Culinary Darwinist is to illuminate the mechanisms behind the evolution of delicious—the processes involved in designing a recipe that speaks to something so unique and personal to you, you might say it’s in your DNA.”

A little bit about me

I may sign off as ‘The Culinary Darwinist‘, but my friends and family call me Nicole. I received an education fit for a nerd from MIT where I studied Computer Science & Molecular Biology, but not before living in Paris and studying French Patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu. After that, I worked in healthcare tech and developer tools for a few years, living in Boston and San Francisco. But despite switching coasts, my wanderlust took over. I’m about to embark on a rather itinerant lifestyle, hopping from here to there in my 16’ Airstream with my lovely pup Daisy and traveling abroad as much as I can. (Don’t fret—I’m outfitting the Airstream for baking.)

My philosophy in life is the same as my philosophy in food: Cherish the memories you have and carry them with you wherever you go. You’ll be surprised at the influence they exert on the things you create and the life you live.

Why should you come back?

If you come back and read some articles, you will gain an understanding of baking dynamics so that you can modify your own recipes and create delicious treats that are personal to you. So please do come back!