A TERPY DINNER Cannabis and food are two substances
Most of us can agree that cannabis and
During the hustle and bustle of cooking
with the power to make us humans
food are a match made in heaven. Whether
and creative minds at work, he would
incredibly happy. Few things make a better
you are smoking it or eating it, or drinking it,
make time to speak to his guest about
pair, and with thousands of cannabis
cannabis makes food better. Some would
the meal, what flavors to expect, what
strains and the entire wide world of food
say that cannabis not only enhances your
terpenes cancel out bitterness, etc.,
and drink at our disposal, more pairings are
dining experience but can also enhance the
setting excellent precedence for the
possible today than ever before. So the
flavor of your food and drinks. Like wine,
evening.
question is: how to go about matching a
cannabis has various flavors and aromas,
dish or beverage with its perfect cannabis
also known as terpenes, that can
The dinner started with asparagus, crab,
counterpart? The answer to that --
accentuate, complement, and highlight the
lemon, red bell pepper, and parsley. I
terpenes!
tastes and scents in your meal. My favorite
paired it with sips of Suelo Farmers
happens to be white wines.
Chenin Blanc 2015. Talk about terpene
Everyone talks about terpenes, but what
galore! The crab salad is prepared with
does it have to do with cannabis and food?
Avid cannabis connoisseurs across the
dill cucumbers, lots of parsley, and lemon
Terpenes are aromatic molecules
globe have started thinking about pairing
zest. Finished with red bell pepper,
responsible for the many tastes and smells
different cannabis strains with food, the
preserved lemon peel, micro parsley, and
associated with the cannabis plant. Every
same way you would think about pairing
salt. It was a great way to start the
strain produces its terpene profile based on
wine with food. And thanks to my friends at
evening.
its genetics and growing environment.
RARE Xtracts, they sure made a lot of a stoner's dream come true!
Abundant in Limonene, alpha-Pinene,
Terpenes are present in food, too. You will
RARE Xtracts hosted a private "Terp Dinner"
and Myrcene. These terpenes aid in
find them providing aromas, flavors, and
in Tulsa, OK. The evening included an
boosting mood and reducing stress. Also,
health benefits in everything from oranges
elaborate seven-course meal prepared and
it helps the digestive system and muscle
and tomatoes to seafood and herbs;
cooked by Roque Heidler, hash pairings,
spasms. It did just that; by far the best
matching these aromas and flavor profiles
wine pairings, and local grain-finished beef.
meal to start the evening.
with other scents and tastes that accentuate them is what makes for a great pairing. For example, say you have made lemon bars for dessert; with plenty of lemon flavor packed into each bar, you might
A few plates and pairings caught my senses as the night progressed. First, look at this phenomenal menu. It is too good not to share with you guys.
choose a strain with complementary flavors, like Blueberry, to balance out that intense
A dish that blew me away by looks, taste, and the smell was course III. According to chef Roque, the foie pate held rich fatty notes. It was complemented with sweet caramelized onion and a slight nuttiness
Course I: Asparagus – Crab – Lemon – Red Bell –
citrusy sweetness.
Parsley.
Take terpene Terpinolene, for instance;
Course II: Watermelon – Comte – Evo – Fine Herbs –
due to the pistachio.
The rye was the vessel used for texture
terpinolene is not just piney, floral, musky -it is all of those things at once, with a touch citrusy. It is rarely the dominant terpene in
Pickled Watermelon Rind.
Course III: Foie Gras – Blackberry – Rye – S & V Kale – Mustard Seed.
cannabis, but it is often pulling strings in the background. Research shows some of the health benefits include antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can uplift your mood as well. When it comes to food, think
approachable for nearly every palate. Another terpene that is great for cooking is Limonene. Limonene is known for its bright,
19
Cornbread – Curry
CHRONIC | AUGUST 2021
stress, and it has antibacterial properties. Strains rich in limonene pair best with anything you would squeeze lime or lemon
Tomato – Olive – Sherry
tossed in white wine vinegar and sea
"It was an elevated bite of a sandwich." Again, I paired it with sips of Suelo Farmers Chenin Blanc 2015.
This dish was abundant in Limonene, caryophyllene, and linalool. These
Course VI: Beef – Stout Sauce – Cherry – Black Current – Celeriac – Potato
Course VII: Honey – Orange – Caramel – White
terpenes aid in boosting mood, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), provide calming effects, and serve as pain desensitizers.
Chocolate – Hash Shortbread.
As the evening went on, small groups of
Chenin Blanc 2015 by Suelo Farmers/wildnatives, OK.
Pinot Noir 2015 by Suelo Farmers/wildnatives, OK.
over. Such as seafood plates, carne asada tacos, or avocado toast!
fashion of a dill pickle, and the kale was
Course V: Lobster – Lobster Shell – Scallop –
citrusy aroma and slightly bitter taste. Limonene is known to elevate mood, relieve
pickled mustard seed was done in the
salt.
Course IV: Braised Mushroom – Strawberry –
of terpinolene as an all-around crowdpleaser. Its flavor profile is complex yet
but also giving off a little caraway. The
new friends enjoyed the fresh air and partook in the therapeutic rituals of cannabis. It was an exceptional evening to explore all the given senses. Plus, what is not to like? Good food, hash, wine, and
You would think one cannot eat this much in four hours, but let me tell you, chef Roque made it possible.
company.
