VANCOUVER — Have you ever wondered what the so-called fifth taste is? Can you name the other four taste sensations? In case you’re unsure, they are sweet, sour, salty and bitter. But that elusive fifth taste — what the Japanese call umami, the savoury flavour that’s often found in various meats, cheeses and mushrooms — is largely unrecognized in the West. In an interesting story in Western Living magazine, one writer tackles the concept of umami and catches up with a few chefs in Western Canada — including Scott Poherlic of Calgary’s River Café — who bring it to life in their cuisine.
