Big cooking sin: too much sugar

[SeattleUte]

I appreciate the interplay between sweet and savory. But I can't stand how often cooks dump sugar into dishes till the chicken or whatever damn near tastes like a dessert. This is why most of the quickie Japanese joints are unpallatable to me. I just tossed 3/4 of a take out teriyaki. I guess this is what the masses like; I hate it.

[CJF]

I appreciate the interplay between sweet and savory. But I can't stand how often cooks dump sugar into dishes till the chicken or whatever damn near tastes like a dessert. This is why most of the quickie Japanese joints are unpallatable to me. I just tossed 3/4 of a take out teriyaki. I guess this is what the masses like; I hate it.

I agree. Even as a fat guy, I much prefer savory over sweet when it comes to main courses. I don't understand cooking with sweet flavors. It just isn't good to me most of the time.

[il Padrino Ute]

Amen, SU. I'm not a fan of sweet.

[Mrs. Funk]

Agreed. I can't handle Chinese dishes with thick, sweet sauces. Yuck.

[beefytee]

It depends on the dish for me.

Sweetening up pork though, ruins it.

[BlueHair]

Agreed. I can't handle Chinese dishes with thick, sweet sauces. Yuck.

I agree. Some can be salvaged with some hot mustard, though.

[Katy Lied]

I appreciate the interplay between sweet and savory. But I can't stand how often cooks dump sugar into dishes till the chicken or whatever damn near tastes like a dessert. This is why most of the quickie Japanese joints are unpallatable to me. I just tossed 3/4 of a take out teriyaki. I guess this is what the masses like; I hate it.

Have you weighed in on the Cafe Rio thread? Cause they put 4 cups of white sugar into their pork barbacoa.

For me, it depends on the cuisine. Sweet mexican dishes like moles- yuck. Sweet chinese meat sauces-yum. Sweet american breakfast meats like syrupy bacon or ham- yuck. Sweet thai meats and curries-yum, although thai cooks hardly ever screw anything up- they cling to their 4-flavor taste balance with such discipline. Sweet BBQ sauces-yuck. For me the perfect BBQ ends with the rub.

[wuapinmon]

One thing that's always shocked me about Thai food.....a little touch of brown sugar brings it all together. All the recipes call for it, and when I've done South Beach and tried to make Thai, it never tastes right. It's amazing what 2 tbsp of brown sugar can do to a green curry.