It Must Run in the Family

Amalia is a future food critic. When offered a piece of Angel's Food Cake, she replied, "no thank you. That cake smells like dog slobber."

Of course she is right. All Angel's Food Cakes smell like dog slobber, due to the albumen (egg white), which has a dog slobbery smell. The thing is, most people don't notice it because it is masked by the smell of cooked flour, vanilla, etc. The egg yolk that is in most other baked goods completely masks the smell (not even Amalia can detect the dog slobber smell).

I notice the trace of the dog slobber smell in many things that others don't, it just doesn't bother me when it is in such a small proportion to other things (I am one of those weirdos who is sensitive to a whole bunch of aromas and tastes, yet I like them. Most people who can detect bitterness as strongly as my tongue can't stand bitter food. Not me. Raddicchio. Coffee. Super dark, almost unsweetened chocolate. I revel in that almost-choking bitterness).

Now, I am waiting for her to complain that chocolate smells like rotten fish.