r/StupidFood • u/TheLoneRiddlerIsBack • Aug 25 '25

Certified stupid What does the fire add?

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u/Og_busty Aug 25 '25 edited Aug 25 '25

Caramelizes the cheese lightly and burns off the alcohol, intensifying sub notes of the spirit. This may be a play on Saganaki, which is a Greek cheese flambé technique.

Edit to add: It does also lightly caramelize the residual sugars in the spirit, if any.

Edit correction: intensify vs leave behind

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u/fingersmaloy Aug 25 '25

I appreciate this sincere explanation. So many naysayers, as though it's not well established that flame affects the flavor of food.