This Week in the Mercury

The Young Ones

Film

The Young Ones

A PIFF That Looks Younger Than Ever


Up & Coming

Music

Up & Coming

Highlights in Music the Week of February 9-15



  |  

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Food / Snowpocalypse!! Don't Screw Around With Liquid Nitrogen!

Posted by Will "the Intern" Radik on Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 3:05 PM

How many times do I have to tell you kids!? It looks like German chef Heston Blumenthal blew off both of his hands while "trying to empty a canister of liquid nitrogen." The use of liquid nitrogen is apparently part of some discipline called molecular gastronomy "a scientific discipline involving the study of physical and chemical processes that occur in cooking." (thx wikipedia)!

I, personally, feel it's a little over the top using something that boils at -196 Celsius in your cooking, no matter how bad ass you think you are. Hadn't this fellow seen Terminator 2?


2011/1247695249-600px-t2stanwinstont-1000shattered-2.jpg

Auf Wiedersehen, Baby!


(big ups to UK Telegraph and @thesquare)

UPDATE: Despite several sources claiming it was Blumenthal himself who destroyed his hands, it now appears it was an unknown German chef attempting to use a method commonly used by Blumenthal. (Thanks, Graham!)

 

Comments (7) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
I'm not sure about the accuracy of that article. It says that Blumenthal is 24 years old. He's in his mid-40's. Do some better research and confirm the story from a source that knows its ass from a hole in the ground.
Posted by Graham on July 15, 2009 at 3:17 PM · Report
2
Had dinner in Toronto at Colburne Lane where they make LN2 ice cream... pretty wild (and yummy)
Posted by Hoosier on July 15, 2009 at 3:18 PM · Report
3
Actually, the Irish are just a bunch of dumb idiots.

The headline to the article doesn't match the facts of the article. Blumenthal's hands are just fine. It was some other chef who was using Blumenthal's cooking techniques that lost his hands through stupidity.
Posted by Graham on July 15, 2009 at 3:19 PM · Report
4
I have messed with LN2 over many years. It is a great coolant for large electromagnets and freezes the hell out of incipient skin cancers.

Let's hear it for liquid nitrogen!
Posted by Jim Lee on July 15, 2009 at 3:21 PM · Report
5
Had dinner in Toronto at Colburne Lane topped off with LN2 Ice Cream prepared at the table... pretty wild stuff (and yummy too)
Posted by Hoosier on July 15, 2009 at 3:21 PM · Report
6
Sorry 'bout double post.... Urrrrrrgh
Posted by Hoosier on July 15, 2009 at 3:22 PM · Report
7
Liquid Nitrogen is an extremely volatile substance and proper care should be taken while using it. I am sorry to hear about this Germen chef, hope he recovers soon.

Posted by Liquid Nitrogen on July 18, 2009 at 12:26 AM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use