A chef's discovery: The importance of water as a key ingredient

NEWBURY, Ohio, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Miso and Soba Soup, Cornbread Stuffing, Mulled Tea and Cider, Pizza Dough with your favorite toppings – the key ingredient to these tasty recipes is water. But, as one chef learned, not all water is the same, and its impact on a recipe is significant if you don't start with the purest possible.

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Does the water you use really make a difference?  
"Yes," said Chef and Owner of Crop Bistro & Bar Steve Schimoler, who discovered the value of purified water when he moved his restaurant to a historical building in Cleveland's Ohio City area. The beautiful building is located in a neighborhood where aging pipes are prevalent.

"I never gave much thought to the water I used until I had the opportunity to research the role that water plays in my kitchen and restaurant. I quickly found the water that was purified using reverse osmosis (RO) technology provided me with a clean canvas which allowed the flavors and ingredients I used to shine," Schimoler said. The reverse osmosis process significantly reduces unwanted minerals, aromas and chemicals to purify the water.

Creating better water
"I'm surprised that I took water for granted for so long," Schimoler said. "My perception of the importance of water changed when I had a Kinetico brand water system installed in my restaurant. We tested different recipes using water treated by the the reverse osmosis water treatment system. Daily use of Kinetico purified water has really opened our eyes to the importance of water quality when cooking." Today, Schimoler has a Kinetico system in his home as well.

"Water has become one of my most valuable ingredients," said Schimoler, who has been recognized nationally as a pioneer in blending culinary art and food science, and has developed hundreds of products for many of the nation's top consumer food, beverage and equipment companies.

"It seems deceptively simple, but until you have a point of reference established for purity, there is no looking back," he said. "We take pride in delivering fresh and vibrant flavors that maintain their integrity, and now understand that our water truly provides the platform and basis to build off of without any negative influence from unfiltered water."

Miso soup replaces chicken stock as a base
Schimoler and his team have transitioned from using chicken stock to Miso stock as the basis for risotto, rice, pasta dishes, sauces and a host of other items. "Miso stock prepared with RO water offers a more flexible foundation that allows the integrity of ingredients to shine for richer, more savory flavors. Delicate flavors no longer need to compete with the tastes and aromas of chlorine, sulphur and other unwanted minerals and chemicals that can be present in tap water.

The Miso and Soba Soup, Cornbread Stuffing, Mulled Tea and Cider, and Pizza Dough mentioned earlier can all be found on the Kinetico Blog. Schimoler produced a number of videos and blogs demonstrating what he learned about water, sharing recipes with viewers on the company's website and social media channels.

How does reverse osmosis work?
The Kinetico water system Schimoler uses employs three phases of filtration and features reverse osmosis technology. During this process, water passes through a semi-permeable membrane to filter out inorganic contaminants such as metals and nitrates that may be in the water, leaving impurities to be discarded. The system also uses pre-filtration which eliminates larger particles and chlorine as well as post-filtration designed to eliminate unpleasant tastes or smells that might remain.

Using Pure Water to Make Your Recipes for Pure Flavor
http://www.kinetico.com/blog/post/steve-schimoler-pure-water-pure-flavor.aspx

About Kinetico
Headquartered in Newbury, Ohio, U.S.A., Kinetico is a leading manufacturer of water treatment systems. An extensive network of Kinetico dealers serving residential and commercial customers has helped more than a million people in nearly 100 countries experience the benefits of better water. Since 1970, Kinetico has prided itself on creating state-of-the-art water treatment systems that serve customers in an expanding variety of applications. The company also has offices and facilities in the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Denmark. Further information is available at www.kinetico.com.

SOURCE Kinetico