Adena Miller

When it’s time to dine, Adena is all ears.

While it may be impolite to play with your food, she'll tell you there’s nothing wrong with giving it a listen. In fact, it’s an art.

Adena“I believe that food is in a category of its own,” she says. “When you are able to reap the pleasure of having food speak to you, it swiftly kisses all of your senses—a passionate experience of seeing, smelling, tasting, touching and hearing.”

Adena’s blog, Food That Speaks, covers all the senses involved in experiencing a great meal. She also writes a monthly food column for Rochester Woman Magazine. A Rochester, NY, resident, Adena is also a freelance public relations pro who specializes in media outreach, copywriting and event planning.

In fact, the PR biz is where her love affair with food first took hold.

“I started my PR career at Weber Shandwick Worldwide in Chicago working on primarily food accounts, including the got milk? campaign,” she says.

Click to visit Adena's blog.While there, she received a “No Boundaries” grant and jetted off to Saint-Émilion, France for a travel, food and wine writing seminar. She says the experience added even more to her love for her craft.

So. How does one cultivate an ear for food? It starts with the chef’s presentation of the dish, Adena says. After an initial hearing, it’s time to dig in.

“Taste, touch and listen to the food speak,” she says. “Is it salty or sweet? Velvety smooth or layered with texture? Does the food slip and slide, melt in your mouth, or does it crunch?”

Of course, even to the well trained ear, sometimes a dish falls silent.

“Not all food is able to speak to me,” Adena says. “I peruse the menu items and once I’ve made my selection, it’s out of my hands. It’s not something you can look at on the menu and order,” she says. “I leave that part up to the chef.”

But when she hears food loud and clear, she considers it worthy of reporting.

“I am continuously on the search for great dishes and recipes to feature,” she says. “I write about them in hopes that you can seek out these same magnificent delights, and in your own experience, have them speak to you.”

Sounds tasty.

See more: Food That Speaks 

Say hi: foodthatspeaks@hotmail.com