Blanching Vegetables Can Make Your Dishes Truly Stand Out. Here's Why - Chowhound

KRIBOX/Shutterstock The original Roman gourmet Apicius got straight to the heart of the pleasure we derive from food when he said, "We eat first with our eyes" back in the first century A.D. A tremendous portion of food appeal lies in what we see before we taste — vibrant colors, textural contrasts, and presentation. Close your eyes and imagine the bounty of a summer potluck buffet. There's always one wan…