Fish or Foul?

[blutoski]

Article: Fish or Foul?
Author: Edward Dolnick
Publication: New York Times

Excerpt: WHEN news of the great fish fraud broke recently, New York’s elite restaurateurs rushed to defend their sushi. Phony labels on the red snapper? Knock-off tuna? Not to worry. Top chefs can’t be fooled, they insisted, nor can their customers. “It is impossible to mislead people who have knowledge,” declared Eric Ripert, the chef at Le Bernardin.

Few statements could do more to gladden a con man’s heart. In the art of the con, magicians and swindlers and forgers insist, the ideal victim is not an ignoramus but an expert. Any magician would rather take on a roomful of physicists than of 5-year-olds. “When you’re certain you cannot be fooled,” wrote the magician Teller, “you become easy to fool.”

More: [Fish or Foul? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02dolnick.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin)]

Blutoskitorial:

I liked this article because it focuses on a core skeptical theme: that expertise in fraud is not a technical expertise in, say, fish - it's a skillset of its own. I believe skeptics need to promote this in our various communications to the public.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Article: Fish or Foul?
Author: Edward Dolnick
Publication: New York Times

Excerpt:

More: [Fish or Foul? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02dolnick.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin)]

Blutoskitorial:

I liked this article because it focuses on a core skeptical theme: that expertise in fraud is not a technical expertise in, say, fish - it's a skillset of its own. I believe skeptics need to promote this in our various communications to the public.

It is nice. Too bad that the world will not read and understand.

[Rat]

I was pleased to see that it referred to the Frederic Brochet red/white wine tests. I had read of them, but could never remember where. Now at least I have something to refer to, even if others do dispute his findings.

I was also very entertained to read of the strawberry yoghurt test.

[Madalch]

I was pleased to see that it referred to the Frederic Brochet red/white wine tests.

I read of a similar test, where a wine 'expert" bragged that he could tell the difference between the two blindfolded (and went on to say that it was difficult to tell them apart, since the only difference is that one is made from red grapes and the other from white grapes- an utterly stupid and wrong thing to say, which is why I put quotes around the word expert). I haven't tried telling them apart blindfolded myself, but I find it hard to believe that anyone could confuse the two (the level of tannins alone should be a dead giveaway).

Anybody want to buy me four or five bottles of wine so I can test this?

[biomorph]

<snip> I haven't tried telling them apart blindfolded myself, but I find it hard to believe that anyone could confuse the two (the level of tannins alone should be a dead giveaway).

Anybody want to buy me four or five bottles of wine so I can test this?

I've tried to do this a few times, but after the first bottle or two the data became either very noisy, or worse, non-existant........:boggled: Obviously I paid a price for my own research materials.........the next day.

I think there has been some publicity about a trial of some sort where expensive wine only tasted better when the drinker knew it was more expensive.....but I'm not sure of my sources on it...

[Kittyclaws]

Seems that a moderately priced Washington-grown sparkling wine scored higher on taste tests than Dom Perignon. http://www.thewinetrials.com/

[Madalch]

Seems that a moderately priced Washington-grown sparkling wine scored higher on taste tests than Dom Perignon.
That doesn't surprise me at all. But not being able to tell red from white? Still boggling.