Today’s Times has an interesting article on a fruit that alters one’s perception of taste to make virtually everything taste sweet–even vinegar and mustard. Of all the gems in this story about so-called Miracle Fruit, or Synsepalum dulcificum–not the least of which is that the main character, a lawyer named Franz Aliquo who calls himself ‘Supreme Commander’, throws “flavor-tripping” parties, or, in words from his blog, “Bacchanalian flavor smackdowns”–the best was this exchange:

“One woman wanted to see Mr. Aliquo eat a berry before she tried one. “What, you don’t trust me?” he said.

She replied, “Well, I just met you.”

Another guest said, “But you met him on the Internet, so it’s safe.”

Also interesting was the fact that a bar set to open in Portland, Oregon, the Beaker & Flask (you go, hometown) has experimented with miracle fruit foams in cocktails. The question is, how much miracle fruit is too much of a good thing?  [Via NYT, and Thrillist]