Surprisingly Delicious Flavor Combinations

In order to be a good chef, you need to be able to cook well with more common ingredients. In order to be a great chef, you need to be able to cook well with unexpectedly tasty flavor combinations. Rather than combining like flavors, it is much more interesting to cook something up that is sweet and salty, sweet and bitter, nutty and salty, et cetera.
​
Throughout past experiences I have gathered what I believe to be some surprisingly delicious combinations,  foods that are so different you would not expect them to work well together, but actually do, and have listed them below. I highly suggest keeping the list in mind next time you cook for a group of people. They would be happy if presented with expectedly good food, but would be impressed if you made good food that they did not expect to taste good.

While you may prefer to explore your own uniquely creative flavor combinations outside of this list, either way, doing so will take your cooking to the next level.  So, be a little more risky with your cooking, and you will be on your way to becoming a more adventurous chef.

(Note: numbers 1 and 2 inspired by what I sampled at the IFT dinner, see more here)

1. Miso caramel: savory-sweet (best as the base of baked desserts)
2. Pineapple cilantro:  tangy-citrus (cilantro tastes different to different people, however, depending on genetics) (best in drinks, appetizers)
3. Roasted brussel sprouts with a hint of maple syrup: bitter-sweet (best on its own)
4. Mandarin oranges and feta cheese: sweet-salty (best in salads)
5. Pineapple banana: tangy-sweet (best in fruit salads or as the base of baked or non-baked desserts)
6. Strawberry basil: sweet-minty/bitter (best in appetizers or in a spin-off caprese salad)
7. Egg  and beet:  savory-sweet (best used in a breakfast-oriented dish or a sandwich)
8. Lemon butternut squash: sour-sweet (best on its own)
9. Shrimp peanut: savory-nutty (best on its own)
10. Cheese and strawberry/raspberry fruit preserves: savory-sweet (best in a grilled cheese)
11. Avocado chocolate: buttery-sweet (best in non-baked desserts)