“The experience of tasting food is far more multi-sensory than just taste.” – Bee Wilson
by Astara
You’re holding an orange gently in your hand.
You feel its weight, it’s roundness, the roughness of its skin. You place it under a trickle of water and rinse it off completely.
Ever so slowly, you notice the interaction of the water on the orange. You curiously investigate the space between the water and the orange.
Holding the orange in one hand, you use the other hand to slowly pick up a towel and blot each drop of water on the orange. You feel the weight and texture, you see the color brighten before your very eyes.
Now you hold it close to your nose as you crease the surface with your thumbnail, releasing scent.
You peel the orange one careful movement at a time, thoroughly concentrating your senses of smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste on this one activity.
You take your first bite of the orange and notice the flavors on your tongue. When done, you reverently compost the peel.
You have discovered the orangeness of the orange. 
How often do you eat like this? Perhaps the last time you ate this way was when you were very young. For many of us, it is a rare moment to be so present to food. Yet, you can be that mindful with your food again. And all of life.
This is where real nourishment lies.
A Sommelier is a steward of wine. A Sound Sommelier, is a steward of sound.
At Illuminating Hearts, we are sound sommeliers — intentional sonic stewards of mindfulness. Our Sound Alchemy helps us slow down to meet our world in the now. Music allows humans to access all of our brain, including multiple brain wave states. Some call it a flow state.
In this sonic flow state we process life and heighten the senses. We tune up our hearing, deeper colors are revealed, things smell better and taste better.
The tongue has a direct connection to our heart, it is a powerful antenna in life. When we talk, when we sing, when we taste, we are doing so straight from the heart. This gives us each an inherent ability to discern and appreciate various flavors, which can extend beyond literal taste to include understanding what brings our heart alive in other aspects of life.
Imagine listening to beautiful music while you eat. Such mindful music fosters a restful state in the body aiding in digestion. You chew slowly and thoroughly before you swallow, tasting everything. All of this allows you to absorb much more nutrition for your body.
We cordially invite you to join us for the second annual Pairing Studio: Tuning in to Taste, an immersive dinner experience at Metropolitan Community College’s Institute for the Culinary Arts.
We will play live intentional music that weaves sound and mindfulness with the enjoyment of food. Discover how tuning an environment’s auditory and atmospheric elements can transform a meal into a holistic sensory journey. This course combines science, art, and mindfulness to deepen your connection to food, nourishing both body and soul. It is perfect for anyone curious about the fascinating interplay of the senses.
We are delighted to once again partner with the Institute for the Culinary Arts to explore the intersection of sound, mindfulness, atmosphere, and taste.
Last year’s inaugural event revealed something beautiful: when sound, atmosphere, and mindful attention are intentionally woven together — people experience food as magic, play, and nourishment.
This year, interest in the experience has grown so quickly that Metropolitan Community College added a second evening after the original Saturday night sold out.
The good news is there are still a few spots available for Friday, June 26, 2026 from 6–9 PM.
Nourishment is not merely something we consume — it is something we participate in. Every bite, every note, every aroma, every conversation becomes part of the meal.
Tune up your taste with us.
Read more about Illuminating Hearts and our other Sound Offerings.
