What makes a Michelin –
A Simple Guide to Data Science in a Tasteful Way

AUTHOR: JUNMIN LI

The joy of immersing myself into cuisines has also brought me some moments of thoughts – the inspiration of making the connection between the pursuit of gourmet experience and the enthusiasm for data science. There is an interesting analogy between culinary arts and the practice of data science.

The art of fine dining is consisted of four essential elements: Food Ingredients, Cooing Style, Restaurant Atmosphere & Food Presentation, and the “Zen” Spirit. Correspondingly, Data, Modeling Methodologies, Context & Expression, and Pursuit of Insights are indispensable parts of data science.

FOOD INGREDIENTS == Data

Ingredients are key! The freshness and quality of the ingredients are of prime importance to the Michelin inspectors. A delicate process implies following:

1. Ingredients identification and selection
2. Tracking down hard-to-find ingredients
3. Ensuring freshness and best quality of seasonal ingredients
4. Exploring unique exclusive source

These can also be applied to data, which is the key in the art of data science: In the real world, big data can be categorized from multi-dimensions: it can be master data, historical, or transactional data in terms of data type; it can be structured, unstructured, or even in forms of images、text、videos、audio in terms of data format; it can be from web or social media, machine-generated data, business or commercial data, social events data, etc. in terms of data sources; it can be on demand, real-time, time series when in terms of data frequency.

These dynamic characteristics suggest a distinctive procedure of data identification, data selection, data refinement to ensure completeness、correctness、accuracy、precision and consistency, and even data exploration in uniqueness (exclusive source).

COOKING STYLE == Modeling Methodologies

Culinary arts are a collection of cooking styles and techniques. As a handling down process from raw materials to final plating design, the way that cooking takes place depends on following essentials:

1. Preparation
2. Cuisine Types and Cooking Techniques
3. Consistency of Culinary Standards

A professional training could include: skills in preparation and the combination of flavors, cooking techniques such as baking、broiling、frying、steaming、stewing, etc. and cooking ways whether it is traditional or new innovative ways such as molecular gastronomy. Keeping the consistency of culinary standards is of vital importance for superb cooking style too.

Similarly, when exposed with tons of data, we have to know how to drive the value of a large amount of information using powerful tools and advanced scientific methodologies or modeling techniques. Data cleansing and visualization can be viewed as a preparation for further analytics. Applying and leveraging meaningful data mining techniques such as regression, time-series, clustering, neural networks, deep learning etc. in combination of statistics, mathematics, and programming can better help us understand this "fourth paradigm" of science if we constantly “challenging” ourselves to break through conventional mindsets with innovations.

ATMOSPHERE & FOOD PRESENTATION == Context and Expression

For any culinary masters, it’s more than simply “what’s inside the kitchens”. Restaurant atmosphere and plate presentation set the stage as well:

1. Ambience & Décor - understand of the problem with the context
2. Plate Presentation & Creativity - communication and expression in level of creativity

If food is the spotlight then guests should become its audience. The ambience is the embodiment of its particular environments with cultural traditions and trends - which are unique to various regions, states and countries. A perfect combination of excellent food, services and environment can provide a complete and memorable dining experience and build a deep connection between food and customers. Moreover, the way of plating like a pro (choose the perfect plate, place ingredients, pay attention to details, design and create with sauces, etc.) can bring interaction with your audience through presenting intricate masterpieces of color and texture.

Likewise, a better interpretation of information extracted from massive data with solid techniques can never leave out of its context. Fitting data to the model, and applying methodologies with reasonable assumption and attributes provide a solid foundation on the basis of fully understanding both business background and methodology limits. Furthermore, knowing your target audiences with a focus on their needs can deliver an effective communication that could evoke resonance.

"ZEN" SPIRIT == Pursuit of Insights

Probably the highest realm of culinary art is “Zen” spirit – a spirit that can be interpreted in different ways. For example, it can express an advocate for connection with nature, or it can be the embodiment of "omotenashi" whose central tenet is to convey respect (e.g. kaiseki), or it can deliver the importance of adventure and discovery, or it can show a blending between cultural tradition and artful modernity, or it can convey a determination in finding new tastes.

For practitioners of this “haute cuisine” – data science, the “ZEN” spirit is the pursuit of insights, which could come from a revolution that is leading a fight to change the way think about and grow, or could arise from the strive for excellence in every detail, or even through consistently practice with dedication and patience.

This is a foodie’s simple view of data science and hopefully it can bring you inspirations in a tasteful way.

June 5th, 2021