Agrodolce

Jessica inadvertently created this Italian sweet-and-sour preparation, explaining: "So I did some agrodolce onions, not knowing to put them into the pepperonata, but we still have that sweet and sour effect." This ancient technique balances vinegar or citrus with sweet elements like sugar or honey. The judges appreciated this deviation from Jesse's original plan, with Aaron praising how it added complexity. Agrodolce literally translates to "sour-sweet" and represents one of the fundamental flavor principles in Italian cuisine, often applied to vegetables or used as a sauce component to add depth and balance to dishes.