Dessert By Candy

Here’s an article on Slate about summer fashion faux-pas. I couldn’t have said it better myself! Just because it’s summer (or anytime of the year for that matter), it doesn’t mean that we should abandon fashion common sense. I particularly enjoyed the author’s description of bad sandal etiquette:

But if you are a man who chooses to wear sandals, be aware that the person staring at the ground may actually be glaring at your feet.

As for flip-flops, the sandal’s plastic cousin, these are office-appropriate only if your co-workers don’t mind that you sound like a metronome as you walk.

I’m glad to know that my fear of summer sandal feet is not unfound.

We served a special 7-course tasting menu at SK tonight for some really special guests. L had been planning for the menu for the past week and she put me in charge of the intermezzo (palate cleanser) and the dessert course. The finally version of the menu came out very nicely and everyone was pleased with the result. For the intermezzo, I made

Lemongrass Sorbet: a very refreshing sorbet made with syrup infused with lemongrass, mint, lime zest, and lime juice.

For the dessert course, since I anticipated the diners to be quite full, I opted for a very light dessert of

Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta with Mango Gelee: a shotglass of creme fraiche panna cotta layered with mango gelee. Served with tropical fruit compote in phyllo cup and mango pineapple sorbet

I liked the slight tangiess of the creme fraiche panna cotta from the June dessert menu which was why I used the same recipe again but decided to pair it with tropic flavours instead. I wished the texture of the mango gelee to be more lightly set but I think the fruitiness of the mango really shined. The phyllo pastry cups were tedious to make but I was surprised that none of them broke by the time I delivered them to the restaurant. The flavour of the sorbet was great and offered some temperature contrast to the dessert.

The total time taken from design to execution was only half a day, much less than I originally expected. Best of all, I got some very positive feedback from the guests. Mission accomplished!

Technorati: dessert, Linda

As much as I hate to admit, atmosphere and a beautiful surrounding play a large part in making a truly memorable meal. Having just came back from a garden party hosted by La Chaine Des Rotisseurs, I would like to recount my experience along with another meal in an equally picturesque setting.

One of my most memorable meal was an alfresco lunch at the Orangerie of the Chateau de Chenonceau in Loire Valley, France. It was the first full day that A and I spent in France after a hectic week in UK. What’s better than a leisurely driving trip in the garden of France visiting castles on a beautiful sunny spring day? After exploring our ways about the castle, we strolled to the Orangerie without realizing that it is a restaurant until we saw the menus posted in front of the gates. The prix-fixe menu was reasonably priced and it was lunch time, so we decided to stop for lunch. When asked whether we want a table indoor or outdoor, we chose to sit indoor until we walked by the lovely outdoor terrace. On one side, the wall of the Orangerie was entirely covered by trellis of lilac in all shades of purple. Under the shades of the building, the terrace was dotted with tables in white demask tablecloths and comfortable chairs. At a closer look, I could see tablesettings that were gleaming with wine glasses and silverware embossed with the crest of the chateau. We changed our minds quickly and were seated at one of the tables on the terrace. I honestly don’t remember much details on the dishes that we had (rillet, pate, fried goat cheese, apple tart) but when I close my eyes, I can almost feel the breeze, the chirping of the birds, and the fragrance of the lilac as if I’m sitting at the restaurant right now. That one and a half hour lunch was simply magical.

I didn’t know what to expect when I was invited to dinner at the Toronto Hunt. All I knew was that the Toronto chapter of La Chaine Des Rotisseurs (an exclusive group of gourmets) hosts monthly formal dinners for their members to get together. I didn’t even know that Toronto Hunt is a private golf club located at the scenic Scarborough Bluffs. As our car drove through the winding birch-lined path leading to the clubhouse, I was a little apprehensive. Dinner inside a fancy clubhouse is nothing special unless the food is spectacular. However, as soon as the maitre d’ showed us to the garden, I knew that it would be a special evening. I found myself in the middle of lush lawn. Behind me was the warm glowing light of the clubhouse. To my right, I could see more birch trees leading to the greens with an elegant trellis marking the border of the garden. To my front and left, I was greeted with a spectacular view of Lake Ontario where the lawn ends and sloped into a cliff. While we enjoyed glasses of sparkling wine with hors d’oeuvre, I saw the table that was set for dinner and I couldn’t help but smile in joy. Under three dark green canopies was a long table covered in white tablecloth. The table was filled to the bream with flower arrangements, candle lights, silverware, wine glasses, and of course, the menu of the evening. When the maitre d’ rung the dinner bell, guests filled the table and all of us eagerly read the menu. Although I expected to be completely occupied by the food and wine, I found myself enjoying the sunset as courses of the meal progressed. I noticed the sailing boats floating across the lake and the sparkly lights further down the shoreline. It was such a picturesque setting for an alfresco meal on this June evening.

In a publicity stunt, Snapple’s attempt at erecting the largest popsicle in NYC has gone horribly wrong. What an idiotic idea!

Having dined at some really fine restaurants over the past year from Japan to France to Canada, I begin to wonder what makes a meal memorable. Thinking back on some of my most memorable meals, I realize that although delicious food is important, it is not the deciding factor at all. I’m going to start chronicling some of my most memorable meals. Perhaps I’ll begin to see a pattern that may answer my question.

Are you in any one of them? Did you share this experience with me?

Okay, I’m quite shaken today because I got into a minor car accident on my way to softball game. I was in a traffic jam inching forward toward a major intersection nearby my office. It was bumper to bumper traffic and there were enough room for my car and more after a set of traffic lights. I drove forward and noticed that the mini van behind me followed me closely but there were enough room for it too. After we both came to a complete stop, my car lunged forward after a loud bang. That could only mean the van slipped and hit my car. Swearing under my breath, I pulled my car over the curb and the van did the same. Cars were flying by me and I couldn’t get out from the driver side even if I wanted to. So I climbed out from the passenger side and examined my car’s bumper. Fortunately, no scratches, no dents, and everything’s intact. The lady in the van didn’t even bother to come out. I looked inside her car and she said "my foot slipped" and I replied with "apparently!". Gee, of course her foot slipped! I mean, she couldn’t possibly decide to stomp on the gas pedal and hit me for fun?!

I asked her if she wanted to check her car too but she declined. I checked my car a bit more and decided there’s really no harm done. I’ve been in a similar accident before years ago and considering that both cars were at a complete stop, I know that the chance of much damage is low. I drove away quite shaken and noticed a rash developing on my right forearm. Now I’m sure that stress can really affect the body.

I used to use Calvin Klein’s Contradiction fragrance a few years ago. For reasons that I can no longer remember, I switched to Ralph, a much younger and in-your-face kind of scent. Although I still have a soft spot for Contradiction, I haven’t gotten another bottle until today. I was grocery shopping in one of those new mega stores and was drawn to the self-served fragrance counter. Apparently, they are having a big sale and there were some really great deals to be had. Normally, eau de parfume is not discounted. Rather, stores like to throw in matching body lotions for (almost) free and sell them as a gift set during holiday seasons. I’m not a fan of fragrant body lotions because I usually find them not moisturizing enough and the note is slightly off compared with the eau de toilette. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find a bottle of 100mL Contradiction on sale for $49.99 (regular price $74.99). After a quick google, I’m left wondering if this fragrance has been discontinued…no matter, because I think this large bottle will last me for a very long time.

I think I’m finally getting the hang of working efficiently for the monthly dessert night at SK. I didn’t start planning for this month’s desserts until three days before the event but I finished all the preparation early. In fact, so early that I even made a batch of mini cupcakes (complete with strawberry and pistachio buttercream) for J’s birthday and dropped by his party on Saturday afternoon. The menu this month was:

Poached Pear with Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta: bosc pears poached in spice-infused ruby port wine. Served with creme fraiche panna cotta, almond financier, and candied ginger.

Coconut Tapioca Dessert Soup with Tarragon Strawberries: creamy coconut tapioca dessert soup is served with strawberries macerated with tarragon and a quenelle of strawberry sorbet.

I was particularly fond of the panna cotta because the addition of creme fraiche contributed a pleasantly tangy taste. Furthermore, the creamy texture played well against the fragrant poached pear.

I was surprise to see E at SK on Saturday. We were classmates in the C&O program back in university and apparently he came to SK on the recommendation of a couple of my coworkers! Small world, isn’t it?

As expected, I receive a new batch of injuries from the softball game today. While warming up, I was doing quite well with catching the ball. Who would’ve known that my brother’s old glove is so much better? Unfortunately, one miss catch and the ball landed smack on my forehead. During the game, I was running full speed toward third base. The diamond was more slippery than usual because of the rain and of course, I slipped and fell forward as I was about two feet from the base. I landed on my left knee heavily. Although there’s no scratches (told ya it’s a little muddy), my knee swelt up quite nicely when I got home.

I hope the bruise on my forehead goes away soon. It looks so embarrassing.

You know the Diane Von Furstenberg signature wrap dress? Although I’ve heard many times how flattering this silhouette looks and how versatile it is (worn alone or over skinny pants or jeans), I’ve always been skeptical. I’ve always been self-concious of my upper body and I suspect that the wrap dress would only emphasize what I don’t like. Last week, for no apparent reasons, I finally tried one on. It was one of those moments when I realized I’ve been wrong all these years. A bit too lazy to take off my espadrilles sandals, I tried the dress on over my jeans. The line of the dress combined with the skinny jeans and sandals truly gave an illusion of a more elongate and slim body. Wow.

Unfortunately, a true Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress is a bit of a pricy purchase. I’m sure I’ll get one someday but until then, I’ll keep my eyes out for a good knock-off.