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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

sweets like you never thought exactly just like you thought I think

With a little thinking you can turn something ordinary into something extraordinary and if you think a little harder you can go ahead and hit it right out of the ballpark. Black Star Gourmet sent me some truffle honey and I wanted to use it a little different than I normally would.


Typically I like it with grilled fish and chicken.


But today I wanted to have it as dessert, so I candied some rose petals and nasturtium leaves and I made some sugar ornaments. (lets not forget that I am still using my POS cell phone to take pictures) For the sugar swirls you simply melt some sugar by itself in a small sauce pan until its liquid and then you drizzle it in what ever shape you want, it hardens and its ready.


For the candied flowers you need a little time on your hands, the petals and leaves get brushed with egg white and then dusted with fine sugar and then they are left to dry for anywhere between 4 and 8 hours.


You can make ice cream or you can simply purchase some good quality vanilla ice cream and arrange everything on the plate, drizzle with truffle honey and enjoy.


A nice dry champagne would go great with this.


In fact, pretend like you have already had a few whiskeys and a couple glasses of champagne when you look at these pictures and they will seem just fine.

46 comments:

The Duo Dishes said...

It would be nice to have had a bit of champagne by now. It's never too early, right? Really impressed by the candied flowers. You always go for it!

Marjie said...

Hey, you're working with a cell phone, so that's excuse enough for the pictures not being perfection!

I was going to try to candy some violets, but haven't had the time. It's been a hectic past 2 weeks.

lisa is cooking said...

Truffle honey and ice cream caught my attention! Love the sugar art and candied flowers too. This dessert is fancy in every way.

buffalodick said...

It's a good thing I know you're not gay... fix food, for love of Mike!!

snugs said...

uhm, the pictures are great, but I am just sensing you are really in touch with your feminine side today...you really sat there and made candy flowers??? At least tell me it was a scholl project for the pup or something...

Christo Gonzales said...

let me clear up this whole "candied flowers" mystery - there are two ways to do it - you sit there and paint the egg white on the flower and then gently dust them with sugar or you do what I did and you plop the whole bunch in a bowl of egg whites - swish it around and then drop them in a paper bag with sugar and shake, believe me I find the construction worker way to do everything.

Donna-FFW said...

You make me smile with these thoughts and actions!

Donna-FFW said...

LOL at BD

lishapisa said...

this dish is perfect for the warm weather coming... the chilled cream with the brittle of the truffle honey ... and the sweet petals...what a nice lovely emotional plate..gonna get my drink now...

Girl Foodie said...

So so clever and inspiring! Not to mention pretty!

Vickie said...

Well aren't you a surprise. I like unusual food and I'm loving the whole idea of candied petals and leaves - didn't even know you could eat the leaves. I really want a taste of truffle honey drizzled on ice cream.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

Don't listen to buffalodick, I love the idea of making restaurant quality at home... A GREAT post

LaDivaCucina said...

Very pretty. I had sugared pansies on my wedding cake, I like old fashioned things like that. Or should I say "timeless?" Beautiful!

Are you participating in the Caribbean throwdown for Friday?

Christina said...

The grill marks on that chicken are making me drool!!!

Also, your truffle ornaments are beautiful!

Jeannie said...

Lovely candied flowers...I like the way you did too, saves lots of time! Nice creations on the icecream, sugar and all. Not bad pictures considering they all came out from a cellphone camera:D

Ciao Chow Linda said...

It's nice to see a man doing something so light and lovely and not being weird about telling people- even if you did the flowers the "construction guy way."

Harmony said...

Even with a POS cell phone..you still manage to make food look beautiful!

I wonder if the truffle honey would be good on ribs...

chow and chatter said...

wow amazing you are such a talent wish the pics are pretty good but i hope they send you a new camera as this creation is so good you need to save it !!

teresa said...

fun! they turned out really pretty!

Jenn said...

Oooo....I want to try making some candies petals. I think you've just given me an idea...of which I'd have to implement when I get back from my trip. :)

Barbara said...

Your cellphone's doing a super job!
Really some super ideas here for garnishing desserts. And I agree, presentation is important and it's something food bloggers think about a lot.

Rick said...

Oooooo pretty.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

The sugar swirls are gorgeous and even sounded easy. And truffle honey - my, my. Very impressive post today. No one would know that you're using your cell phone for photos you know. You have that certain "je ne sais quoi" with photos that turns them into a silk purse.
Sam

pinknest said...

Fancy! Love the flowers.

Anonymous said...

Ha - had to laugh at the last line! :D

RamblingTart said...

Even with just a cell phone, your colors and artistry are splendid. Those colors delight me!!

Angie's Recipes said...

Nice candy flowers...don't worry about your cell phone pictures...they aren't as bad as you might have thought.

buffalodick said...

I don't think Griller knows we're buds... I just think he thinks I'm a slob cook...too bad.

Deana Sidney said...

I like these pictures.. they remind me of Niki de Saint Phalle... Paris...the Louvre.... well it's a cool dessert!

Reeni said...

I could go for some of this fancied up ice cream right now! What a treat!

Sippity Sup said...

Okay, you are taking this styling to a whole other level. But the real question is where in Manhattan do you get natsurtium leaves. Here they are a weed, but NY they must be rare, no? GREG

Joanne said...

Who says I HAVEN'T had a few glasses of whiskey? (yes I realize it is 7AM but you gotta do what you gotta do). I love that you candied your own flowers. I'm adding that to my list of crazy things to do with food this summer.

Velva said...

Holy cow! This is impressive. I love it.

Lea Ann said...

I cannot imagine how wonderful all that would look with your real camera. I don't think I've ever heard of candied flowers...Doggieblog, you never cease to impress. And I just noticed Buffalo Dick's comment...LOL

snowelf said...

I love how you ended this post. :)

I'm not sure how I feel about eating flower petals, but those look incredibly neat! Very artistic!!

--snow

Anonymous said...

I suck compared to you. Just post your dish tomorrow on your blog and I will come over and see your dish. The results will be monday as I will judge over the weekend.

Juliana said...

Oh! The candied flowers look awesome...love it!

Heff said...

Looks excellent. Too artsy to eat !

urban vegan said...

Amazing ideas!

vanillasugarblog said...

so you were able to form the candied sugar into a fish. did you catch that? awesome

foodcreate said...

So so Awesome and delicious ! Not to mention fabulous ...

Jamie said...

Truffle honey? Wow! They sell everything else truffle at our market but truffle honey? Wow! Have to look for it! And I want to make pretty decorations, too!

Anonymous said...

when when when when when are you going to open up your restaurant? really when? debby in sac

MaryMoh said...

This is very creative and inspiring. It must be lots of fun. I would love to try this.

C.G. the Foodie said...

Drinking some bubbly as I read this and wishing I had it sitting in front of me. Yum!

OysterCulture said...

What beautiful and tasty treatment of the ingredient. I'd have been happy with the chicken but you took it to a new level.

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