Normally, the thought of a raw bean brings the image of a hard, small seed that is flavorless to the palate and essentially unappealing to the eye. But in the case of the vanilla bean, the dark, wrinkled skin of the long, thin pod is the exact opposite in appearance and taste. While an exciting… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Simple Magnificence: The Cacao Bean
Known as the “food of the gods” with a noted history of being fit only for royal consumption, the cacao bean is perhaps the most revered and treasured bean of all. The cacao bean’s early history includes serving as a common currency as well as a restorative, mood-enhancing cure-all by the ancient Mesoamerican Mayan civilization,… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Chocolate Architecture
Sublime curves, brilliant, eye-popping colors, artisan-crafted elements that defy the logics of physics – all of these and more are among the elements of well-crafted chocolate sculptures. Chocolate architecture is as popular as ever today, and it is finding its way into everything from simple cake adornments to complex structures presented at the most trendy… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Lavender: It’s More Than Just a Pretty Color
To many people, lavender represents the delicate color of light purple, and its scent can evoke thoughts of a warm summer evening breeze and colorful fields of wildflowers. Whatever the thought may be, the sweet-scented flowering plant of the mint family has much more to offer than warm thoughts and pretty visuals. The Lavandula plant… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Herbal Infusions: Interesting and Innovative Flavor Development
Heating up the culinary charts as a major trend the last few years is herb infusion. Known to enhance savory dishes and add appeal to desserts, unique and exotic flavor creations are being found in restaurants and cafés across the United States by simply adding a little herb. Best defined as “extracting flavor from a… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Amarena Cherries: The Pinnacle of Fruit Luxury
Highly sought-after by chefs and connoisseurs of all kinds, the amarena cherry is the pinnacle of fruit luxury, lending itself to a wide array of desirable culinary dishes. Not to be confused with your typical cherry or the popular maraschino cherry, the amarena cherry is molecular gastronomy at its finest, resulting in the transformation of… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Pop Art: Get a Grip on Portable Profits
Recipes by Frederic Monti, Photos by Jeannette Pantani Whether you call them suckers, pops, lollys or lollipops, one thing is for sure – candy on a stick is a neat treat! While we all know that kids love candy, it may come as a surprise that 75 percent of adults in the United States reportedly… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Dress Your Gelato to the Nines and Increase Store Traffic
A store’s window display can make all the difference to someone walking past, urging them to walk in and experience all the store has to offer. Seasonally decorated gelato has the same alluring effect. Be it Easter, Mother’s Day or the 4th of July, gelato decorated to the nines for that month’s festive holiday inevitably… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Limoncello: Fine Italian Citrus with a Kick
Eureka is not only a well-known term proclaiming the triumph of discovery, it’s also a type of supermarket lemon used to create the famously delicious Italian liqueur, limoncello. The extraordinary spirit of lemon oil, water, sugar and vodka was invented about 100 years ago in Southern Italy, along the Amalfi coast. It is said to… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Because Small Is Huge
The Current Trends in the Pastry World Less is more. A little bit goes a long way. Big things come in small packages. These phrases are a bit cliché, when it comes to mono-portion desserts, they are nothing but the truth. A mono-portion, or mini dessert, is an individual-sized treat that is usually no bigger… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Blood Oranges: Not Your Typical Citrus Fruit
The word mutation could possibly beget thoughts of deformity or bizarre appearances, but in the case of the blood orange, mutation resulted in a new, flavorful member of the citrus family. The blood orange is a unique citrus fruit that has a multitude of health benefits and can be utilized in a variety of culinary… Read more »
What’s Blooming: Rated M for Mature – Alcohol-Infused Gelato
Peanut butter and jelly. Pancakes and syrup. Alcohol and gelato? Absolutely! In recent years, gelato has greatly increased in popularity among the American public. Gelato’s palate appeal and wide spectrum of flavors have already proven to be vastly impressive to consumers, and the evolution of gelato enjoyment continues to dazzle with the infusion of alcohol…. Read more »
What’s Blooming: The Guava: A Tropical Wonder
Most health experts recommend eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. For most, common fruits such as apples, oranges and bananas come to mind. While these fruits certainly contain nutrients that are beneficial to overall health, tropical “superfruits,” like guava, can be an exotic taste alternative. Guavas are packed… Read more »
What’s Blooming: A Pomegranate a Day
What is so super about the pomegranate – a superfruit that is turning up everywhere? A lot, but let’s start with the basics. The name “pomegranate” derives from Latin origins, as a combination of pomum (apple) and granatus (seeded). Native to Middle Eastern regions, the pomegranate is now widely cultivated around the world and was… Read more »