Sweet Summer Birthday Part 2

after drinks...comes dessert.

Proceeding our lively chatter and a round of Blood Orange Basil Cocktails, we dressed appropriately and set foot to Gotham Bar and Grill (my old abode). Earlier that morning, I had realized that for the past two years I had celebrated a pre-birthday dinner at Gotham, so it was only fitting that we continue the tradition. However, rather than indulge in a full, multi-course dinner, we opted only for a dessert extravaganza. Quite a sweet symphony...

and extravaganza it was.

Thank you Deborah!

I appologize for the crude photography...a combination of drinks, poor lighting and shared use of my camera resulted in photos that do not give justice to our feast.

warm apricot crisp, goat cheese lavender creme caramel,

vanilla apricot ice cream

My most craved and most perfect dessert is a warm crisp, bursting of ripe, juicy fruits topped with a bountiful amount of buttery, crispy oats. The warm apricots macerated in honey, Reisling and cinnamon were a delight on my tongue, and the goat cheese creme caramel with its sublte hint of lavender was pure silky pleasure. This hit my sweet spot, but it just wasn't my favorite.

s'more with chicory ice cream &

strawberry shortcake, white chocolate mousse,

pistachios, 12 yr. aged balsamic

Each year the S'more makes a seasonal appearance but with a new outfit. Suprisingly, as I am not usually one to fall for chocolate desserts, as well as I was never truly smitten when I was assigned the role of making and plating the S'more, this came a close second to the Souffle. Full of smokey notes and roasted chocolate, the chicory ice cream was a perfect complement for this nostalgic dessert.

I managed to sneak just one bite of the Strawberry Shortcake, but I can assure you that the white chocolate mousse wrapped in a tender vanilla sponge cake and crunchy pistachios will be one of the most luxurious bites of your life. Fresh strawberries serendipitously swimming in a sweet summery syrup (try that for a tongue twister) provided a refreshing and invigorating cleanse.

summer cheesecake, blueberry compote, necatarine sorbet

Unforunately my fork did not even come close to this plate. It was gone before I blinked.

warm brownie sundae, bing cherries, almond ice cream,

sour cherry caramel sauce

Deborah's brownies are the most moist, fudgey and intensely chocolate brownies I have ever tasted. And I will add that these brownies are nothing short of insanity. Brownie cutting days while I worked at Gotham reign, spatulas down, as some of the most anticipated days of my career. I shutter at the thought of how many times I have OD-ed on a pile of those scraps. Nonetheless, sour cherries, warm caramel sauce and almond ice cream can only add intensity to a heavenly bite of chocolate.

roasted fig and red currant tart, marsala sorbet

Visually a stunner with succulent slow roasted figs and ruby red currants that popped on your tongue, I loved it. It's whimsical, yet classy. However, it just lacked the spark that previous years' fig desserts ignited.

red plum souffe, bourbon pecan tart,
sweet corn ice cream

A lover of all things corn, it was this dessert that excited my palate the most. Warm and creamy, with an almost pudding-like texture, the impressively towering souffle (which had since began to deflate) was indefintely the star of this plate. However, garnished gracefully with crispy caramel popcorn and silky sweet corn ice cream perched upon a sticky bourbon pecan tart...this was intoxicating.

pretty petit fours

Both the Roasted Fig and the Souffle were placed in front of me, teasing and tempting my willpower. Deborah sure knows how to woo me...with figs and souffles.

As we were passing plates and sharing bites, I must admit I overlooked the petit fours, which were my favorite part of my old job. But I finally got my sticky fingers on one last chocolate tea cake, and upon consumption managed but two words, “mmmmmm, chocolatey.”

Deborah Racicot's desserts showcase her sophistacted yet approachable style of cooking. She's whimsical and innovative, evoking and playing with our every sense; she's comforting and traditional, staying true to Gotham's style and diner's desires. Her desserts provide for an intoxicating experience that left us giddy.

Giddy from wine, perhaps. Giddy with ourselves, yes.

But mostly, giddy from the sensational desserts and the extraordinary hospitality of friends.

See more of the Pastry Princess' dessert recipes!

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