The Latest Trends in Fancy Desserts
By Carole JaceWant to ensure that your dessert party or the last course of your celebration menu reflects the latest "what's-hot" trend? Make a simple request of your caterer or restauranteur: "Tiny desserts, please!"
Recently, the National Restaurant Association surveyed more than 1,000 chefs about the hottest menu trends in the U.S. today. The overwhelming winner: Bite-sized desserts. A full 85% of chefs rated delectable mini-sweets as "Hot."
Within the dessert category, the runners-up were: sorbet/gelato (named by 59% of chefs as "hot"); chocolate desserts (58); fresh fruits (55); and ice cream (41).
Interestingly, while fresh fruit still ranks among the most popular overall dessert choices, some fruits make today's A-list, while others have been relegated to has-been status. The fruits du jour: pomegranates (63); followed by figs (55); mango (53); passion fruit (48); and papaya (46).
And on the "so-yesterday" fruit list: star fruit (named by 65% of chefs as passé); kiwi (63); cantaloupe (47); and grapes (44).
To accompany your tiny cheesecakes, or decadent chocolate swirled in shot glasses and topped with just a touch of whipped cream, offer your guests espresso and/or specialty coffees. The tea craze notwithstanding, roughly 71% of the chefs rated these coffees the "hottest" hot beverages.
Here's an assortment of Gourmet Dessert Gifts that you might be interested in trying.
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