A WEEK OF DECADENCE, GLUTTONY & ABANDONMENT OF GUILT

DECADENCE

Unapologetically I am on a binge of all naughty things.   

Having lived a full stretch of 30 odd years of non-indulgence, abstaining from all  irresponsible matters in life, I now have a change of attitude.

Today could be my last day on earth  –  a flimsy stretch I know, but I do recall I had this very similar thought as a young virgin of 16 - indeed a feeble excuse  - nonetheless effective when used to absolve any guilt.

Now that virginity is no longer an issue, the next best thing besides sex has to be glorious sweet desserts that melt in the mouth. Such suggested pleasure can raise the level of serotonin to its max, jack up the sugar levels in the bloodstream and cause reckless havoc to the digestive system

But heck, this could be my last day.  So lets get to it.

The binge is on desserts – nothing else but desserts for the next seven days.  So we start with the best from the best.

The French:

La Croquembouche.

As a child, La Croquembouche  at our table was a center piece, never being allowed to dismantle it, I choose this for the very reason that I can devour this from the top of its conical shape to the bottom.   It is  a French dessert made by stacking cream puffs and cementing them together with a toffee.  Created by French pastry chef Antoine Careme in the late 1700’s  the dessert is typically ornamented with sugared almonds, and is designed to be displayed as the centerpiece of a table.   It is a French wedding cake, used also at Christenings.  

ENGLISH  Treacle Pudding with custard

A treacle sponge pudding is a traditional British dessert dish consisting of a steamed sponge cake with golden syrup cooked on top of it.  It was served mostly on a Sunday night in winter.  My own pudding was usually swimming in hot custard, much to the raised eyebrows of those in charge of me for I was still in single digits under the care of nannies.

THE  AMERICANS:  Pecan Pie  and the delicious Brownie

(because they are such a large continent, I'm allowing two desserts from them)

My first taste of Pecan Pie was made by a neighbor called Jesse.   Her husband busy in the jungles of Vietnam during those long days of the war, would bake these delicious treats.  They were soft and fudge-like molasses at the bottom and crunchy pecans at the top.  Unseen before were the American invention of aerated canned whipped cream swooshed onto the warm pie was just pure decadence.  Made primarily of maple syrup or molasses and pecan nuts, it is a specialty of Southern US cuisine.

I was initiated into the Chocolate Brownie world in the early days of the Vietnam War which included the virgin and non-virgin Brownie.   Those non-virgin ones would give great psychedelic visions and eaten indulgently would bring ecstatic euphoria. The real delicacy requested by Bertha Palmer owner of the Palmer House Hotel for  ladies attending a Chicago Fair.  The instructions were very specific, smaller than a piece of cake though retaining a cake-like characteristics and easily eaten from boxed lunches.

   

ARGENTINA:  Dulce des Leche

Classed as the most seductive and enticing dessert – I am known to say yes to all suggestions when presented with this creamy concoction.  Eaten alone perhaps is too indulgent but I have been known to devour a spoonful of Leche and then sip a gulp of expresso to follow – cannot tell you how decadent and wayward it felt. But it is just as sumptuous swirled on top of cakes, ice cream.   

THAILAND:    Fak Thong  and Kaotum pad   

These are childhood favorites.  Fak Thong, the name is rather suggestive, but it is really an innocent steamed pumpkin with a coconut custard.  Cut into wedges, the sweet taste of pumpkin goes well with the rich flavor of coconut custard made with palm sugar.

Kaotum Pad is Sweet Banana rice parcels steamed in banana leaves.  Found in most markets, it has now moved up in the world to major super markets and  luxurious hotel buffets. 

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE :    Lokhum

I can commit murder for a taste of Rosewater Lokhum or Pistascho Lokhum.   A delicacy found in Istanbul or Athens.   Chewy, sweet, fragrant and liberally dusted with icing sugar, I defy anyone to deny themselves of this very addictive morsel.   This Turkish Delight would be my weapon to unlock any resistance, tempting my would be victim to succumb to my needs.    

This is a dessert to try before you die.