Sometimes you just crave the classics - chocolate pudding, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, brownies, chocolate chip cookies - just good old fashioned classic chocolate desserts! What if you could take these classic desserts and elevate them to a higher level. Do you think that would make us guilty of chocolate idolatry? Possibly, but more importantly it would elevate your baking skills and make your dinner parties much more intriguing.
If you have ever considered experimenting with a classic dessert recipe now would be a good time. Scharffen Berger Chocolate has just kicked off its Elevate a Classic Dessert contest. With the grand prize weighing in at a sweet $10,000, second place at a savory $7,000 and third place at a delicious $3,000 - elevating a classic dessert could elevate your bank account!
So what does it mean to elevate a dessert? I was clueless about this process until I attended the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker event at New York’s International Culinary Institute in Soho. Celebrity chefs, Johnny Iuzzini of Top Chef Just Desserts fame and Elizabeth Falkner from the series Iron Chef were in attendance to demonstrate the delicious process of dessert elevations. After mingling over chocolate infused cocktails and an assortment of sweet and savory chocolate creations, we were divided into groups to work with the chefs. I was in Johnny’s group and our task was to elevate the very classic chocolate pudding. When I make chocolate pudding I typically tear open a box, dump it in a bowl and mix it with the designated amount of milk. Johnny does not do this. Instead we worked as a group to bring to life Johnny’s recipe for Scharffen Berger Chocolate Pudding with Passion Fruit Gelee, Whipped Chocolate Crème Fraiche and Cacao Nibs - you cannot find that in a box. Elizabeth’s group made her recipe for Chocolate Gelato Sundaes with Chocolate Cake Crumbles and Marshmallow Crème - yum!
As you can see, both Johnny and Elizabeth began with a classic chocolate dessert and elevated it to a spectacularly delicious level! Do you think you can do this too? If so, check out the contest rules at Scharffen Berger’s website and start creating. Entries must be postmarked by January 2, 2012 and received by January 15, 2012. Winners will be announced in March 2012. And, of course, if you need someone to sample your chocolate creations, please feel free to send them to your favorite chocolate examiner.
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