If you love the fun and creativity of charcuterie boards, you are going to LOVE my Valentine Café Gourmand! This French “little dessert” trend is so easy to pull together, and perfect for a quiet romantic evening with your sweetheart, or easily upscaled for a larger Valentines celebration or Galentine’s Party! Café Gourmand is a dessert plate or tray filled with a selection of pastries and desserts in bite-sized form, typically served with espresso. There’s something so special about a selection of tiny little desserts and sweet treats to nibble on and share! Delicious and fun, and unapologetically decadent and indulgent - and all without a trip to Paris! WHAT IS CAFÉ GOURMAND?Café Gourmand, which can be translated as "gourmet coffee dessert", is a "little dessert" trend that started in Paris and is spreading throughout Europe - the kind of dessert that everybody loves! Café Gourmand consists of a coffee – usually an espresso – plus a selection of pastries and desserts in bite-sized form. If you aren't a coffee lover, this is equally wonderful served with your favorite wine or beverage - the concept is the same! Sometimes served individually, Café Gourmand can also be ordered for a special twosome, or upscaled for a larger gathering. A dessert tray is filled with a variety of tiny pastries, cookies and creamy desserts - a little bit of everything, so that you can taste more than one. There’s usually something chocolate, something with fruit, and usually mini pastries or cookies. Pastry chefs like to play with flavors and hot/cold contrasts, so many times it also comes with a scoop of ice cream or sorbet. WHY IS CAFÉ GOURMAND TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM?Many Parisian bistros, brasseries and restaurants offer this on their menus, featuring a local or the restaurant's specialty, but the ideas are simple and these are so easy to prepare at home too! And because of its small size, you can indulge and not feel guilty! Perfect when you want to relax, sip, nibble and enjoy time with someone special! Turn up the music and light the fire - this is something unique and special to share! CAFÉ GOURMAND IDEAS:Unlike other desserts in Paris, there are no set items that must appear on a Café Gourmand, so it depends on the chef’s creativity. This opens up endless Café Gourmand ideas! Below are some tips for preparing a café gourmand at home: 1. Café Gourmand should be beautiful. There is a composition side to it, ideally with a mix of textures, colors, shapes and small containers. Simple with lots of variety is key! 2. Café Gourmand should also be a pleasure for the taste buds! Ideally, on a Café Gourmand there is a selection of something chocolate, something with fruit, and mini pastries, cakes or cookies, and mousse or something creamy. Silky, decadent, rich and delicious - this is the perfect way to offer a delicious selection! 3. Café Gourmand can also include a scoop of quality ice cream or sorbet to add a touch of lightness and add a cold contrast. CAFÉ GOURMAND VARIATIONS:It’s not just wonderful for Valentines Day – shake things up for all your holiday celebrations and create something unique and different for:
INGREDIENTS:
I USED THESE FOR MY VALENTINE CAFÉ GOURMAND: Valentine Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies French Macarons Chocolate Pots de Crème Fresh Raspberries Raspberry Truffle Brownies Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Raspberry Duet Hearts Chocolate Covered Strawberries Crème Brulee with Fresh Berries Fresh Strawberries Fresh Blueberries Tiramisu Ghirardelli Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Duet Hearts Valentine Scotcheroos Fresh Blackberries YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE OTHER TINY TRADITIONAL FRENCH PASTRIES & DESSERTS: Chocolate Mousse Chocolate Cakes with Crème Anglaise Fondant au Chocolate (warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream or fruit sauce) Petits Fours Mini Crêpes or Crêpes Suzette Caramel Flan Mini Tarte Tatin (flaky caramelized apple tarts) Éclairs Profiteroles au Chocolate (tiny cream puffs with Crème Chantilly & chocolate sauce) Mini Fruit Tarts Mini Pastries Madeleines Financier (French almond tea cakes) Meringue Cookies Mini Cheesecakes HOW I MAKE THIS:
SERVE WITH: Fresh Espresso, Coffee or your favorite chilled Wine YIELD: This was perfect for 6 – but you can make it small enough for 2 or scale up for a larger crowd. RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST CAFÉ GOURMAND:
CAFÉ GOURMAND VARIATIONS: It’s not just wonderful for Valentines Day – shake things up for all your holiday celebrations and create something unique and different for:
Original recipe created & posted February 2023.
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