#933 Tiramisu

According to BestTiramisu.com tiramisu is an Italian dessert made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, and occasionally marsala wine or rum or some other form of alcohol. It is layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone cheese, making a cake of several layers. Finally tiramisu is topped with unsweetened cocoa powder…basically.

Why do I say ‘basically’? Because there really seems to be no set way to make tiramisu. There are the basic ingredients, or not. Use them if you want to or not seems to be the consensus. However you prepare it or enjoy it is up to you. Whatever makes you smile…

As Chef Dennis Littley reminds us, there is no ‘right’ way to prepare tiramisu. In his tiramisu recipe Chef Dennis writes, “The cream would also make very nice individual servings in dessert glasses, with or with out the ladyfingers. Feel free to use any cookie in the bottom of the glass, or serve it with a lady finger as a garnish.”

I have seen tiramisu served in a glass and in a coffee mug as well as the ‘traditional’ plate. I even had green tea tiramisu at a Japanese restaurant in Las Vegas once. But you do not need to go out to have tiramisu. There are a plethora of recipes you can try out for yourself.

As there are many versions of the dessert there are as well several versions of the origin of tiramisu. Some would say tiramisu was created it in honor of Cosimo III de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (14 August 1642 – 31 October 1723) on the occasion of his visit to Siena, Italy. Personally I believe Chef Carminantonio Iannaccone invented tiramisu in, get this, 1969 at his restaurant called Piedigrotta in Treviso, Italy. Other chefs took his idea and made their own versions and the rest is history. Or maybe it really was Cosimo who took the recipe for tiramisu back to Florence from his trip to Siena, served it to English intellectuals and artists who lived or visited there who in turn sent the recipe to England. Eventually tiramisu found its way to San Fransisco and spread from there. Oh I dunno which to believe really.

One thing I do believe is tiramisu always makes me smile. Why does tiramisu make me smile? Because it is delicious! It is one of the most amazing desserts you can taste when prepared well. Sure, chocolate mousse is good but let’s be honest. Tiramisu is better. Plus the translation of tiramisu from Italian means “pick-me-up” (metaphorically, “make me happy”). I think this may refer to the caffeine in the espresso and cocoa used in the recipe. Anytime you can combine chocolate and coffee is a winner in my book.

Have you had this magical dessert yet? Tell us about it in the comments. Would love to hear from you.