Gettin’ fizzy with it.
While out running today, I caught a glimpse of the perfect wisp of a cloud. It trailed like the fabric of a dress and hung in the sky, glowing with the orange of a setting sun. I can’t adequately express the emotions I felt when I saw this cloud, but it made me think that one day I would like to create a dessert that could elicit a similar reaction.
In the meantime, I have this strawberry dessert that seems to be missing a certain something, though I can’t decide what it is. It has strawberries, marinated in a little sugar, rhubarb strips lightly cooked in gingerbeer, gingerbeer jelly, some frosted pistachios, coconut snow and a scoop of lychee sorbet. It is light and refreshing with a faint hint of ginger from the jelly, which ties all the elements together. Yet, something in the back of my mind tells me that it’s incomplete.
Maybe it’s just a symptom of this general disatisfaction I’m feeling at the moment. There are currently aspects of my life that concern me but thankfully there are also certain people around I can talk to or have a laugh with, which enables me to stand back for a moment and think (with a little humour), How on earth did I get myself into this situation?
I was reminded of it when I read Helen’s recent post, and while my concerns pale in comparison to hers, I feel as though I can relate. So, I’m dedicating this post to her with hope that it will brighten up her day a little.
Tags: coconut, gingerbeer, marshmallow, petit fours, plated dessert, rhubarb, strawberry
Anh said,
June 14, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
I cannot compliment you more on your search for perfection. The dessert looks good to me. And I am happy to do the taste testing 😉
Zita said,
June 14, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
Very…very pretty, I can almost taste the lychee sorbet melting in my mouth 🙂
Manggy said,
June 14, 2009 @ 10:57 pm
Maybe it *is* just general dissatisfaction– I reckon you should let others do the judging/ tasting, hehe 😉 I’m sorry for the irritation, but I am glad you do have people around you who support you. DM me anytime if you like 😉
Christie, Fig and Cherry said,
June 14, 2009 @ 11:25 pm
Stunning combination of flavours! Hopefully life sorts itself out shortly! 🙂
maybelles mom said,
June 15, 2009 @ 12:57 am
It looks lovely. Could you try a little pink peppercorn? or a little sea salt?
Shellyfish said,
June 15, 2009 @ 1:23 am
Gingerbeer marshmallows? You’re really amazing! And that feeling of dissatisfaction could be playing tricks on you – this looks just perfect.
erin @ dessert girl said,
June 15, 2009 @ 1:35 am
Gingerbeer marshmallows, rolled in ginger sherbert? Sounds wonderful!!
anna said,
June 15, 2009 @ 2:38 am
That is gorgeous and definitely reminds me of the perfect cloud. Actually, it reminds me more of flying above the clouds in a plane when I was a kid, imagining a whole city of clouds below me.
I am seconding the idea of pink peppercorns – I could see that working. Or perhaps something rosy? It does look pretty much perfect to me but I know the feeling of wanting to tweak, tweak, tweak…
Tartelette said,
June 15, 2009 @ 4:21 am
You just made me get teary eyed 🙂
I am honored to have a friend like you. If I could bundle up all the wonderful thoughts and feelings that have lifted me up these past few weeks…especially your emails. (I hope I am doing a reciprocal good job at listening to your work woes).
This is exactly the kind of dessert I would dive into to feel tons better! Strawberries, gingerbeer, rhubard….Hello world!
Thip said,
June 15, 2009 @ 5:25 am
Goon looking one! Y. I like the the flavor combo.
Steph said,
June 15, 2009 @ 7:20 am
You really need those people in your life who help you step back and get a different perspective. It could just be a general dissatisfaction rather than the dessert itself (I can definitely relate to this feeling), it looks lovely-love the amount of ginger that is in this post. I want ginger sherbert!
clumbsycookie said,
June 15, 2009 @ 8:12 am
I know what your dessert is missing! It’s a spoon so I can eat it! Hope all that concerns you can go away as quicly as I would eat it!
Arwen from Hoglet K said,
June 15, 2009 @ 9:29 am
I love the idea of a dessert like a cloud, and this looks like you’re getting close. I hope your work problems sort themselves out.
cathy x. said,
June 15, 2009 @ 9:49 am
asian cooking is teaching me about balancing flavours and using one to enhance another.. hmmm.. have you tried something vinegary? a few drops of brown rice vinegar reduction loaded with msg perhaps? 😛
Trisha said,
June 15, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Strawberries, lychee, and the faint whisper of ginger – what could be better? This, again, is a precious dessert inspiration.
Food Muse said,
June 15, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
I just made my own home brewed Ginger-Birch Ale (http://web.me.com/mikeahmadi/gastronomy/Gastronomic_Blog/Entries/2009/6/11_Ginger-Birch_Ale.html) and this post totally makes me want to make marshmallows with it! You should try my recipe. Quite tasty!
cakebrain said,
June 15, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
aw…so puurrty! I’ll bet it was delicious!
Howard said,
June 15, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
wow, that looks stunning. You shouldn’t feel too down, I reckon your creations such as this would bring happiness to whoever eats it no matter how they would be feeling before that!
Jude said,
June 15, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
Would love to learn how to make that gingerbeer jelly. Looks fantastic as usual.
FFichiban said,
June 15, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Aww you are such a good friend!
And yum at gingerbeer marshmallows!!
I like looking at clouds too XD but the world so rushed nowadays so don’t get much time to just lie and take time out…
the caked crusader said,
June 15, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
The colours and artistry of this have just blown me away! It’s a stunning array of delights – you just keep getting better!
Ali said,
June 15, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
As soon as I saw this dessert it reminded me of clouds AND then that reminded me of an overwhelming experience I had when looking at clouds through a plane window one day. All this before I even read your post!!!
Y, it is a beautiful creation x
Megan {Feasting on Art} said,
June 15, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
The marshmallows look so delish!! So pretty.
Aida said,
June 15, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
Silver leaf on top of the jelly? Every cloud has a Silver lining – an yours is just gorgeous
Laura said,
June 16, 2009 @ 12:12 am
Gorgeous! Love the composition and the flavor combination.
Good luck with what troubles you, hopefully it will get better soon.
tara said,
June 16, 2009 @ 4:10 am
So summery and pretty, I just can’t get over it. I have been loving ginger with fruit this season, and this is absolute perfection.
Just Cook It said,
June 16, 2009 @ 4:45 am
It looks pretty darn close to being perfect but perhaps it needs some crunch. A ginger tuile biscuit perhaps to add an element of textural contrast
helen said,
June 16, 2009 @ 8:20 am
I second the biscuit idea. When in doubt, add a biscuit.
It sounds like you have a good perspective on things. But keep strong. And remember there are people who admire you and your abilities.
shez said,
June 16, 2009 @ 9:18 am
Oh Y! I do hope things sort themselves out. An oh, your plate of fizz looks like the perfect brightener to any down-day.
Hannah said,
June 17, 2009 @ 1:48 am
Sigh, such a beautiful plated dessert… And that marshmallow is calling to me! A very impressive shot, by the way; All-white is practically impossible for me to shot. That really takes skill.
lisaiscooking said,
June 17, 2009 @ 8:03 am
It looks just gorgeous as it is! The gingerbeer marshmallows look incredible too.
cristina said,
June 17, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
sublime!!
Sophie said,
June 17, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
This looks like perfection! What an excellent dessert,…i bet it tasted fab!
mallory elise said,
June 17, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
oh that’s effing awesome, youre like my proto-type hero. hehe. marshmallows are my thing!!!!!!! i would make them here (brasil) but i cant find corn syrup! ahh!!
AND youre a runner?!? (secret: i started a running blog too, it’s a little slow because i havnt figured out exactly what to post about on a regular basis…but i linked it to the side of my blog. just so you know 🙂
Dimah said,
June 18, 2009 @ 4:41 am
Wow, looks so lovely and fabulous!!
Julia @ Mélanger said,
June 19, 2009 @ 7:09 am
This looks lovely. I wouldn’t know where to start! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said,
June 20, 2009 @ 10:22 am
Looks great! I had a fizzy lemonade dessert at Petrus and loved the unexpected sensation.
Parisbreakfast said,
June 21, 2009 @ 2:07 am
It’s very hard to imagine what could possibly be missing other than my fork…
Just exquisite and so enticing..
Cakelaw said,
June 21, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
Loved the title to this post – fabulous, and so is the dish. Sorry to hear that you are having a restless time at preent – hope things work themselves out soon.
Aran said,
June 23, 2009 @ 2:54 am
Hope you find the answers you need. I can relate to that… maybe something going on with the stars?
Vera said,
June 23, 2009 @ 9:23 am
It looks and sounds just perfect to me!
Caitlin said,
June 23, 2009 @ 10:39 am
Yep, I’m right there with both you and Helen. Something is just missing, a little askew, a little awry. But I must admit, the addition of gingerbeer might just do it for me, even if it didn’t for you 🙂 I hope things start looking up and you get that perfect wispy cloud.
Sophie said,
June 24, 2009 @ 12:04 am
Aww, well it certainly doesn’t look incomplete. It also has that ethereal cloud quality you were trying to capture, it’s beautiful — edible art at its best :). And despite how cliche and cheesy this sounds, every cloud does have its silver lining, remember that when you’re feelin’ blue :D.
Juliana said,
June 26, 2009 @ 11:04 am
This dessert looks heaven…will definitely try it. Great pictures!
deeba said,
June 27, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
What a wonderful gesture for Helen. This dessert is dreamy. I was trying to figure out each exotic element prior to reading your post, which left me ‘gobsmacked’! I go through the same emotions often, though at a much ‘more down the ladder’ level (not anywhere as talented & pro as you are), but generally turn to the hub for the ‘missing’ factor. Often, I don’t like what I hear…LOL!
Zoe said,
June 27, 2009 @ 11:51 pm
lemon thyme?
Forager said,
July 6, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
Gingerbeer marshmallows??! Yum! I adore ginger and the addition of sherbet soudns intriguing – evokes childhood memories of crystallised ginger and sherbet fizzy sticks.
kyle said,
July 13, 2009 @ 10:25 am
Such a tease! Where can I find a recipe for Ginger-beer jelly or Gingerbeer marshmallows????? And coconut snow????? yum-oh!