The sweetest air
There are certain foods I am not a huge fan of eating, yet I still appreciate them as an art form because of the skill involved in their creation. Macarons are an example of this (a shocking admission, isn’t it?), as are souffles.
At one place I worked, we made our souffles a la minute. An order would come in, and we would start whipping the egg whites by hand, adding the sugar slowly, then finally incorporating the resulting meringue into a fruit flavoured base. Quantities were ‘eye-balled’, rather than measured, so it was very crucial to make sure you tasted everything before sliding the little perfectly shiny copper pot filled with souffle mix into the hot oven. No matter how many I may have made, I still got great pleasure from seeing the well risen end product swiftly dispatched by the waiter to the dining room.
The most memorable souffle I have ever eaten, was one served to us at Claude’s several years ago. Six of the most perfectly risen souffles arrived simultaneously at the table. We were instructed to make an indent in our souffles with a spoon, though which a waiter then poured a gloriously boozy custard. I ate -every- single last spoonful of it. It was wonderful and warming, and a tremendous way to end a meal.
A good friend recently asked me for help in finding some suitable non-fruit based souffle recipes that she could use. I tried two, which with a bit of luck, ended up being very successful. Both souffles had great lift, were very stable, and were cooked just the way I prefer souffles to be – set around the outside, with a melting texture in the middle.
No recipe today, as I just wanted to share some pictures. It was my first time baking souffles at home, so I was keen to try my hand at photographing them too. The pictures turned out fairly well, even if the whole process was a combination of being a little frantic and hilarious at the same time. And you know what, I tasted them, and think I may be a fan of “certain” souffles after all!
Tags: brandy, chocolate, dried fruit, gluten free, souffle, vanilla
Fig and Cherry said,
April 14, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
Great photos! I love the aerial shot with the nice sharpness of the icing sugar and the rustic feel of the tray. Nice styling 🙂
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said,
April 14, 2010 @ 6:45 pm
That last pic is gorgeous! I’m not a huge souffle lover-I think we’ve both discussed souffles 😛
Christy said,
April 15, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
I’m loving that last photo very much!! I’m guessing….baking tray? The oil/burn stains look very rustic at that angle. I love the contrast of the sleek souffle and chocolate sauce against the ‘rough’ backdrop of the tray!! It’s very effective, and one of my faves of yours so far.
Can’t imagine having to eyeball baking. Ever. It’s like baking suicide. It’s like I’ll be on a downward spiral towards baking depression because my souffle will never rise beautifully. But then again, I’m not the superstar pastry chef who dispenses baking advice via Twitter 😉
PS. I think we’ve agreed on our indifference towards macarons on more than one occasion so I’ll leave it as it is….
Helene said,
April 15, 2010 @ 11:13 pm
Your pictures turned out perfect – are you kidding?!! Such an incredibly tough subject to shoot and you made it look effortless.
It took me 2 years of making macarons to enjoy them again and it too me another 2 years of being out of the restaurant business to enjoy making souffles for friends again. I totally understand 🙂
You are my rock star!
Arwen from Hoglet K said,
April 16, 2010 @ 2:51 am
They look gloriously molten – I’d love to lick that spoon!
Sophie said,
April 16, 2010 @ 3:03 am
Ooh, I love the rustic look of that photo! I have a confession to make, I have never tried a souffle! I am missing out! But I will say that I’ve had macarons and love those :D.
barbara said,
April 16, 2010 @ 6:35 am
These are lovely Y. I love lemon souffle.
Valen said,
April 16, 2010 @ 2:47 pm
Whoa, cool! I have got to try this!
Aliza Shehzad said,
April 16, 2010 @ 4:22 pm
If only I am good at baking 🙂 In my culinary experience, baking is in the top 5 most daunting experience. Love this post, The Pics made me salivating all over my keyboard. Have to convince my hubby to go Max Brenner tonight to get a Chocolate Shot……or Le Soufflé…
Mel said,
April 17, 2010 @ 6:09 am
The chocolate one looks tantalizing; I would love to see the recipe for it!
Hannah said,
April 17, 2010 @ 7:24 am
So beautiful! I can imagine that amazingly light, fluffy texture through your stunning photos…
diva said,
April 17, 2010 @ 8:53 am
whipping up souffles to order? I bet that must have been pretty stressful but so exciting! This looks so delicious and very much like the first souffle I ever had – a pistachio one with hot chocolate sauce poured down the middle. Lush!
elra said,
April 17, 2010 @ 9:10 am
Oh my, this is simply devine, sinful, and irresistible!
Tara said,
April 17, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
Oh ack, no recipes??? The brandied fruit souffle is calling to me. (And it’s beautiful, by the way. The way the top dips and curves reminds me of the movement of waves.) And of course, boozy custard. How can you go wrong with boozy custard? Thanks for the visual treats!
Amy @ cookbookmaniac said,
April 18, 2010 @ 3:31 am
Oh my goodness. That souffle popping up from the top of the ramekin looks like a happy fat lady. Gorgeous and Yummy! ooooh.
Ellie (Almost Bourdain) said,
April 18, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
I am in chocolate heaven~
Simon @ the heart of food said,
April 18, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
That’s some serious lift with the souffles!
Nice photos. Love the composition. Though, with the over head shot, did you find it hard to stop eating the souffle at the point that you did before taking the photo?
Katherine said,
April 18, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
How did you get it to rise so much. Mine look like dwarfs compared to your beautifully risen souffle. How delicious.
mademoiselle délicieuse said,
April 18, 2010 @ 8:39 pm
Beautiful! I love souffles and have not dared into the territory of cooking them as yet, hence ordering them always when I spy them on a menu.
Big Boys Oven said,
April 19, 2010 @ 10:42 am
lovely souffles! 🙂
ladyironchef - Singapore Food Blog said,
April 19, 2010 @ 12:08 pm
the souffle looks so good! 🙂
Shaheen said,
April 19, 2010 @ 9:19 pm
I tihnk we’re quite alike when it comes to appreciating macarons and souffles! I’d rather just buy it because they’re so tedious. Of course, now that I’m working with a French patisserie and see so many macarons being made everyday, it seems easier than it did earlier.
Yasmin (Almond and the Hazelnut) said,
April 20, 2010 @ 9:12 am
I’m there with you on the souffles… but on a different team when it comes to macaroons 🙂 Love the pics and that rise is just divine… x
Forager said,
April 21, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Wow that is one impressive souffle. That chocolate sauce is calling me..
bake in paris said,
April 22, 2010 @ 4:40 pm
Simply puffed to perfection on your first souffle try. Looks beautiful and scrumptious.
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
Anita said,
April 22, 2010 @ 6:57 pm
Exactly! I don’t think anyone could pass by one of your souffles – they look amazing! I’ll take 6 thanks 🙂
FFichiban said,
April 23, 2010 @ 2:36 pm
Ommgg I want that chocolate souffllleee… 🙁 at no recipe… *drool drool*
lauresophie said,
April 24, 2010 @ 6:38 pm
AMAZING!your soufflé is just perfect! incredible! Brava!
Jamie said,
April 26, 2010 @ 12:38 am
Oh the photos are perfect! Just tremendous! And so are the souffles! I have so been wanting to make soufflés lately and have a list of flavors I want to try and this post has so inspired me.
And I’m not that nuts about macs either (shhh don’t tell) but I do love the challenge of making them. But I do adore a good soufflé!
betty said,
April 27, 2010 @ 10:20 am
ahhhh so sad there is no recipe for these gorgeous fotos! 🙂
Aliza Shehzad of Le' Spice said,
May 30, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
OMG look at the amount of comment this post generated – it speaks for itself. That looks soooooo good…… I am just drooling ……..can’t help it