by partysugar 5

On February 12, 1935 Auguste Escoffier died. Auguste Escoffier was a celebrated French chef during his time and helped to modernize traditional French cooking techniques. He adapted and simplified haute cuisine, recorded and invented hundreds of recipes, and organized the way a kitchen is run. Before Escoffier, chefs were known for brutal drunken rudeness, but he single handedly elevated the profession of chef to that of a respected position. Escoffier helped open the famed Hotel Ritz in Paris where he introduced the a la carte menu. and was consider the "Emperor of Chefs." In homage to Escoffier and his great presence in the culinary world, I have found a recipe for one of his creations: peach melba, so read more

Peach Melba
From Auguste Escoffier

2/3 cup sugar
2 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
4 fresh ripe peaches*
2 cups fresh raspberry puree*
4 scoops vanilla ice cream

1. Place sugar, water, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a large saucepan and bring to the boil.
2. Immerse peaches in boiling liquid, turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Then carefully remove peaches.
3. Cool for several minutes before peeling the peach skin from the flesh with a small sharp knife.
4. Place one scoop of vanilla ice cream into the center of a chilled plate. With the back of the ice cream scoop, press into center of the ball of ice cream to make a hollow in which to set the peach.
5. Pour a small amount of raspberry puree over the peach and serve immediately.