Which is what makes it such a tragic shame that I haven't had a bite of the stuff in probably close to 15 years. Even worse? This abstinence has been for no real good reason.
Used to be I couldn't get enough of the stuff. My father, when he was working as a plumber, would occasionally get called on a job by the one of the kitchen directors on the QE II who, as a tip for whatever plunging and/or drain-snaking my pops had to do to get his pipes flowing free again, would present him with a completely ridiculous, industrial-kitchen size pan of frozen tiramisu. Which I would systematically devour over the course of a week. So happy, so full of lady fingers.
Maybe I burned myself out. Maybe I overdid it at some point, and had to walk away from the stuff for a while. Maybe I had finally, after the 45th serving of delicious frozen cruise-ship tiramisu, had my fill.
Whatever happened, it happened. And what was a little break turned into a 15-year hiatus from my all-time favorite dessert. Until last week.
Oh, last week. Oh, the tiramisu. Oh, Maialino.
There it was, right there on the table. The table covered, you'll notice, with various and sundry desserts: lovely little Italian cookies, sweet and cinnamony apple tart, budino di cioccolato (chocolate-croissant bread pudding OMGGGG for real). But the tiramisu, she was the star.
The star of an epic, incredible meal. A meal that included the most unbelievable cavatelli I've ever eaten, and an exceptional salt-baked sea bream. A meal that started with perfectly dressed radicchio and wrapped up with suckling pig and this and that. Who cares. I mean, I care, but WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TIRAMISU HERE.
So yes, I know it's been a while since I've shared a Confident Eater post, but there you have it: My mind has been blown, and my hiatus is more than over. My love affair with tiramisu has been rekindled.Thank you, Maialino. Thank you, Danny Meyer. Thank you, lady fingers.
I feel like my old self again.
Maialino at the Gramercy Park Hotel
2 Lexington Ave between 20th and 21st Sts, New York, NY
212-777-2410, maialinonyc.com
Oh Tiramisu! Memories of Australia, about 17 years ago. First time taking a bite of this hard to pronounce dessert. Oh my...it was so delicious. Yours looks equally so!
ReplyDeletei haven't had tiramisu in years! it's dairy doom for me but if i ever could figure out an alternative to marscapone cheese etc, i would attempt to make this.
ReplyDeleteYou've both got to revisit tiramisu sometime soon! I know it's the most '90s dessert imaginable but so, so worth the nostalgia trip.
ReplyDeleteI am not a huge fan, but then when I make it (or have at Panino Giusto, that makes the best in town) I actually remember how good it can be. Here in Italy tiramisu never goes out of fashion but it is always made the traditional way. I see a lot of variations on blogs that sound fun. So many possibilities. The only one I make these days (and posted about a while back) is my kid friendly version (no booze or coffee) for practical reasons. Otherwise guess who would be eating up the leftovers?
ReplyDelete@Nuts about food Oh my gosh, it never occurred to me that in a mere 19 days I will be up to my eyeballs in tiramisu in Italy. If I'm not careful I might just overdo it again and have to take another 15 years off the stuff!
ReplyDelete@Nuts about food And oh no, there's a Panino Giusto in Rome! Now I know at least one stop I'll be making in that city…
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