"The Distinctive Life" presented by the Distinctive Collection

GOURMET CUISINE

are golden cookies topped with confectioners’ sugar that guests will eagerly devour.

explains: “Ad Hoc’s chef de cuisine Dave Cruz created this rich chocolate mousse as a refined homage to the pudding he loved as a child.” And while this dessert looks like you took hours preparing it, from prep to ready- to-serve takes only 30 minutes.

magazine. Naturally, it is the hit of instant espresso that elevates the chocolate cheesecake base. However, it is the topping made from heavy cream, coffee liqueur, powdered sugar, and chocolate shavings and shards that make it a star of any party. MOIST CHOCOLATE- CHERRY STOUT CAKE Do you have guests that are stout connoisseurs? Only the finest should be served at your next upscale dinner party. Martha Stewart Living's chefs agree with this idea wholeheartedly and suggests that hosts “consider this super-dense, super-delicious chocolate cake featuring Guinness and dried cherries.” While Guinness is definitely the star, the molasses, dried cherries, Dutch- press cocoa powder, dark-brown sugar, and surprise hint of sour creammake this recipe shine even before the bittersweet chocolate glaze is added. Every bite is an experience in indulgence – precisely what you want at a sophisticated soiree. CHAMPAGNE-GLAZED STRAWBERRIES While all desserts can be enhanced by pairing them with an excellent bottle of Champagne, no elegant event should be without Food & Wine ’s Champagne-Glazed Strawberries as a dessert option. One of the Magazine’s most popular dinner party dessert ideas, this recipe relies on Zabaglione to make it unforgettable.

TOFFEE TEMPTATION CAKE The name “Toffee Temptation Cake” really says it all. This dinner party dessert idea comes from foodies at Martha Stewart Living . The experts adore this option for elegant celebrations because “this toffee cake layered with melt-in-your- mouth homemade Bourbon Brown-Sugar Buttercream is pure temptation.” The delightfully spiked buttercream can be made in advance for use the same day or stored in a secure container in the refrigerator for up to a week before your big event. However, while the bourbon buttercream can be made days ahead of time, this tantalizing cake looks and tastes like perfection when it is served still slightly warm from the oven. BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Food & Wine editors agree that a sophisticated dinner party is not complete unless you offer indulgent desserts that also look spectacular. Among the magazine editors' favorite dinner party ideas is a bittersweet chocolate mousse served in sophisticated parfait glasses with “giant curls of bittersweet chocolate” for garnish. If the dessert feels both new and nostalgic, there is a good reason. Food & Wine

GOLDEN LEMON ORANGE BARS

Rachael Ray In Season looks forward to rolling out the red carpet every year with dinner party dessert ideas “inspired by the glitzy Governors Ball menu.” Among the editor’s favorite desserts is the Golden Lemon Orange Bar. The added twist of a grated orange peel and orange juice takes this citrus confection to a new level of refinement. According to the magazine, it gives the dessert its signature golden color when blended with perfectly tart lemons. Dust the top with powdered sugar just before serving, and get ready for the compliments. DECADENT CHOCOLATE- ESPRESSO CHEESECAKE Fit for Hollywood royalty, the Decadent Chocolate-Espresso Cheesecake is celebrated by Southern Living and its readers. This dinner party dessert idea offers a little bit of everything; “dessert and coffee all in one slice, this over-the-top cheesecake is a surefire crowd-pleaser,” heralds the

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Volume 10