A BITTER SWEET DELIGHT
Executive pastry chef Florian Couteau at the Rosewood Bangkok recently won
Iron Chef Thailand with a menu that indulged in the sweet side of a broken heart.
Toppling former champion Iron Chef, chef Kai-Thanunya Wilkinson, chef Couteau’s five winning desserts were created under the “Broken Heart” theme, though the “Bitter Sweet” (B360) dessert will be available at Lakorn European Brasserie until March 15. “Bitter Sweet” is caramelised banana topped with rich chocolate sauce, meringue, pistachios and chocolate arrows. It reflects the time when chef Florian left his family and friends in France in 2011 to advance his career in China.
“I chose a Floating Island because it is a typical French dessert. During the show, we put Cupid’s arrow through this dessert, but I’ve not used it now because it’s not so fine dining. This dessert was created in memory of me leaving France with a broken heart for China. Though once I got to China, I fell in love with the country and it brought me happiness. This is why the dessert is named ‘Bitter Sweet’ as it symbolises happiness and sadness.” The meringue, which is like a floating cloud, is made in 10 seconds in the microwave and not steamed. The meringue achieves perfect consistency and can be made a la minute, like on the Iron Chef Thailand show.
Chef Couteau’s signature dessert Paris-Brest (B360) has been a constant at Lakorn European Brasserie and I am a huge fan of it, despite not being a desserts person. A choux pastry made with praline flavoured cream, it was created in 1910 by Louis Durand, pâtissier of Maisons-Laffitte, at the request of Pierre Giffard, to commemorate the Paris–Brest– Paris bicycle race he initiated in 1891. Its circular shape is representative of a wheel. “This is a typical French dessert and it is found in all pastry shops in France. The cream is mascarpone whipped with praline. But mine is unique because I whip a crème Anglaise with mascarpone to make the cream,” says chef Couteau.
The pastry chef is also behind the Rosewood Bangkok’s Afternoon Tea, which is a degustation high tea offered between 2.305pm. Five courses of special treats are paired with premium coffee from Italy or Mariage Frères premium tea.
However, the hotel is currently offering a Gin Afternoon Tea (B1,290 per person), which includes the five-course tea tasting menu and a glass of flavour-infused gin of the week. If gin is not your spirit of choice, try the Champagne Afternoon Tea (B1,490 per person).