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One should always start a new year with some sweetness. As we recover from the festive season and get back into the daily grind, it’s easy to let the joy seep out of our lives. The thought alone is incompatible with the French approach to food – and, by extension, life. There is joy to be found in the little, everyday pleasures, not just the big moments. Nothing exemplifies that more than desserts.
Some say that the measure of a good French restaurant in NYC is its desserts. Deceptively simple yet rich in sophisticated flavors, French desserts require impeccable technique and meticulous attention to detail. Seize the opportunity to end your meal on a sweet note to set the right tone for the new year with the Jacques Brasserie dessert menu.
The balance of textures is almost as important in a good dessert as the balance of flavors. This is perhaps most evident in the king of French desserts, the crème brûlée. The moment your spoon breaks through the hard caramelized sugar topping and dips into the creamy custard below, you know you’re in for something special.
The classic crème brûlée consists of a rich vanilla custard topped with a layer of hard caramel. Despite the name – brûlée means burnt in French – there’s no trace of bitterness here. The signature crust is made by sprinkling sugar on top of the custard and melting it under a blowtorch until it caramelizes. Despite, or perhaps because of, its seeming simplicity, it’s always a showstopper.
The crème brûlée might be the linchpin of the desserts on a French restaurant menu, but a good tarte fine is a strong contender for the quintessential French treat. This shallow, thin-based puff pastry tart is usually made with fruit or vegetables, with apples being the original and best. The stunning spiral presentation is a feast for the eyes, and the tart more than delivers for the taste buds, too.
Any meal would count itself lucky to be finished with a slice of Tarte Aux Pommes Fines fresh out of the oven. This is the apple pie made elegant, distilling it down to its delicious essence – soft, sweet apple, spicy cinnamon, and crisp pastry. Paired with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, it makes for a wonderful light counterpoint to a rich, savory main course.
If you really want to indulge, look no further than the White and Dark Valrhona Chocolate Terrine. Using only the finest Valrhona chocolate, this velvety dessert balances sweetness and richness for a decadent taste experience you won’t soon forget. This is one for the chocolate lovers.
Made with layers of whipped chocolate ganache, it combines the sweetness of white chocolate with the fruity bitterness of dark chocolate in delectable harmony. The tartness of our raspberry sorbet offsets the rich creaminess, providing the ideal flavor counterpoint. This is a celebration on a plate, and no New Year’s resolution should hold you back from enjoying every mouthful.
Few desserts are as intimidating as the soufflé, its signature puffed top vulnerable to even the smallest kitchen missteps. If French cuisine is characterized by attention to detail and devotion to technique and precision, then the soufflé is surely one of its crowning achievements. In addition, to sustain its delicate height, a soufflé must always be à la minute – made to order, delivered with care straight from oven to table.
No matter how many times you may have had it before, digging your fork into this airy dessert is always a thrill. The Bittersweet Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé takes the classic taste experience and elevates it with a swirl of premium Valrhona chocolate. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s not hard to see why Julia Child called the soufflé “the epitome and the triumph of French cookery.”
The new year is an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. That means something different for everyone. Perhaps it’s the adventure of trying new things or a commitment to finally taking care of yourself. Either way, there’s nothing like a dessert from our French restaurant in NYC to start your 2024 on the right foot.
December was about spoiling others; January can be the month that you treat yourself. Make a reservation at Jacques Brasserie or have some of our desserts delivered to your door.
