GRAMERCY TAVERN’S WEIRD, WONDERFUL NEW ICE CREAM SANDWICH
by KATHY YL CHAN
Like a little olive in your shortbread ice cream sandwich? How about frozen labneh cheese? Enter the mind of chef Miroslav Uskokovic (formerly of Jean Georges and Aldea), who recently revamped Gramercy Tavern’s entire dessert menu. Gone are the more traditional sweets, and in their place are nuanced creations that often straddle the line between sweet and savory.
On a recent visit, we tried five of Uskokovic’s new desserts. Let’s start with that kooky yet delicious ice cream sandwich…
1. Half-Moon Ice Cream Sandwich with Chocolate, Labneh, and Olive
Inside is a mix of frozen labneh (a yogurt-y Turkish cheese) and chocolate sorbet. Outside, salt-cured olives are folded into the shortbread cookie to make this an especially salty-sweet dessert.
2. Chocolate-Prune Cakes and Coffee-Cardamom Ice Cream
Warm, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-prune cakes are topped with coffee-cardamom ice cream. Heady with aromas of smoke, earth, and spice, the ice cream is also available by the scoop.
3. Apple Mousse, Black Sesame Cake, and Basmati Rice Pudding with Almonds
Remember how we said this chef likes to play in the savory side of the kitchen? Yeah, this is one of those times.
4. Apple Consommé with Pomegranates and Lychee Foam
In the main dining room, diners are greeted with this pre-dessert shooter of apple consommé with pomegranates and lychee foam. Not a bad way to start the end of a meal.
5. Tapioca and Blood Orange Trifle
A petite portion of tapioca, blood oranges, frothy mousse, and refreshing granita is the ideal end to a light spring meal.
(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
New Desserts
