
I was seriously nervous. I knew that a review from Teddy would be unadulterated, unfiltered honesty.
He's four. Candor in food reviews are a hallmark of his set.
The words "blech" and "ew" are often trotted out, when youngsters are confronted with new foods. No sensitivity here for the beleaguered chef.
How did I get into this situation? Innocently enough, I had made some kid-friendly chocolate chip cookies for my neighbor Teddy (which he kindly shared with his parents), and since he knew I made ice cream as well, he declared that next I would be making him a frozen confection. Pushy, yes, but I liked his pluck!
I agreed, and inquired about his favorite flavor. He took a beat and then said that he loved "chocolate dipped strawberries," asking if I could do something along those lines.
Hmmm. Not quite Balsamic and strawberries, but pretty darn sophisticated for a four-year-old nonetheless. The gauntlet had been thrown down.
Admittedly, it was several months before I picked it up.
I had baked some Rosemary Shortbread and shared a few with Teddy's parents. Teddy saw the hand-off and immediately remarked "Where's my ice cream?"
I had to pony up -- pony up big time. The question was whether I tempered the flavors for a child's palate or if I went full-throttle.
I think you know which way I went.
I heated milk and steeped cocoa nibs for two hours. I made a slurry with exceedingly good cocoa, yolks and sugar. Mixed that all together, stirring over a medium flame until it thickened, and then added 3 bars of high-grade bittersweet chocolate. Put that in the fridge and then sous vide strawberries with sugar. The next day I tossed the chocolate ice cream base in my freezer tub and let the machine do its thing. Then I grabbed a Tupperware container and layered the ice cream with intense strawberry bits before letting it freeze overnight.
Oh, yeah. This was some solid ice cream goodness. But, was it too much for Teddy? I didn't know.
I asked his Mom to shoot me a text after he tried it -- and even if he didn't care for it, not to hold back. She promised.
Three days later and I was on tenterhooks. No review. Was his Mom too embarrassed to tell me that the ice cream had elicited an "ick" from her son?
I saw her for coffee and after a few niceties I had to ask.
"Oh my, gosh -- he loved it," she said. "I took a video of him eating it and completely forgot to send it to you!"
I breathed a sigh of relief! And then she forwarded the video, so I could hear for myself.
Teddy's words as he took a bite: "Let's see about this...Hmmm...I like it! It is soooo good. Yummy, yummy, yummy!"
Poetry. Pure poetry. I don't think I've gotten a review that pleased me more.
"Yummy, yummy, yummy!" will be the words that carry me into 2022 with a bit of optimism!
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