What is National Pears Helene Day?
National Pears Hélène Day, France's delectable, smooth French dessert combines warm poached pears, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce on March 15th.
Pears Hélène is a dessert made from pears poached in sugar syrup and served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and crystallized violets. Around 1864, French Chef Auguste Escoffier created the dessert in honor of the operetta La belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach.
Pears Hélène's simpler versions have been created over time by substituting poached pears with canned pears, and the delicate crystallized violets have been replaced with sliced almonds. These updates have made it possible for more cooks to make this must-have dessert.
FUN PEAR FACTS:
