National Magazine Awards: A Trio of Mini Desserts!

On Thursday night, I attended the National Magazine Awards at the Marriot Marquis near Times Square. NBC anchor Brian Williams, who hosted the event, jokingly wondered whether we'd all survive the Marquis food. He clearly didn't try the desserts: chocolate pot du crème, a chocolate marshmallow, and café brûlot ice cream. Divine.

       The presentation was perfectly on point with the recent small-plate trend. In a new National Restaurant Association survey, 60 percent of chefs named bite-size desserts as one of the hottest food trends of 2012. It's a movement I love for a few reasons...


1) You can sample a broad range of flavors, without gorging yourself. 

2) It gives chefs a chance to play with texture, color, and different types of serving ware, all on a single plate. The presentation is always gorgeous.

3) You can try it at home. Many of the year's food trends—artisan bacon, culinary cocktails, deconstructed desserts—are tough to carry out in your own kitchen. But anybody can pour batter into a mini cupcake pan. 


In need of inspiration? Try these recipes...


Mini Lemon Meringue Pies
Mini Pancakes with Raspberry Sorbet and Chocolate Sauce
Mini Pineapple Cakes
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes
Mini Whoopie Pies