Gourmet

There's enough espresso cream to top 6 cakes for a quick, elegant dessert. The leftover 6 are great to keep for snacks.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. The following method is our favorite way to cook long-grain rice—we love the consistency it yields. We learned the technique from some of our Latino and Louisianian colleagues.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

These grapes make for both an elegant winter centerpiece and a sweet treat for the holidays. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

A southern soufflé that is a delicious addition to the Thanksgiving meal. It's much lighter than corn bread, yet with just as much rich, buttery flavor.

Sortilège is a blend of Canadian whiskey and maple syrup. Here it infuses the chestnuts with maple flavor and picks up the sweetness of the green beans. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 hr

This recipe is an accompaniment for Pistachio Blancmanges . Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Huevos Tirados One of Gran Café de la Parroquia's specialties is this unique omelet, made with black beans and served inside out. Make the omelets one at a time and serve them immediately (they will dry out and lose their tenderness if you try to keep them warm in the oven). If you don't have time to prepare dried beans, canned will do just fine (see the cooks' notes for black beans, this page). Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 3/4 hr (includes cooking dried beans)

Hojuelas de Harina con Miel de Pilón Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

Though this ice cream was delicious made with regular butter and table salt, it was even better with European-style butter (like Plugrá) and fleur de sel. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 5 hr

Active time: 1 3/4 hr Start to finish: 12 hr Before you start this recipe, make sure there's room in your refrigerator for a 24-inch fish poacher and a 25-inch platter.

We highly recommend using California apricots for this recipe —their intense flavor and color give this frozen yogurt a real boost that's missing when it's made with the Turkish variety.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 5 1/2 hr (plus 1 week for flavors to develop)