Mocha Panna Cotta

 

I've done 2 Frank Lloyd Wright Dinners with Gale Gand, and let me tell you. These are super cool. Each year a handful of ordinary families (who live in Frank Lloyd Wright houses) open their homes to raise money for the Preservation Trust Benefit.

The entertainment includes music, a tour given by the homeowner, and dinner by one of Chicago's top chefs. The dinner menus are designed to embody the personality of the architect's house. For dessert this year Gale made a Buttermilk Panna Cotta with a Hibiscus Raspberry and Strawberry topping.

Gale's Buttermilk Panna Cotta is a fun, unexpected dessert... Kind of like the architect himself. Most Panna Cottas are made with Heavy Cream. Instead Gale uses Buttermilk which adds a fun tang to the gelatin dessert. 

 

Mocha Panna Cotta
pg 28

I associate Panna Cotta with Frank Lloyd Wright dinners, as it has been a staple for its eloquence and appreciated simplicity.

This is a mocha panna cotta with a fleur de sel caramel topping. It's like getting your favorite drink from Starbucks... only it comes in a cute little ramekin and has different levels of texture, making you wish you'd ordered a venti instead of a tall.

When photographing the Panna Cotta I used different sized ramekins, stacking them in various ways with the intention of playing off the plate's design (off-set circles on the side of the plate) we used the first year.

Enjoy!