GOOD TASTE

Contagious
Dessert
 Plaza III tempts diners with Bananas Foster cooked tableside.

By Jan Walsh Photos by Robin Colter
As I contemplate what to order on menus, I often sneak a peak of dishes being served at nearby tables. Most often the glimpse gotten is not that telling—or selling—of whether to order the dish or not. But Plaza III sparks my interest and that of other diners by preparing Bananas Foster tableside. Sparks of flaming rum dance above the flames. And enticing aromas of caramelized bananas fill the air, tempting diners nearby and across the dining room. As the manager of food and beverage for Birmingham’s Plaza III, Josh Peters has prepared hundreds of these delicious desserts. “It is a contagious dessert. When one table orders Bananas Foster everyone in the restaurant sees and smells it cooking. So they want it too,” Peters says. Here he shares Plaza III’s secrets.

Bananas Foster

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/2 orange
2 bananas, sliced
1 ounce Bacardi 151
1 ounce banana liqueur
Ground cinnamon
Vanilla gelatto

Procedure:
1. Heat the pan over a high flame.
2. Reduce heat, stir in butter and keep stirring until melted.
3. Once the butter is mostly liquid, add the brown sugar and stir in. Continue to stir constantly.
4. Squeeze the juice of the lemon and orange into the pan.
5. Add the Bacardi, while continuing to stir constantly. Flames will rise. Do not allow to scorch.
6. Add the banana liqueur, while continuing to stir constantly. 7. Add cinnamon, while continuing to stir constantly. It will create sparks.
8. Keep heat on the pan until the flames disappear. At this point the alcohol has burned off.
9. Turn heat off when flames diminish. Allow to cool in pan to thicken.
10. Spoon over ice cream in individual serving dishes. Serve immediately. Makes two servings.
January Birmingham, Alabama

  

 
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