After graduating with my master’s degree in late spring of 1981, my friend Martha invited me and our mutual friend Clifford to join her in California for a month. What seemed impossible and unaffordable quickly became a reality when she let me know that we’d travel in the family plane. (Don’t get too excited – it was a twin-engine Cessna!)
We went to Disneyland, cruised the streets of her hometown, and read books aloud to one another as we traipsed up and down the California coast. At her family cabin in the Sierras, we cooked together in the open, rustic kitchen. When it came to wine, Martha – a native of one of the many California wine regions – knew her stuff. One night, she produced a “Cab.” I was new to wine and asked what it was. “A Cabernet Sauvignon.” Ooh, my life was getting fancy now! I spent much of the week mentioning it whenever possible, blithely mispronouncing Cabernet as Caberñet. Along with some laughter, they set me straight.
From there, we went to San Francisco, then continued north to Napa and Sonoma Valleys to continue my œnological edification. The drive itself was beautiful — this Pennsylvania boy had never seen countryside like that. I remember visiting vineyard after vineyard with wine vocabulary swishing around in my head like wine in a glass. It is the first time I was aware of this jargon, and was excited to find I could indeed taste different wine attributes on my palate.
We spent a night at the Silverado Country Club (courtesy of Martha’s dad) and ate in its elegant dining room. I have no recollection of my meal or wine (though likely a Silverado Cab), but the dessert has stuck with me forever. And now I share it with you. It could not be more simple or elegant… and the flavor is superb. It is my quintessential go-to last-minute dessert.
~ David
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Susan
December 11, 2021 at 3:13 amTotal yum! Some of the best desserts are the ones that star the main ingredient, raspberries, strawberries, fresh peaches, tarte tatin or my favorite Strawberries Pavlova.
It sounds like your taste buds and wine palate were definitely inspired.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 7:10 amThanks, Susan. I agree with you — a Pavlova is a perfect dessert to showcase wonderful fresh fruit!
Chef Mimi
December 11, 2021 at 6:02 amWhat a perfect experience! I hope you’re still friends with Martha now.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 7:10 amIt was the best time, Mimi, and I am still in touch with Marty and Clifford. Am hoping they read this!
Ron
December 11, 2021 at 6:48 amDavid, thanks for sharing those exciting days of your youth and the source of your love and knowledge of wine. Twenty-plus years ago Eva and I spent our honeymoon driving from San Diego to home in Seattle and along the way spent days exploring the wine areas. It is a special area as is your recipe. We’ll have to give this a try next year when our local raspberries come in.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 7:11 amIt is such a beautiful area of the country, Ron. I can only imagine how it was for your honeymoon!
Kate Maguire Jensen
December 11, 2021 at 7:31 amAh, simple but elegant. Thank you for sharing.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 9:00 amSometimes, it’s just what we need!
Doreen
December 11, 2021 at 7:56 amPerfect timing David! We have a friend coming for dinner this evening – this will be a lovely dessert to follow Bigoli al Ragú d’Anatra.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 9:00 amI hope you and Michael like it as much as we do! Have a lovely evening, Doreen!
Susan Manfull
December 11, 2021 at 7:56 amConceived in one of the prettiest areas of California, it is simply elegant. On the east coast in another beautiful part of our country, James Haller presented the “deconstructed” version (with strawberries) at The Blue Strawbery! Great minds….
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 9:01 amIt’s so simple — I can imagine Haller putting it on the Strawberry menu!
Edna Aguirre
December 11, 2021 at 8:11 amSo perfect! Happy Holidays to you!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 9:02 amThanks, Edna — so lovely to see you the other day, even if just for a “wave hello!”
2pots2cook
December 11, 2021 at 9:00 amBeautiful memories that last forever ! Love the simplicity of your today’s delish ! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 9:02 amThanks, Davorka, and I love your pandoro!
John / Kitchen Riffs
December 11, 2021 at 9:07 amFun (and interesting!) story. I like California wines a lot (who doesn’t?!) although my taste runs a bit more to the old world style of making them. Hard to beat a good Cabernet Sauvignon, though. Some of my best memories involve friends and food and wine. I love cooking for friends, and love having them cook for me — so much pleasure. Anyway, this dish looks marvelous — so simple, so good. Thanks.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 5:33 pmJohn – I was actually in Lodi this past weekend and we were tasting some really nice French-style wines – I didn’t know that Lodi has the oldest Cinsault vines in the world now. And we got to see them and try samples of wine made from them.
Jane
December 11, 2021 at 1:34 pmDavid – I was looking for an elegant, simple and delicious dessert recipe that I needed after a spicy and rich dinner I am having next week and here comes your wonderful recipe in my mailbox! PERFECT! Thank you.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 11, 2021 at 5:34 pmI am sio glad I helped, Jane – this should be perfect after a spicy meal! What are you making?
Eha Carr
December 11, 2021 at 3:36 pmIs it not wonderful to have such memories to remember ! Especially at present when most of us are limited in our movements !! Decades back, more by luck than design, my husband and I ended on a small-bus 6-day tour of the Californian wine country with a group pf Brits, Europeans and South Africans . . . a wondrous discovery time during which life-long friendships were created . . . also memories !!! Yes, must serve raspberries thus – quite illogically sour cream does not seem as ‘wicked’ as the usual stuff !!! Sadly we do not buy our raspberries in pints but small tubs at a ridiculous price . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2021 at 11:10 amThat sounds like a wonderful trip, Eha! Those kind of memories are worth their weight in gold.
Marian M Jensen
December 11, 2021 at 4:23 pmI, too, was introduced to a similar dessert in the spring of 1981! I’d moved to Arizona a few months earlier, after completing my Master’s degree in Ohio.
I was invited to lunch at my friend Stacey’s home. For dessert Stacey brought out a huge bowl of gorgeous strawberries, accompanied by smaller bowls of sour cream and brown sugar. Stacey served each guest a portion (berries, dollop of sour cream, and sprinkling of brown sugar) in beautiful crystal stems. Aaaaahhhhhhhh. Still one of my favorite desserts–and I still consider Stacey to be my most elegant friend.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2021 at 11:10 amThat is wonderful, Marian! Now you need to try it with raspberries!
Gerlinde
December 11, 2021 at 5:51 pmI call this area my home and learned to appreciate it the 40 years I lived here. However, it has changed, I think it is overcrowded. Your simple dessert is beautiful.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2021 at 11:11 amSo funny that you moved there the same time as I visited, yes, it has changed so much, Gerlinde…
Sippitysup
December 11, 2021 at 7:11 pmMartha is a keeper. I loved this peek into your past. Keep mispronouncing Cabernet. It makes you look like you know something we don’t! GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2021 at 11:12 amI will definitely consider doing just that, Greg.
Lynn D.
December 12, 2021 at 9:47 amMy mother used to make a similar dessert. Ice cold sliced peaches (or other fruit) in a baking dish covered in sour cream , then sprinkled with brown sugar. Then a few minutes under the broiler, delicious!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 12, 2021 at 11:13 amLynn -mix will definitely need to try doing this under the broiler. I have served this with stone fruits and figs —mall wonderful!
sherry
December 12, 2021 at 10:30 pmi love raspberries so much but they are expensive here, so you have to enjoy them and savour them. this recipe sounds great. you would still get that wonderfully fruity flavour coming out. love your wine country memories…
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:16 amTry it with peaches, Sherry! They can be a lot less costly than raspberries and it’s quite good!
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
December 13, 2021 at 5:58 amSimplicity at its best. And I can’t resist mentioning, I do like that lovely bowl. Very elegant!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:17 amThanks, Frank — the bowls were a gift from my friend Benita. I always assumed they were Mexican until I looked for the stamp. They’re British!
Raymund Macaala
December 14, 2021 at 6:47 pmSimple is always better, specially if it is focused on the quality of the produce
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:17 amSo true, Raymund.
Fran @ G'day Souffle
December 15, 2021 at 9:13 amBoy, Martha was (is) such a nice person and the dessert looks wonderful! I remember mis-pronouncing a few words when I first arrived in Australia. Pasty, the humble Aussie hand pie, is pronounced “pah-sty” instead of using a “long A” sound.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:18 amIt’s always harder when you’re pronouncing English words in our own language only to be told that American English is very different! I made the same mistake with pasty.
Pauline
December 18, 2021 at 4:49 amFresh raspberries are very expensive here, but in strawberry season, this would be divine. Amazing I haven’t heard of this delicious combination before. Loved reading your story too.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:19 amIt is really versatile, Pauline. I think you’ll like it very much on strawberries, and also on stone fruits.
Valentina
December 18, 2021 at 9:11 pmSounds like such fun. What a great traveling experience with friends. And what a lovely dessert — simple, elegant and delicious. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:19 amThat was one of my first major experiences of traveling with friends, and it was wonderful! Thanks, Valentina!
John
December 19, 2021 at 6:50 pmWhat a wonderful trip down memory lane, David. Thanks for the trip! I’m sure there are many folk in Latin countries that would say “caberñet” the way you did!
I know it’s the Eastern European in me, but sour sweetened sour cream with fruit desserts is the best! So divine with fresh, juicy raspberries.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:20 amJohn, your comment makes me wonder if the chef cut his/her idea from eastern European recipes!
Jeff the Chef
December 20, 2021 at 7:32 amI can see why this’d be a go-to dessert. It’s so fresh, simple, and elegant. What a fantastic time it sounds like you had on that trip!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:21 amOh, it was a wonderful time indeed, Jeff! I was 22 years old, just out of college, and ready to go find myself!
Marcelle
December 20, 2021 at 8:07 amDavid, I love berries topped with whipped cream and it’s nearly a daily treat for me. But, I will definitely be trying my next bowl topped with this creme cassonade. Simple and elegant and I can’t wait!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:21 amIt is a nice change from regular whipped cream, Marcelle.
The-FoodTrotter
December 20, 2021 at 12:47 pmWhat a simple yet delicious recipe I’m drooling 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:21 amIt is so simple, and really good, Romain.
Inger
December 20, 2021 at 1:18 pmNow we’ve always done strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar but I’d do raspberries in a heartbeat! Such a lovely trip back in 1981 and probably all the more memorable done in the wide-eyed days of youth!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2021 at 10:22 amWide-eyed is exactly what I was, Inger! It was an amazing experience!