Flavor Trends, Strategies and Solutions for Menu Development

 

 

 

By Flavor & The Menu
May 6, 2021

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Andrew Darneille

Andrew Darneille

Leave it to a barbecue pitmaster to come up with a stellar campfire-themed dessert. Smokecraft Modern Barbecue’s Cedar Plank Chocolate Brownie S’mores is a showstopper and a best seller. “Who doesn’t love s’mores? It has a ‘Wow!’ factor presentation, the hint of smoke that comes with the dish as it walks out to the dining room is a head turner, and it’s something that can’t be found elsewhere,” says Owner and Pitmaster Andrew Darneille.

To build this decadent dessert, he places a freshly baked brownie on a water-soaked cedar plank over the chargrill and covers it. “The wood begins to steam and char a bit, releasing flavors into the brownie as it heats,” he says. Darneille lays a milk chocolate bar over the brownie, letting it soften, then crowns the dessert with jumbo marshmallows. They start to melt, forming a golden crust. He pulls the decked-out brownie off the fire, tops it with a graham cracker, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a flourish of Grand Marnier-infused chocolate ganache. “The cedar plank adds a subtle smokiness to the brownie and brings those campfire flavors of your childhood into our modern take on s’mores,” says Darneille.

About The Author

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Leigh Kunkel is a freelance journalist with more than a decade of restaurant industry experience as a server, bartender and sommelier. She has written about restaurant operations for B2B publications, as well as foodservice brands, including Beam Suntory and Dawn Foods. She specializes in covering flavor, ingredient and cuisine trends. Leigh has also covered the food and beverage world for a wide range of consumer outlets such as The New York Times, Eater and Vinepair.