photo www.designmegillah.com
Master chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s recipe appeared in Food & Wine in July 1999.
ingredients (4 6-oz cakes)
* 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
* 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona
* 2 eggs
* 2 egg yolks
* 1/4 cup sugar
* Pinch of salt
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
directions
1. Preheat the oven to 450�. Butter and lightly flour four 6-ounce ramekins. Tap out the excess flour. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.
2. In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the butter with the chocolate. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the egg yolks, sugar and salt at high speed until thickened and pale.
3. Whisk the chocolate until smooth. Quickly fold it into the egg mixture along with the flour. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and bake for 12 minutes, or until the sides of the cakes are firm but the centers are soft. Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 minute, then cover each with an inverted dessert plate. Carefully turn each one over, let stand for 10 seconds and then unmold. Serve immediately.
MAKE AHEAD The batter can be refrigerated for several hours; bring to room temperature before baking.
WINE Chocolate is too intense and bitter for many sweet wines, but not port. Try this dessert with a Ruby Porto, such as the nonvintage Sandeman Founder’s Reserve or the nonvintage Fonseca Bin No. 27.
