Cookaholics Bulletin Board

I think I already know the answer to this question, but I'll ask anyway...

I just went through a series of menu proposals for a new client I'm doing three events for over Christmas. On our first conversation she mentioned the gluten intolerance (hence my post about gluten-free breads), but she did not mention one of her daughters cannot have any sugar or sugar substitute.

I'm at a loss...how do I caramelize pears without sugar?! I know I can brown them without sugar, but it really loses something.

Or, perhaps I should just make her a special plate.

Amy

I'd make a special plate. Unless she can have something like maple syrup or honey as a substitute? Or if she can have fruit, can you reduce down a fruit juice enough so that it will caramelize?

I know for sure that Splenda (which is made with sugar, which might rule it out anyway) will not caramelize. Nor will any other artificial sweetener out there that I know of. Besides, many of them have a nasty aftertaste.

Boy, I hope you're charging appropriately.

I'd suggest just doing a poached pear for the sugar free girl, but you'd need to check on the wine.

How you can you have a pear without sugar, let alone caramelize one?

http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/ ... cet=&new=1

OK, that is not contributing, I'm just baffled.

No added sugar is my interpretation.

Amy

I'd make her a special plate. I'm sure she gets a lot of "afterthought" desserts so your sense of food applied to something just for her will be awesome!

Can you check on the sugar substitutes? Maybe get some idea from mom what the girl usually has for desserts. How old is the child? She might not miss the caramelization on the pears. It would make a difference whether is diabetes type avoidance, an allergy, etc. Stevia is non-sugar and somewhat more natural than others.

PS, Agree with Josh, such very special needs should carry an increased charge.

I've already established she can't have sugar substitutes either. She obviously won't be eating dessert, and I'll just make a side dish of pears for her for the salad. There are a few other things I'll likely need to handle differently, like the gluten-free bread. I had planned on making brioche, but that's got sugar in it. And, she's one of the two who is gluten intolerant.

Anyone have a reliable brioche recipe without sugar?

Amy

What about serving her cheese for dessert - you don't mention her age but a triple cream with some fruit and nuts can be sold to kids as the height of sophistication - and I bet some others would be jealous.

It's a good idea Lindsay, but it seems cheese isn't a popular dessert in their home. And, it's an adult daughter. I've emailed a mutual friend and asked her advice. She pretty much said, you're dealing with a bunch of high-end NYers who know excellent food. Don't screw up your menu for their daughter. I'll figure out something for her dessert for her. And I might ask my client if a small amount of sugar in the brioche would be okay.

Amy