Tiramisu---A Symbol of Love (Second Version)

What kind of dessert do you like most? Do you know how to make it? Or do you know the origin of it? My favorite dessert is Tiramisu. I always feel cheerful and delighted when I taste it. There are several versions about the origin of Tiramisu. Here is a sentimental and warm story I like the most. During World War II, an Italian soldier had to leave his homeland for battle, his wife wanted to prepare some dessert for him. However, there was little food in their house so she had to make a dessert using the remainder biscuit, bread and coffee, folded them one layer by one layer and named this simple but full of love dessert “Tiramisu”. In Italian, Tiramisu means “pick-me-up” for highly energetic products like sugar and eggs with the caffeine of espresso coffee; there is also another explanation “take me away” which means taking away not only delicious, as well as love and happiness. When the soldier had a taste of Tiramisu on the war, he would think of his hometown and his beloved wife. He took away not only Tiramisu, but also the deeply love from his wife.

In U.S.A., Tiramisu started becoming popular in San Francisco. Now, as a fashionable dessert, Tiramisu can be found in coffee shops, bakery outlets and restaurants throughout the nation. You may not understand Italian, but you must remember the word “Tiramisu”, because it is associated not only with dainty but also with love. That is why a lot of couples prefer to order one in the pastry house. The amazing taste mixing with coffee, cookies, egg, cheese and chocolate is just like the sweet feeling of love that once tasted, leaving an unforgettable experience. With its gorgeous taste and charming appearance, Tiramisu has been prevailing all over the world.

Tiramisu is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a blend of eggs and cheese, flavored with liquor and cocoa and decorated with chocolate powder. The combination of coffee, chocolate and cream is the main feature of Tiramisu. It contains not only sweet but any feelings associated with sweet that evoke all kinds of warm experience. For me, Tiramisu is not only an amazing dessert with unbelievably fantastic flavor but a wonderful memory in my childhood. I used to have a cup of Tiramisu with my mom in a lovely café. It was like a secret place where we could enjoy a wonderful afternoon teatime. I was totally obsessed with Tiramisu when tasting it at first time. It creates a multiple and exotic flavor mixing the soft ladyfingers with the bitter of expresso, the smooth of yolks, mascarpone and cream and the unique-smelling of mellow of wine and sweet chocolate. Tiramisu had conquered my mind. For me, Tiramisu was an extremely luxurious dessert and I was fully addicted to it because of its strong attraction and unique flavor. It seems that Tiramisu has a magical power that can cheer me up. Whenever I taste it, I feel like admiring a beautiful symphony which can wash my negative emotion away.

A few years ago, the café shut down. I’ve tried numerous Tiramisu in other cafés but never found the one I tasted. None of them has the same unique taste. I realize that it is impossible to find an exactly the same one. The great taste may disappear while the memory will last long and the meaning of picking me up will be right here in my mind forever.