‘Black Sabbath - The Ballet’ with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at Chrysler Hall May 30-31, Birmingham Royal Ballet
Artistic Director
By Yiorgo
Interview
Fans of the English rock band Black Sabbath and all rock band enthusiasts, rejoice! The vibrant energy that is heavy metal rock has joined forces with the incredible, graceful athleticism world of ballet in this spectacular new work from Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Virginia Arts Festival is very proud to present the U.S. Premiere of ‘Black Sabbath - The Ballet’ at Chrysler Hall May 30th - 31st with three amazing shows. In this first of its kind, innovative show, you will hear eight classic Black Sabbath hits arranged for orchestra and rock band, which will be performed live with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, with a live guitarist onstage and the ballet dancers, for a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience.
For more info and tickets, go to https:// www.sevenvenues.com/events/detail/
birmingham-royal-ballet-1
Carlos Acosta tells us all about it
Yiorgo: With us today is the artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Cuban born, Carlos Acosta. Tell us Carlos, why should people come to this iconic performance? What will they see, hear and experience with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra?
Carlos Acosta: I think it would be very interesting for all the audience to come and see this collusion between heavy metal and ballet, coming together in one space. I think they’re going to embrace this kind of innovation like the audience here in the UK and everywhere that we have performed. It’s an attempt for us to develop new audiences and turn them into fans who love ballet. And we did exactly that. I can tell you that 60% of the people that saw this ballet for the very first time, didn’t know anything to do with ballet, and came from the heavy metal world. And that is exactly the purpose and why we put this party in place, to develop new audiences
for ourselves, for the company. And it did just that. So, I think it’s a celebratory joyful and very summery piece. There is depth as well, big insights into the origins of the Black Sabbath band that gave to the world the heavy metal music. It’s happy. It has this kind of festival vibe. It takes you to different aspects of the band and also the aspects of the Birmingham Royal Ballet as a whole.
Y: What was it like collaborating with one of Black Sabbath’s founding members, Tony Iommi? How did you convince him to do it?
CA: I must say that Tony was essential in the creation of this project because first of all, he gave us the blessing from the beginning, but at the same time, he was involved every step of the way. The Black Sabbath band have always been innovators, and they’re always trying to go away from their comfort zone and try to find risky ways to connect to an audience. Tony saw in this bold proposition sort of the same path that
they’re always trying to navigate as a band. I mean this collaboration with ballet is a very atypical and very bold move. They always wanted to go their own way, in the direction that everything was bold and fresh. And so, he always was very excited, but puzzled at the same time how it was going to work. We knew from the very first time, we didn’t want to tell the story of the band, sort of like once upon a time there was a band kind of story and create the ballet like that. It was going to be more conceptually driven where the music is going to be curated in a way that sounds more symphonic. But also from the perspective of the musicians and the composers that have collaborated in this piece, we wanted to bring our own Black Sabbath interpretation. So, we weren’t going to just play the old tunes and dance to it. We wanted to be more ambitious and
Understanding the tradition behind Flying Proms
A patriotic American celebration inspired by a British classic
Many Americans associate “proms” with a formal high school dance, but the term has a very different meaning in Europe. “The Proms” - short for “Promenade Concerts” -
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Military Aviation Museum invites you to an extraordinary event that stands as a singular experience in the United States — an outdoor symphonic concert, air show, and fireworks celebration all rolled into one. This year’s event will be Saturday, June 14 from 5 - 10pm. A harmonious blend of history, music, and family-friendly entertainment, this premiere spectacle transforms the Museum grounds into the ultimate VIP destination. Drawing thousands of enthusiastic guests, it features the Virginia Wind Symphony accompanying flight demonstrations by some of the world’s rarest historic warbirds. Set against the backdrop of themes inspired by aviation and adventure films, as well as history itself, witness graceful aerial maneuvers and a commanding musical performance as the sun sets. As night falls, the symphony continues with patriotic melodies celebrating the United States, culminating in a grand fireworks extravaganza that marks the perfect finale to a magical evening.
Press Release
HAMPTON ROADS, Va — The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform 12 free concerts this summer across Hampton Roads. The concerts will take place in scenic outdoor venues — including Town Point Park, Neptune’s Park, Yorktown Riverwalk, Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre, and more.
This year’s concerts are presented in partnership with Virginia Beach Neptune Festival; Norfolk Festevents; the City of Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary; Celebrate Yorktown Committee; the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia; and the City of Portsmouth. The performances take place from June through September and are free and open to the public.
Highlighting Soprano Symone Harcum, Opera and Oz features beloved pieces like, “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi, “Home” from The Wiz, “The Rainbow Connection”, and Selections from Wicked. Conducted by Brandon Eldredge, this concert will be performed in the early summer on June 6th at Chesapeake City Park, June 7th at the Gloucester Arts Festival, June 8th at the Historic Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, and June 13th at Portsmouth City Park.
In July, The VSO will explore what makes a “hero” and a “villain” in Heros, Villains, and Virtuosos. With John Williams’s “Superman March”, Grieg’s music from Peer Gynt, selections from West Side Story and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, and more, this concert will be performed July 10th at Neptune’s Park in Virginia Beach, and July 20th at Town Point Park in Norfolk, conducted by Alexande Chen.
Additional performances include Symphony by the Sea on August 14th, conducted by Helen Martell, and 28th, conducted by ChiaHsuan Lin, at Neptune’s Park. Symphony Under the Stars on August 30th at the Yorktown Riverwalk, August 31st at Chesapeake City Park, and September 5th at Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre at William & Mary in Williamsburg, all conducted by ChiaHsuan Lin. Learn more at https:// virginiasymphony.org/ free-summer-concerts/
Arts Festival
Opera & Oz: Symphony on the Lawn Virginia Beach — Historic Cavalier Hotel
June 8, 2025 — 7:45PM
Hosted by The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Presented by TowneBank
Opera & Oz: Symphony on the River Portsmouth — Portsmouth City Park
June 8, 2025 — 7:30PM Presented by City of Portsmouth
Heroes, Villains, and Virtuosos: Symphony by The Sea Virginia Beach — Neptune’s Park
July 10, 2025 — 7:30PM Part of the Symphony by the Sea Concert Series presented by the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival Heroes, Villains, and Virtuosos:
Symphony Under the Stars Norfolk — Town Point Park
July 20, 2025 — 8PM
Presented by Festevents
Symphony by The Sea Virginia Beach — Oceanfront
August 14, 2025 — 7:30PM Part of the Symphony by the Sea Concert Series presented by the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival
Symphony by The Sea Virginia Beach — Oceanfront
August 28, 2025 — 7:30PM Part of the Symphony by the Sea Concert Series presented by the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival
Symphony Under the Stars Yorktown — Riverwalk Landing
August 30, 2025 — 7:30 PM
Presented by the Celebrate Yorktown Committee
Symphony Under the Stars
Chesapeake — Chesapeake City Park
August 31, 2025 — 7:30PM
Presented by City of Chesapeake Parks, Recreation, & Tourism
Symphony Under the Stars Williamsburg Lake Matoaka Amphitheater
September 5, 2025 — 7:30 PM
Presented by the City of Williamsburg and William & Mary
Symphony Under the Stars* Kill Devil Hills NC
First Flight High School
September 6, 2025 — 7:30 PM *This is a ticketed, indoor event
Source: AskhHRgreen.org
Hampton Roads has many beautiful and hearty native plants from which to choose. Just plant them in the right spot and give them room to get established.
Good To Know
Native plants are low maintenance. When planted in the proper spot, they’ll have everything they need. They are adjusted to the climate here in Hampton Roads and won’t need extra lawn chemicals (like fertilizer and pesticides) to thrive.
Native plants are beneficial to local wildlife, butterflies and pollinators. When development replaces natural areas, animals and insects may find their food sources limited. Monarch caterpillars, for example, eat only the milkweed plant.
To find native plants you may have to think outside the box. Traditional big box stores frequently stock popular exotic and proprietary hybrid plants. However, local nurseries and plant sales are a great place to find native plants.
A growing demand for native plants will encourage more retailers to invest in native plants.
Good To Do
Right plant, right place.
The most important step in gardening is planting the right plant in the right place. Evaluate your yard and determine for each zone whether it is full sun, part sun or shade; whether the soil is dry, moist or wet, and whether the dirt is sandy, loamy or clay. You’ll also want to consider how much space you’d like to cover. Space demands will help you narrow down your search to trees, shrubs, or groundcovers.
Choose the native plant that’s right for your yard.
Once you know your yard, simply match it with a coordinating native plant. Here are three comprehensive resources to help you find the perfect native plant to add to your Hampton Roads landscape:
Native Plants for Southeast Virginia Guide (pictured)
Download a PDF of this full color guide online at https://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/ plant-native-plants/
Chesapeake Bay Native Plant Center
https://www.allianceforthebay.org/nativeplant-center/
Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping
Download a PDF of this full color guide
online at https://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/ plant-native-plants/
Look for plants with wildlife benefits.
When you have the option, choose plants that provide food for wildlife. Songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and animals are all impacted by declining habitat and rely on native plants for their survival. Examples of common native plants with wildlife benefits include milkweed, coneflower, blackeyed Susan, wax myrtle and beautyberry.
Plant in the spring and fall.
Planting new plants in the spring or fall is best. Cool temperatures give plants an opportunity to establish strong roots before the hot, dry Hampton Roads summers. This is why you’ll find most plant sales happening each spring and fall. Find an upcom-
ing event on the askHRgreen.org event calendar online at https://askhrgreen.org/ events-happenings/.
Contact an expert.
To learn more about finding and planting native plants, contact your local chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office:
John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society — Gloucester, James City and York Counties, and the Cities of Williamsburg, Hampton, Newport News and Poquoson https://vnps.org/johnclayton/
South Hampton Roads Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society — Isle of Wight County, the Cities of Chesapeake,
Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, and the Towns of Smithfield and Zuni https://vnps.org/southhamptonroads/
Virginia Cooperative Extension Local offices https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html
For more information, visit https://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/plant-native-plants/.
creative, an artistic conversation worthy of ouraudiencesandfollowingthetrademark thatBirminghamRoyalBalletnormallydoes sowell,whichisjustputtinggreatshowson stage So, I think in all, he has been with us everystepoftheway.
Y:Whatwastheinitialstep?
CA: We reached out to his office and to hismanager Ralph.Wemaketheintroduction. I remember clearly when we met in my office, in Birmingham. And obviously when you meet somebody as famous and big as Tony is, you have to have some kind of chemistry because we’re making a pitch. We’re asking them to come on board into a veryunchartedterritory,whichisballet.So, I made the pitch and also the commitment fortheirside butalsofromoursidetobring the city of Birmingham at the forefront of the artistic discussion, and to pay tribute to Birminghamasacity,andallthemanyartistic treasures that Birmingham has given to theworld.Andso,hewasonboardanditwas justfantastictocollaboratewithhim.
Y: And it all started with your ongoing program called Ballet Now and your desire toexpandonthatcorrect?
CA: Oh yes, from the very beginning it wasmeanttobeahugeexperiment Firstof all,wehadanongoingprogramcalledBallet Now.Itisaprogramthatisbeingbackedby the Oak Foundation, where they gave us a large grant to create 10 ballets in the course of five years So, when I walked into the directorshipofthiscompany,Iinheritedthat programandeveryyearIhadtobringanew up and coming choreographer and a new composer This is a program that develops composers, designers and also choreographers So to bring them in and commission a piece, mostly a one act. So, I did two of them, and I thought that the remaining of the two ballets that I had in the program, I wasgoingtobringittogetherwithonemore commissionandcreateafull-length,balletin threeacts Soinsteadofjustlooselycreating anotheract,Icreatedtwoactswithdifferent teamsofpeople,andathirdone,andcreated BlackSabbathasafull-lengthballet.
Itwassomanycreationsandcreativesand veryhardtopullitoff,becauseobviously,we all came from different ways So the briefing and the journey of creating this ballet wasnotstraightforward.But,Ithinkwegot there in the end. And the ballet has been a bigsurprise Butyes,itwasaveryhardthing topullofffromthebeginning Itwasbacked through a grant that the Oak Foundation gave us It’s a foundation that we’ve been working with for a long time and thanks to these kind angels, like the Oak Foundation and others that still back up the arts andwhateverwedoinaverybigway.Ithas allowed us to create bold and exciting projectslikeBlackSabbath.
Y: Tell us about opening night 2023 in Birmingham.
CA: Yiorgo, it was incredible It was like being at a premiere in a Hollywood movie. Youknow,wehadaredcarpet.Andofcourse, all the members of the band were there: Sharon Osbourne, Robert Plant. But also at theendoftheevening,TonyIommicameon stage and played Paranoia as a cameo And I thought that the roof of the theater was gonna collapse because the ovation that we had, it was just... incredible I never, I never hearsucha,suchacrazyovation,youknow. itwasamazing Imean,itwasareally,really
ABOVE: Scene from‘BlackSabbath –The Ballet’Birmingham Royal Ballet,2023 (PHOTOCREDIT:JOHANPERSSON) LEFT: Birmingham Royal BalletArtistic DirectorCarlosAcosta (COURTESYPHOTO)
good event forBirmingham. Really wonderful.
Y: What hasthereaction been in the ballet world and also in the rock world? Whatkindoffeedbackhaveyougottenfrom bothsides?
CA: There are always two trends in ballet’s world you know. There are those whoarepurist,classicalballet.Thisismore fortheaudiencethatnormallydon’tcometo ballet.ButIthinkalotofthoseaudienceslike ballet anyway I mean, we got pointe work, andwegotpasdedeux,andwehaveimportantwork,andit’sallbare,likeclassicaldancing So there, you have unitards and tights and so you know, it’s exposed, like, some of theneoclassicsare,Balanchinetypeart
Wehavealittlebitforeveryone,butifthey wantaSwanLake,thenthisisnotforthem. Butagain,somepeoplemightratherseethis thanSwanLake.Inall,thenumbersofaudiencethatreallywantedtogivethisballetago andwatchit,itsaysitall,youknow?Imean, we sold out... I remember when we made the announcement, we sold out all the tickets in three days and we didn’t even know what we were doing We didn’t know what kind of ballet we were gonna create, and then boom, we sold out. And then I said to myself,“Wow,wereallyneedtonowdeliver a ballet.” You know? I think, if you come at itwithopen-mindedness,youwillenjoythe show.
Y:Let’slearnaboutyou.Wherewereyou born, and what made you fall in love with dance with music, and how did you get involvedwithallofthat?
CA: I am Cuban. I was born in the outskirts of Havana I like to dance I mean, therealCubanlikestodancebecauseIthink everything in the Caribbean and in Havana inspirestodance It’ssunnyandsteamy-You know, you walk shirtless on the street. You take a bus you sweat a lot. There’s music pouring out of every house In Cuba it’s a culture that gave away a lot of the rhythms that we all know: Salsa, merengue, maraca, malanga, guaracha, conga. All of those rhythms were born in Cuba So, we dance
a lot. So obviously growing up it was just
the traditional Cuban folk and break dancing because in the ‘80s, I wanted to be the next Michael Jackson like every other kid out there in the ‘80s, you know? When the wholebreakdancingmovementstartedand Flashdance,themovieFame,andallofthat, youknow?
We all wanted to be part of that crowd. Andthenmyfatherwasatruckdriverandhe forcedmetodoballetinstead whichIhated But then after four years battling with me and when they kicked me out of the school, andfinallyIsawtheNationalBalletofCuba, I developed a vocation that made me fall in lovewithballetandthishasbeenmylifeever since Y: You immediately started performing here in America and in Europe Can you tell us a little bit about that early life of you performing?
CA: I was very lucky that I had great teachings and people who encouraged me Andforinstanceforme,beingthecolorIam andeverything,Ialwayshaddoubtswhether I could play the prince role because first of all, I didn’t know how the prince behaved I knew how barbers behaved or how the shavers behave and all these people that I saw every day. But I didn’t know how to become royal, how that was. So it was big So,Ialwayshadpeoplethatencouragedme thatIcouldalsobeaprince Andthat’show Ibecameaprinceeventually
I’m very lucky From the age of 16, I won thismajorcompetitionandonceIdid,Iwon the Prix de Lausanne in 1990, I saw a director who wanted to hire me Then, I became aprincipaldancerinthisnationalballet.And then eventually I got to work with Bennett Stevenson in Houston, Texas for five years Andonandon,Iendedupperformingwith Spartacus,withtheBolshoi,andParisOpera, andeverywhere.
Y: With me being from Greece, I would love to hear your memory of performing in Greece
CA:IperformedobviouslybytheAcropolis It is lovely very well created. The first time I went was in ‘97 I was a member of thefamoustouringgala,calledtheGalades Etoiles All of the best dancers from all over theworld:theRussians,theAmericans,the
Cubans, the French, they’re all in that gala. The very best dancers of the world. And in one InthatparticulargalathatIdancedat theAcropolis IsharedthestagewithMaya Plisetskaya and she was quite old then. But I’vegotthismemoryinthatparticularshow, youknow,ofperformingnexttoher.Imust have been like 24 or something And she was still around. Talking about Greece, I think about that space where I performed a few times But that first time it was when I performed with Maya and Fernando Bujones as well. And so yeah, it was a very goodmomentintimeforme
Y: In 1998, you joined the London Royal Ballet.Howdidthatopportunitycomeup?
CA: After five years in Houston, Texas, I felt the need to move on and try something new And so I decided to try to join with an audition for the Royal Ballet. And in 1997, I was invited to the Prix de Lausanne during the25thanniversaryofthegala.Iperformed Le Corsaire there and about that time I had already decided that I wanted to leave the company. I brought a dossier of information and a video cassette to find somebody who could help me and start to spread the voice that I wanted to join the Royal Ballet. And so it happensthatduringthatshowamancalled Jay Jolly who was the partner of Anthony Dowell, who was the then director of the Royal Ballet and after I finished my show I met with him, I gave him the information with the videos He said that I was gonna hear from him soon and I did. He gave me a call and arranged a sort of an audition. I went to the audition, I passed, I got hired andthat’sit.That’showitwent.
Y: You also got to go back to Cuba and performthere,I’msuremorethanonce but talk about the first time that this little boy fromthislittlevillageleftandnowyouarea majorstar Whatwasthatfeelinglike?
CA: One thing is, that I never left Cuba. I never defected, I never left it I always was able to go, fulfill a contract and go back. My family has always been there. I kept my home there. So every time every so often, I will dance and then I will come back and dance In2015 whenIretiredfromclassical ballet, I formed my own company called La Costa Danza in Cuba. And it was a way to givebacktothecountrythatformedme I’m verygladthatIdidthatandLaCostaDanza now is gonna be 10 years old and pretty well-established.
Y:Howaboutacoupleof“wow,pinchme” momentsthatyoucan’tbelievethatthislittle boygottoexperienceinlife?
CA: Well, I have a few I remember for instance, the first moment was when I met Lady Diana at the English National Ballet. She came, and after the show went to my dressingroom,metmeandIsawthisbeautifullady,youknow,anditwasjustamazing Obviously, going to Buckingham Palace and receiving the CBE that they gave me Also one of the really extraordinary moments was when Prince Charles now King Charles, but then was Prince Charles and Camilla, they came to Havana, Cuba, and they came to my studio in Havana and we got to do some performance for them as well.Hevisitedmeinmyhumblestudio,you know, and it was amazing I mean, imagine that and obviously he’s the king now, and that’sincredible
Yiorgo is an arts entertainment and sports writer A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.
19th century It refers to a
longseriesofclassicalmusicconcerts,originally designed to make orchestral music more accessible to the public. The
famous of these is the “Last Night of the Proms,” a lively patriotic celebration held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, known for its spirited atmosphere and audience singalongs Inspired by this tradition, the Flying Proms at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach blends the elegance and grandeur of a classical music concert with the thrill of vintage aircraft in flight While rootedintheBritishPromstradition,Flying Proms is a proudly American event -celebratingournation’shistory honoringveterans, and featuring stirring patriotic music performedbyalivesymphony It’saone-ofa-kindeveningwherehistory,heritage,and nationalpridesoartogether
ISCREAM, YOUSCREAM WEALLSCREAM FORICECREAM
D
essert and summer are a match made in heaven.Swelteringsummerafternoonsmight not be comfortable, but any discomfort can be quickly washed away with a refreshing dessert, suchasthefollowingrecipefor“KiwiFruitSorbet” fromLouSeibertPappas’“IceCreams&Sorbets” (ChronicleBooks).
KiwiFruitSorbet
Makes about 1 quart
2teaspoonsgratedlimeorlemonzest
¾cupsugar,divided
¾cupwater
2poundskiwifruit(about8kiwifruit), peeledandquartered
6tablespoonsfreshlysqueezedlimeor lemonjuice
2limes,quartered Inasmallbowl,mashthezestwith1teaspoonof thesugartoreleasetheoils Combinetheremainingsugarandwaterinasmallsaucepanandbring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar Cook until the syrup is clear Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature In a food processor or blender purée the kiwi fruit with the juice syrup andsugaredzest.Transfertoacontainer,coverand refrigerateuntilthoroughlychilled about3hours. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’sinstructions Or,tofreezewithout anicecreammaker,pourthemixtureintoa9-inch nonreactivesquarepan.Coverwithaluminumfoil or plastic wrap and freeze just until solid, 2 to 3 hours Scrape out into an electric mixer or food processorandprocessbrieflyuntillightandfluffy. Serveatonceortransfertoacontainer cover,and freeze until firm, about 2 hours At serving time garnish with a lime wedge to squeeze over each serving
I
ce cream is a beloved dessert The extraordinarynumberofflavorcombinationsthatcanbe achieved simply by mixing together a few ingredients undoubtedly contributes to the popularity oficecream. Forthosepartialtocherriesandalmonds there’s nothing better than combining those flavors in this recipe for “No-Churn Cherry Bakewell Ice Cream”from“Jane’sPatisserie”(Sourcebooks)by JaneDunn.
No-ChurnCherryBakewellIceCream Serves 10
200gramspittedcherries(about1cup)
450millilitersheavycream(about2cups)
397gramscondensedmilk(14ounces)
1teaspoonalmondextract
½teaspoonpinkfoodcoloring(optional)
Cherriesandtoastedflakedalmonds,toserve
Add the pitted cherries to a blender and blitz until smooth. Pass through a sieve to remove any lumpsandsetaside Pour the cream into a bowl and whip to soft peaks Put the condensed milk, almond extract, pink foodcoloring(ifusing)andpuréedcherriesintoa separate bowl and stir to combine, then pour the mixtureintoacontainer,likealargeloaftin.
Freeze for at least 5 to 6 hours, or preferably overnight so it has time to get the correct texture. Removefromthefreezerabout20minutesbefore serving to allow it to soften slightly Scoop into bowls and serve topped with fresh cherries and toastedflakedalmonds
The supermarket freezer case or a local ice cream shop may offer plenty of ice cream options, but ice cream also can be prepared at home with some patience and quality ingredients Thisrecipefor“MeyerLemon-ButtermilkIce Cream”marriesthechilloficecreamwithsummer citrus A Meyer lemon is a hybrid of a lemon and a mandarin orange, offering a unique balance of citrusflavor.Enjoythisrecipe,courtesyof“ChocolateObsession:ConfectionsandTreatstoCreate andSavor”(Stewart,Tabori&Chang)byMichael Recchiuti&FranGage
MeyerLemon-ButtermilkIceCream
Makes 1 quart
¾cup(6ounces)heavywhippingcream
⅔cupgranulatedcanesugar,divided intohalves
2Meyerlemons,(1zestedandbothjuiced toequal3tablespoonsfreshlemonjuice)
½Tahitianvanillabean,splithorizontally
⅓cupwholemilk
6extra-largeeggyolks
1¼cups(10ounces)buttermilk,chilled
Stir the cream and ⅓ cup of the sugar together inasmallsaucepan.Finelygratethezestfromthe lemonintothepan.(Thelemoncanthenbejuiced aspartofthe3tablespoonsfreshlemonjuice.)
Scrape the vanilla seeds from the bean into the panandthenaddthebean. Bring the cream to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, cover the top of the pan with plastic wrap and let cool to room temperature. Transfertoabowl,cover,andrefrigerateovernight.
The next day, strain the cream through a finemesh sieve and return to the saucepan. Add the milk.Bringtoasimmerovermediumheat
While the cream mixture is heating, combine the egg yolks and the remaining ⅓ cup sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment.Beatonmedium-highspeeduntilthe mixtureispaleandthickandformsaribbonwhen thewhipisliftedfromthebowl,3to5minutes Switchthemixertolowspeed.Slowlypourthe hotcreammixtureintothebowlandbeatjustuntil combined.Donotbeattoafroth.
Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard coats a spoon and registers 160 F on an instant-readthermometer,about5minutes. Pour through the fine-mesh sieve into a bowl Cover the bowl and refrigerate the custard overnight. Thenextday,addthebuttermilkandlemonjuice tothecustardandstirtomix.Churnthecustardin anice-creammakeraccordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions
F
ew things are more refreshing than a glass of icedteaonahotafternoon.Whiletealoversare familiar with its versatility, even the most ardent tea enthusiast might not think it can be used to make ice cream But that’s precisely the case in the following recipe for “Chai Ice Cream” from Robert Wemischner and Diana Rosen’s “CookingwithTea”(Periplus).Notoverlysweet,thisice creamworksgreatwhenstuffedintoasweet-ripe peachorplum.
ChaiIceCream Serves 6
2cupsheavycream
1cupwholemilk
4slicesfreshgingerroot
1tablespoonwholeallspiceberries
1tablespoonwholecloves
12wholegreencardamompods
3wholecinnamonsticks,eachabout 3incheslong
½cupgranulatedwhitesugar
¼cuphoney
3tablespoonsChineseblacktea,suchas Keemun
4eggyolks
1largebowlofrice
Pinchofsalt
1teaspoonrealvanillaextract
Inalarge,heavysaucepan,bringthecreamand milktoaboilwiththespices,sugarandhoney Add the tea and reduce mixture to a simmer Remove from heat and infuse the tea for about 5 minutes. Sieveoutsolidsandreturnliquidtosaucepan.
Inasmallbowl,whisktheeggyolksandtemper them by combining with a cup of the cream mixture. Add the whisked egg yolks to the saucepan and whisk together over medium heat until slightly thickened. The mixture should coat the back of a spoon Using an instant-read thermometer, monitor the temperature of the mixture so it does not exceed 190 F. Do not overcook or the mixturewillcurdle Pour through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl placed over a larger bowl of ice Stir the mixture untilcoolandthenplaceinrefrigeratororfreezer to chill further, about 15 minutes. Add salt and vanillatoblend.
Freezeusinganold-fashionedicecreammaker filled with ice and salt, or freeze in a crank-type ice cream machine using a canister that has been frozenasperthemanufacturer’sdirections
This recipe is exquisite alone but even more deliciousoverpoachedBoscpears(seephoto).
Ice cream is perhaps one of the most popular foods in the world. While many people visit theirlocalicecreamparlororgrocerystorefrozen food aisle to satisfy their ice cream fix, this delicious dessert can be made right at home Those who want to try their hands at homemade ice cream should consider the following recipe for “Caramelized Honey Ice Cream With Rosemary and Orange from Lori Longbotham’s “Luscious CreamyDesserts”(ChronicleBooks).
CaramelizedHoneyIceCreamwith RosemaryandOrange Serves 6 to 8
IceCream
½cuphoney
2cupsheavywhippingcream
1½cupswholemilk
26-inchsprigsfreshrosemary
5stripsorangezest8largeeggyolks
½cupsugar
Pinchofsalt
½cupfreshorangejuice
HoneyCaramelSauce Makes about 2 cups
1½cupshoney
½cupheavywhippingcream
Pinchofsalt
2teaspoonsfreshlemonjuice
½teaspoonpurevanillaextract
To make the ice cream: Bring the honey to a boil in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat.Boilfor5minutes oruntildarkened,butnot burned, and very fragrant. Remove the pan from theheat. Bringthecreamandmilkjusttoaboilinalarge, heavysaucepanovermediumheat.Stirintherosemary and zest, remove the pan from the heat, and letstand,covered,for15minutes
Discardtherosemaryandzest.Whiskthehoney into the cream mixture and cook, whisking occasionally,overlowheatforafewminutes,untilwell combinedandsmooth.
Whisk together the egg yolks sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly pour in the warm cream mixture,whiskingconstantly Returntothesaucepan and cook, whisking constantly, over medium-low heat until the custard has thickened and coats the back of a spoon; if you draw your finger across it, it should leave a track. Do not let the custardboilorscorchonthebottom;iftinybubbles appeararoundtheedges,removethepanfromthe heatforafewminutestocoolthecustard continuingtowhisk.
Pourthecustardthroughafinestrainersetover alargeglassmeasureorbowl.Whiskintheorange juice Letcooltoroomtemperature,whiskingoccasionally, then refrigerate, tightly covered, for 3 hours,oruntilthoroughlychilled,orforupto1day. When ready to freeze, pour the mixture into an ice-cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’sinstructions.Transfertoafreezer container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving Toserve,spoontheicecreamintoservingbowls orglasses DrizzlewiththeHoneyCaramelSauce, ifdesired.
To make the caramel sauce: Bring the honey to a boil in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-highheat.Boilfor5minutes oruntildarkened, butnotburned,andveryfragrant.Reducetheheat to medium-low and slowly and carefully pour in thecream.Addthesalt,bringtoaboilovermedium heat,andboilfor5minutes,oruntilslightlythickened;thesaucewillthickenfurtherasitstands. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and pour the sauce through a fine strainer set over a medium glass measure or bowl. Serve hot or warm, or let cool and refrigerate, tightly covered, for up to 2 months Serve chilled, or gently reheat the sauce before serving adding a little water or cream if necessarytothinitslightly
