Masterchef UK Professionals
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Torrija with Bay Leaf Ice Cream
Orange Blossom Torrija with Bay Leaf Ice Cream, Nut Crumb and Blood Orange.
Mario's dessert stayed true to his Seville roots with a torrija — a traditional Spanish dessert similar to French pain perdu or French toast. Thick bread was soaked and infused with orange blossom water, then pan-fried in oil and butter until golden and caramelised on the outside while remaining soft and custardy within. A nut crumb of caramelised pistachios topped the torrija. Blood orange segments added citrus brightness with a slight bitterness. A bay leaf ice cream was served alongside, and lemon verbena leaves garnished the plate.
{Mario}: "This is torija — a dessert that we do in Seville, similar to pain perdu. I infuse it with orange blossom water. I've got a nut crumb on top, orange segment, lemon verbena. On the side, bay leaf ice cream."
{Monica}: "Mario's dessert — the eggy bread — he's going to make sure it's beautiful and crispy when he sears it. Bay leaf ice cream — make sure he doesn't over-churn it. And I want to taste the herbal flavours with that bay leaf running through."
{Marcus}: "Gently pan-fried in a bit of oil and butter slowly. Nice colour."
{Jimi Famurewa}: "It is a squidgy bit of sweet bread topped with really nicely toasted nuts, with a really nice milky ice cream with the delicate flavour of bay. Those little segments of oranges on top have a very slight hint of bitterness, which actually works nicely with all of this."
{Leyla Kazim}: "I really worried about the bay ice cream being overwhelming, and it's a really subtle, elegant ice cream."
{Tom Parker Bowles}: "It's another really impressive dish."
{Marcus}: "It's really hitting the light notes, but I just love that bay leaf ice cream."
{Monica}: "Together, it's a simple, tasty dessert." In the final summary,
{Monica}: "The dessert — that fabulous bay leaf ice cream."
{Marcus}: "A lovely dessert."
Note: Critics and judges were pleasantly surprised that the bay leaf ice cream was subtle and elegant rather than overwhelming, which had been a concern beforehand.
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