Jessica's Dinner Party

by jessica yoon

dessert

Noces de Diamant

I’m back in Paris and even though school is already going at full speed, I still have Korea on my mind.  It was such a memorable winter with it being my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary, or as the French say Noces de Diamant. All the family gatherings and holiday festivities really felt like a lead up for the big party we held for them just before the new year.  It felt even more so that way for me because I spent a lot of time thinking and planning about how to make their tiered celebration cake!

…

Read More

Goodbye Brownies with Passion Fruit and Toffee

Aside from being a little homesick, it’s also been hard saying goodbye to all the people I met during this past year.  Most of the friends I made are fellow students and/or similar globetrotters like myself, so leaving France has inevitably been around the corner.  Expected as it may be, goodbyes are always sad and a bit melancholy.  But to make the most of it for two friends, I decided to make some goodbye brownies for our farewell picnic.
…

Read More

Cheers to 2011 with Chocolates

It’s been quite an extraordinary year.  Being in Paris and learning patisserie has been like living a dream that I never even dared to dream.  I have so much to be thankful for and even more to look forward to in the next year.  I have no idea what’s to come, where I’m going, or what I’ll be doing, but I’m excited to see how all those answers unfold!

…

Read More

Carrot Cake For a Birthday

Carrot Cake | Jessica's Dinner Party

I’ve always been quite reserved when it comes to picking favorites.  When people ask me what my favorite restaurant, movie, book, or ice cream flavor is, I’m always stumped for an answer.  I definitely have long lists of likes (and very short lists of dislikes), but it’s hard for me to pick just “the one.”  It’s probably because I take it too seriously.  After all, “What is your favorite blank?” is used mostly during small talk conversations and with acquaintances.  I highly doubt my opinion would make a profound impact on someone I just met, or that they would even think twice about it.  I know it’s not a big deal, what I say today can change tomorrow, tastes evolve, and trends will turnover, but for some reason I still feel the need to be brutally critical and a little bit too thoughtful when it comes to this favorite business.

With that said, it can be duly noted that when I say carrot cake is my favorite cake, I truly mean it.

Carrot Cake | Jessica's Dinner Party  Carrot Cake | Jessica's Dinner Party

  

…

Read More

Dessert First: Green Tea Layer Cake and Ginger Brownies

When it comes to dinner parties, I like to make dessert first.  In general, baking takes more time and careful precision than cooking.  So, before the kitchen becomes loud with banging pots and chopping knives, I like to have dessert completed.  The great thing about cakes is that it can be started a day in advance.  Usually, cake layers taste better the next day because the flavors are given time to rest and settle.  While baking is done the day before, I always frost and assemble my cakes in the morning of the day of the party.  I think frosting always tastes best the day it’s made.

…

Read More