You Need

• For each person, one ripe but not over ripe banana, two scoops of the best and strongest vanilla ice cream (I recommend Hill Stations Strong Vanilla Bean), whipped cream (optional), hot chocolate sauce (which you can make yourself by melting 8 oz Valrhona chocolate in 2 tablespoons cream), and toasted flaked almonds for decoration.

In a shallow glass dish arrange the banana, split down the middle, and add the ice cream. Top with the whipped cream and, if using, pour the hot chocolate sauce over the top. Scatter the almonds on top of that.