Cherries Jubilee with Butter Crunch Ice Cream

For our thirteenth birthday, my parents surprised my twin brother, Allen, and me with a trip to New York City. Being country kids, we were thrilled at the dizzying excitement of the big city. We hailed our first cabs, saw the Empire State Building, and marveled at the life-sized stuffed animals at FAO Schwartz. Among our many firsts in New York was our first fine-dining experience; I can still see the brilliant cut-crystal glasses, the shimmering chandeliers, the elegant si