Poire belle Hélène

Poire belle Hélène is a classic dessert of poached pear, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Here I’ve reimagined it as a petit gâteau, keeping the flavours true to the original. The technique of using a melon baller for the pears is one I learnt while working at The Fat Duck. It’s incredibly simple but so effective. Blend what’s left of the pear after making your balls to use in the pâte de fruit.