Glacéed Whole Red Currants

This is undoubtedly one of the most stunning desserts ever devised. Bunchlets of currants are dipped into sugar syrup (cooked to the hardcrack stage) that forms a transparent shell over each glassy berry. When you bite the crackling-hard coating, the tart juices gush out and mingle with the sugar. With sparkling wine, this makes an exquisite finale to an elegant meal.

Working with sugar coating is tricky, and even more so when you dip breakable, juice-laden berries. Do not prepare t