Cityzen's Passion Fruit Kisses

Valentines will receive a "Special Kiss" from CityZen's Pastry Chef

CityZen Pastry Chef Jewel Zimmer shares a recipe for "Passion Fruit Kisses"


Washington, D.C. - December 19, 2005 - Guests dining in CityZen on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2006 can enjoy kisses from sweethearts, and the chef at the end of the meal. No, not a thank you kiss, but, rather, a delectable "passion fruit kiss" dessert to share with a loved one.

"I wanted to give diners a treat at the end of their dining experience that will bring them together," said Jewel Zimmer, pastry chef of CityZen in Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. "Everyone wants a kiss from their sweetheart, and our passion fruit dessert has an alluring taste and silky texture that is truly seductive!"

Diners unable to join CityZen on Valentine's Day can still pamper their loved one with kisses by creating the dessert in their home with this recipe from Pastry Chef Jewel Zimmer.

Passion Fruit Kisses

Ingredients

Meringue Kisses
1/2 cup egg whites, room temp.
1 cup sugar
Passion Fruit Curd
4 eggs
3/4 cup passion fruit puree (or juice)
1 cup sugar
salt

Preparation

For the Meringue Kisses: Whisk = cup of egg whites until they hold a medium peak. Slowly add = cup sugar, whisking continuously until mixture holds a stiff peak. Fold in remaining = cup of sugar.

Place meringue in a piping bag with a round tip and pipe your kisses 1 = inches in diameter on a tray lined with parchment paper. Bake at 250 degrees for 40 minutes, or until the slightest bit of color is showing. (These can be made a day or two ahead.) Store in an airtight container.

For the Passion Fruit Curd: Whisk eggs, sugar and passion fruit puree (or juice) together. Place in a pot over medium heat. Continue whisking until mixture bubbles around the edge. Approximately 10 minutes. Place in a shallow pan with plastic wrap pressed against the surface to prevent a crust from forming and allow to cool in fridge.

To Serve

Place kisses in a bowl and passion fruit curd in another bowl and put in the center of the table. Dip the meringue into the curd and give your sweetie a Passion Fruit Kiss.

CityZen is the award-winning signature dining restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. Offering the creative, modern American cuisine of Chef Eric Ziebold, the restaurant is open for dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. For reservations or inquires about private dinners in CityZen please call (202) 787-6006.


About Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.
Recently selected by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the "hottest" hotels in the world in their annual 'Hot List 2005', the hotel's sophisticated oriental style reflects its powerful and prominent waterfront locale. The 400-room Mandarin Oriental sets a new luxury standard in the nation's capital. Located in the Southwest section of the District of Columbia, the hotel overlooks the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial, offering unprecedented panoramic views from Georgetown to Old Town. In addition to exceptional accommodations and gracious service, the hotel features outstanding meeting space, dining, spa and fitness facilities.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts, currently operating 23 luxury hotels with a further seven under development in Prague and Riviera Maya, Mexico (2006), Boston and Grand Cayman (2007), Chicago (2008), Macau and Las Vegas (2009). In total, Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, more than 8,000 rooms in 17 countries with 13 hotels in Asia, 12 in the Americas and five in Europe.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in