Mignardises– [Min-yar-deez] a parting gift from the chef. small sweet bites served at the end of a meal. Usually after dessert. Typical mignardise are chocolate truffles, bite size pates de fruit, macarons. The word derives from the French word for “cute.” The legend is that once upon a time in France, at the end of their long days in a hot kitchen, the chefs would fashion tiny treats for themselves with the bits of remaining batter and sauces that they had prepared for the guests. It then became natural for these chefs to share these treats with their friends.

Mignardises are the bookend to the amuse bouche. A perfect way to end the year.

Thank you for reading and for eating with me this year. Here’s to a sweet end to 2018, and sweet beginning to 2019.