Take example from Pinocchio, eat the whole pear, peel included!
Origin
Pears originally come from China and Central Asia. They were cultivated by ancient Greeks, and were mentioned in Homer´s Odyssey too. Pears became a common fruit in Europe during the 17th century, specially because Louis XIV´s gardner selected 500 different varieties of pears, with different ripening times, so that the king would have been able to have fresh pears every day all year round. Pear was european aristocracy’s favourite fruit, because of its sweet, delicate taste and because of its difficutly to be preserved. This made this fruit a pleasure more than a food. Through times, many papers were written on pears varieties and on how to preserve them.
Cook it
Pears are scrumptious just as they are! But they can also be a very tasty addition to cakes (especially chocolate ones), rice dishes, or savory pies. They can also be combined with strong cheeses such as gorgonzola and taleggio. A classic recipe is poached pears in spiced red wine and sugar which can be served either hot or cold, possibly accompained by fresh cheese, like mascarpone, ice cream, or chocolate sauce.
Did you Know that
Nowadays you can find many different kind of pears, each one with its own properties. The best to eat just as mother nature made them? Williams and Abate! The first kind available from august to february, the second from september to april.
