The Sweets Issue

Recent research shows that one’s predilection for sweet foods may be inherited in one’s genes. Finally, a reason why I tend to decide on a dining location based on the dessert menu and my contribution to potlucks will usually be cake or cookies. I was born this way!

It’s true, I inherited a love of making and consuming desserts from my mother, whose cakes for Sunday dinner, brownies for our school lunches and fudge for holiday gifts were a huge part of my childhood. When I spent a college semester in Paris, I was determined to find the best chocolate pastry in the city (or succumb to sugar overload in the process). I’ve worked in bakeries, baked cakes for restaurants and even acted as a judge in dessert competitions. If you ever hear me say I am not a sweets person, please rush me to the emergency room, as there is something off-kilter with my mental and physical state.

Thus, I feel very qualified to work on the Sweets issue, where we tackle some difficult questions when it comes to dessert choices. Like, are you Team Cake or Team Pie? We asked a panel of baking experts to weigh in on why one of these desserts may be more popular than the other. If you’re nostalgic for cool treats to beat the heat, read about some new spins on traditional frozen delights. Want to expand your knowledge of global flavors and ingredients? Check out our list of local sweets to take your taste buds on an international culinary adventure. And what’s the difference between macaron and macaroon anyway? Check page 39 for that answer. Then, test your knowledge of the ancient grain sorghum and how to use it in the kitchen.

The Sweets issue was both a blessing and a curse to create. Selecting topics and stories was easy because we are fortunate to have a wide array of businesses and artisans creating desserts in our region – which was also the reason this issue was challenging. There is so much more to sample! As always, use this issue as a guide to your own culinary explorations. When you make your sweet discoveries, tag us @edibleneflorida so we can add to our list of dessert destinations. Thanks for reading!

Lauren Titus, Editor

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STORIES FROM THE SWEETS ISSUE