Today is
National Irish Coffee Day. An Irish Coffee is perfect for these freezing days. It's chilly here in the Bay Area, but nothing like the Ice Storm that's spread all over the U.S. Safe safe and warm, folks!
Many years ago, on my first day in California, I was lucky to hitch a ride with a visiting dignitary. Don't ask. Things happen! The day's tour of San Francisco included the hills of San Francisco, Sonoma County, the Renaissance Fair, Sausalito, Fisherman's Wharf, the Palace of Fine Arts, Cliff House, the Golden Gate Bridge and a stop at the Buena Vista Cafe for an
Irish Coffee. I saw more of the San Francisco Bay Area on that one day than I did over the next ten years.
Irish Coffee is a very San Francisco
drink invented in 1952 at
The Buena Vista Cafe. The recipe was a collaborative effort between
Jack Koeppler, the Buena Vista’s owner, and
Stanton Delaplane, a well-known international travel writer and San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Here's the original recipe.
Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista is still made the same way.
The official story of
Irish Coffee tells of the perseverance and repeated attempts of Koeppler & Delaplane and even a trip to Shannon Airport, where a forerunner of Koeppler’s vision was served. The whipped cream posed a problem, but the input of a prominent dairy farmer turned Mayor of San Francisco, solved the problem: Age the cream for 48 hours and froth it to a precise consistency so it would float on top of the hot coffee, to Koeppler’s specifications.
So if you're in San Francisco today, it's a big day at the Buena Vista. Stop by and raise a glass!
Since I love
alcohol infused truffles, I'm posting a recipe for
Irish Coffee Truffles. You'll love this easy recipe from
Martha Stewart Weddings. I use darker chocolate than in the original recipe, but otherwise, it's just about the same.
I also often roll the truffles in ground chocolate espresso beans! This recipe is pretty much no fail, and that's what I like!
IRISH COFFEE TRUFFLES
Ingredients
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1 pound plus 14 ounces bittersweet chocolate, (65-72%), finely chopped
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup plus1Tbsp packed dark-brown sugar
4 large egg yolks
3/4 cup Irish whiskey
2 Tbsp coffee extract
1/4 tsp coarse salt
Good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling (or ground chocolate covered espresso beans!)
Directions
Coat 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; line with plastic wrap, allowing a 2-inch overhang; set aside.
Put chocolate and butter into medium heatproof bowl set over pan of simmering water; stir until chocolate and butter have melted. Remove from heat.
In separate saucepan, bring cream, corn syrup, and brown sugar to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Immediately pour over chocolate mixture; whisk until smooth.
Whisk in yolks, whiskey, coffee extract, and salt.
Pour into prepared pan.
Cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly on surface to prevent a skin from forming.
Refrigerate until firm enough to roll into balls, about 4 hours (or more).
Using a1-inch ice cream scoop or medium melon baller, scoop chocolate into balls, immersing scoop completely, then rotating it; transfer to rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
 |
| Coeur d'Alene Irish Coffee Truffles |
Put cocoa powder into shallow dish. Remove truffles from refrigerator. Roll each ball in your palms until completely smooth, then roll in cocoa powder (
or crushed chocolate covered espresso beans) to coat (if truffles become too soft to roll, return to refrigerator until firm); transfer to rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (up to 3 days).
No time or ingredients to make your own? You can buy
Irish Coffee Truffles. I'm very fond of the
Coeur d'Alene Irish Coffee Truffle. Maybe easier to find if you have to celebrate today would be the
Lindt Irish Coffee Bar. Both are great and use real Irish whisky. Or, you can check with your local chocolatier. They might make a great
Irish Coffee Truffle. If you find one you like, let me know!
