National Pears Helene Day

National Pears Helene Day is an annual American holiday dedicated to this exquisite dessert. We celebrate this day to preserve the long tradition of cooking this dish and enjoying its flavor. The date of the celebration falls on March 15.

History

The history of National Pears Helene Day is closely tied to the origins of the dessert itself, which has French roots. It is believed to have been prepared in the 1860s especially for Louis XIV. The authorship of the dessert is attributed to chef J.O. Escoffier.

The recipe for the dessert is quite simple. Pears are boiled in sugar syrup until they become very soft and sweet. When served, they are drizzled with chocolate sauce and garnished with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Today, there are many variations of the dessert. Nuts and different kinds of ice cream can be used. Some people actively experiment and replace pears with other fruits.

Interesting facts

• The dessert is named after Offenbach’s operetta “La Belle Hélène.”
• There is an opinion that the recipe was originally invented so that you wouldn’t have to throw away pears that were already damaged. Heat treatment corrected this defect. Before cooking, the cooks cut off the spoiled parts of the fruit.
• One of the features of the original recipe is the use of crystallized violets.

How to celebrate

On National Pears Helene Day, visit a café or restaurant to taste this dessert from a professional pastry chef. Surprise your family and friends by making it yourself. Recipes can easily be found on the Internet.

Spread the word on social media. Ask other users if they have tried this dessert and what impression it made.

When is National Pears Helene Day in 2025?

National Pears Helene Day is observed on March 15 each year.

Observations