One summer, the peaches were so amazing that I didn’t want to do anything to them. Unfortunately, you can’t put a peach on a plate and send it out to a customer. So I chose ingredients—mellow cheeses, sweet and crunchy pistachios, and a mild balsamic vinegar glaze—that complemented the sweet raw peach.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4 to 6 on it¿s own or 8 to 9 as part of fourplay

　　

For the Peaches

1/4 teaspoon citric acid

　　1 cup (280g) Simple Syrup (page 184)

　　4 super-ripe peaches

　　

For the Balsamic Glaze

1/2 cup (110g) white balsamic vinegar

　　

To Serve

4 ounces (113g) farmer’s cheese

　　4 ounces (113g) fresh ricotta cheese

　　Candied pistachios (see page 215)

　　Micro basil (or chopped fresh basil leaves)

　　Fleur de sel

　　

For the Peaches

Step 1

Whisk the citric acid into the simple syrup.

　　

Step 2

Cut the peaches into 8 wedges each (don’t peel them) and toss them in the syrup. Remove the peaches from the syrup and place on a tray or platter. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

　　

For the Balsamic Glaze

Step 3

Put the vinegar in a small nonreactive saucepan and simmer gently until thick and syrupy, 10 minutes. Let cool before using

　　

To Serve

Step 4

Divide the peaches and cheese among dessert plates. Drizzle with a little of the balsamic glaze and garnish with the pistachios, some basil, and salt.

　　Reprinted with permission from Dessert Fourplay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Copyright © 2008 by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Published by Crown Publishing. All Rights Reserved.Johnny Iuzzini,, executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. This is his first book.Roy Finamore, a publishing veteran of more than thirty years, has worked with many bestselling cookbook authors. He is the author of three books: One Potato, Two Potato; Tasty, which won a James Beard Foundation award; and Fish Without a Doubt.__