It took me forever to find a decent photo of it, because every photo I found makes it strangely look absolutely disgusting, but I swear that the persi pien will be the most scrumptious dessert you'll ever eat. If the restaurant does it right, that is.
So just what IS this amazing delight?
The persi pien are baked peaches filled with dark chocolate and amaretto cookies.
Still sound not all that great?
That's what I thought at first, too. Then I went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Italy: Ristorante I Cacciatori in Roure--which is a tiny hamlet in the mountains about halfway between Pinerolo and Sestriere, and discovered these little gems. My boyfriend and I never skip dessert when we go out to eat, and we often get 2 different ones, just to have more to try.
I'd ordered a bonet--which is my second-favorite dessert, and a post for another day, and had frankly scoffed when he ordered baked peaches. I mean--gross. I've never liked baked fruit much, unless perhaps in pie form. They remind me of my one stint in an Italian hospital, where I was fed only nasty baked apples, but I digress.
Hans ordered the peaches, the persi pien, and when they came, and the sweet smell of peaches wafted toward me along with the rich, dark chocolate scent, I grabbed his plate instead of mine.
That night we actually ordered a second helping of the peaches--they were that good. And when I was back at the restaurant this summer, we told the owner as soon as we sat down that she'd need to save some for us!
Unfortunately, you can only get them in the summer, as they are seasonal. But if you find yourself in Piemonte, where they are a specialty, and it's July, don't miss them. You won't regret it. Even if they look a little like dog poo. Ignore that and dig in!
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