Eye Candy: New Orleans Fig Jam Tart with Pecan Shortbread and Peach Leaf Ice Cream

Ten years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, we were honored to celebrate the city’s resilience with the fabled Brennan family when they brought their historic opulence and modern techniques up North to the Beard House. With a menu devoted to the renowned seafood of the South, host Ralph Brennan and his group of world-class chefs took diners on a tasting of the Bayou’s best with dishes like frogs’ legs croquettes with Creole mustard and crispy Louisiana softshell crab with saffron bisque. A real show-stopper of the evening was the final course, a stunning New Orleans fig jam tart layered with lacquered, sweet fresh figs. A feast for both the eyes and the palate, this dessert was paired with buttery pecan shortbread and an inventive peach leaf ice cream. With an evening filled with contemporary takes on New Orleans classics, it had us itching to book our next flight down to the vibrant Crescent City.

View this event's menu and details here. For upcoming Beard House dinners, check out our events calendar. Photo by Jeff Gurwin.

Hilary Deutsch is editorial assistant at the James Beard Foundation. Find her on Instagram.