wine : This is a great place to take a break in the meal. Refresh everyone's palate with sparkling water.
serves eight
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons brandy
3 sprigs fresh sage, plus a handful of small leaves for garnish
18 thin slices of prosciutto
3 slightly ripe pears (1 each anjou, bosc, comice if possible)
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola
1. Combine the honey, brandy and sage sprigs in a saucepan and warm over very low heat for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the sage to steep in the mixture until the flavors have combined, about 15 minutes.
2. Cut the pears in half through the stems. Core each of the pears with a knife and cut into thin wedges. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. To serve, place a small, loose mound of prosciutto in the middle of a salad plate. Arrange three pear slices so that they are leaning on the prosciutto. Sprinkle with the gorgonzola cheese and drizzle with a little sage honey. Serve.
