Entremets dates back to the early Europe during the medieval era, being a small dish served in between meals. The word “entremets” is French meaning literally “between servings” and it is usually simple dishes such as porridge or liver. These dishes were eaten among the upper classmen and normally seasoned with expensive spices (saffron, cardamom, cinnamon) to reflect their wealth. They were then evolved into inedible entertainments in forms of performances and theatrical displays for actors, singers, and dancers by the end of the Middle Ages. In modern time today, entremets are extremely popular in the patisserie industry worldwide.
Entremets are, without a doubt, one of my favorite dessert cakes. These cakes are alluring; one look and your mouth will be watering! They have tasteful designs that are always clean and elegant, and inner layers look just as appealing. Executing an entremet cake is crucial because every layer should be even and well uniformed. The cake showcases accuracy, balance and small details. The layers consists of complimentary flavors in different textures while the outside appearance will have colors and decorations representing the flavor. For example, a blue glaze to represent blueberry flavor.
People don’t always realize how much effort and time pastry chefs put into these type of cakes. They are a form of art that not every one appreciates. You might think it’s just another slab of cake but I’m here to tell you that they’re so much more than that! There are many components to an entremet cake:
- Mousse – outer layer
- Gelee – 1st middle layer (interchangeable)
- Sponge cake – 2nd middle layer (interchangeable)
- Cream – 3rd middle layer (interchangeable/optional)
- Crunch/Base – bottom later
- Glaze – coating layer
- Decoration
Essentially, entremets are multi-layered mousse cakes with a variety of textures. Not all entremets are constructed in this order; these layers are interchangeable and it ultimately depends on what you are going for. Mise en place (all prep work of layers) must be ready before assembling the cake. Some layers take longer than others to make, so timing is really important. But don’t be scared, although there are many steps and precautions, it’s actually really easy and fun to make. The most important thing you need is patience.
Linda Desserts 