About Tiramisu
Tiramisu is an Italian dessert typically made from Lady Fingers, espresso coffee, mascarpone cheese, eggs, cream, sugar, marsala wine, cocoa and rum. The name tiramisu means "pick-me-up" (metaphorically, "cheer me up"), referring to the two caffeine-containing ingredients, espresso and cocoa.
The Lady Fingers are sprinkled with or briefly soaked in a mixture of the coffee, rum, and sugar. They are then layered with a mixture of mascarpone cheese and a custard made from egg yolks, marsala and sugar, known as zabaglione. Cocoa powder is then sprinkled on top.
The dessert has become one of the most popular types of dessert served in upscale restaurants of all types, not just Italian restaurants. The recipe has been adapted into cakes, puddings and other varieties of dessert. Other flavours are often used now in place of coffee, including strawberry, lemon or chocolate.
It was the sweet chosen to represent Italy in the Cafe Europe initiative of the Austrian presidency of the European Union, on Europe Day 2006.
