Desserts

No meal is complete without desserts. A dessert is a type of
food that gives the finishing touch to at the end of the meal to make it
perfect. The origin of the term is really interesting. The term “desserts” has
been derived from Old French term “desservir” which means cleaning the table.
Normally the desserts are sweet food. Some desserts like types of cheese have
different flavors. The trend to have desserts at the end of the meal is
comparatively new in the western culture. If we look back in time, we can see
there was always a custom to have nuts and fruits at the end of the meal. It
gradually turned into desserts. But sweet dish was comparatively new addition
in the list. Common types of deserts are custards, fruits, pudding, biscuits,
cookies, cakes, pastries, ice creams, gelatin desserts, pies, sherbets,
soufflés, meringues, petits fours and trifles and many more.

 Before the development of the sugar industry in the 19^th
century, sweet used to be out of reach for the middle class. It was a rare
holiday delicacy. A sweet dish in the meal was a note of aristocracy at that
time. After the sugar industry was mechanized, sugar became cheaper. And, as a
result, it gradually took a permanent place in the full course meal. In some
cuisine, dessert is not used as a separate part at the end of the meal. In
those cuisines, sweet dishes are eaten during the meal. In some cultures the
dessert is not at all a part of the meal. They are especially reserved for some
special occasions. Desserts are often eaten as separate meal sometime after the
meal. But obviously it is done when the setting has a casual tone. In American
concept, any sweet dish that follows a meal can be a dessert. Be it milkshake
or other drinks, there are many restaurants that are specialized in the domain
of desserts.