Recipe #271
Mari of Mevrouw Cupcake selected this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe was Crème Brûlée, which 9 out of 10 times is my desert choice in a restaurant. So of course, I used it as an excuse to run out and buy cute dishes and a kitchen torch. Instead of buying six matching dishes, I decided to mix and match. I found the dishes at Cost Plus World Market for only $1.99 each (of course I ended up buy $30 worth of chocolate because it was sale).
For the torch, I went to the new Sur la Table and ended up spending way too much on other kitchen toys. 😛
Using the torch to create the brûlée part of the dessert was a little scary and I’m sure there is a technique to it. Regardless, the burnt sugar was nice and crisp and provided a nice textural difference to the chilled, cremey custard. Crème Brûlée is easy to assemble and make ahead for a dinner party and would certainly wow the guests. I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like it. Simple ingredients: cream, milk, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla.
Pink Stripes 
Sur La Table is one of the most dangerous places for me to “stop by.” There’s one down in Soho (or Chelsea, can’t remember) and I pretty much have to just stay out of that part of town. Yours looks great with the strawberries!
Looks good. How can you not love Sur La Table?
Yum, I love that you topped this with strawberries. I love a berry topped anything! I plan to try the brulee at a later date when I have more time.
I didn’t eat the creme brulee in the top picture until last night. The sugar topping ‘melted’ into a caramel and it was soooo good–like a creme caramel.
your creme brulee looks great!
I should have gone shopping with you…and I love the look of your blog.
I hear you on the foraging for equipment. I stopped by Marshalls to look for an 8″ springform (so I wouldn’t have to use my tart pan again) and I ended up leaving with several other pans and a strong start to a new fall wardrobe…
Look at how pretty your creme brulee is! I will have to remember Cost Plus. Or maybe not, it sounds dangerous.
How gorgeous and honestly-what fun to splurge on equipment! I love your challah below too.
You got to go shopping! I am so envious! Don’t you just love Sur La Table. . .even if they are a little expensive? I found my little dishes at Fred Meyers. They were just to fun to pass up =)
Your creme Brulees are perfect and look so Yummy! I think half of the fun was using the torch. Your pictures are beautiful too.
I want to go to Sur La Table, oh NY brings back fond memories! You got a great deal for $30 at Cost Plus World Market. Your pictures are beautiful and your creme brulee looks delicious!
Your creme brulee is gorgeous! I love the strawberries. We get the Sur la Table catalog and that’s dangerous enough for me — the actual brick and mortar store would be downright lethal. Still, is there anything better than a kitchen gadget binge? This will definitely be one of my company desserts of choice from now on — it was way easier than I thought, and like you said, it’s a universal crowd pleaser.
Sound like you had a fun shopping expedition! Beautiful job on your creme brulee 🙂
Sur la Table for me is like ManLand (aka Home Depot) for the hubs… trrrrrubble 😉
Nice job!
I love how you put the strawberries on top! So yummy! World Market is one of my favorite stores. I’m going to have to pick up some of that chocolate on sale! thanks for commenting on my blog.
Your creme brulee looks delicious! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment about my shortbread 🙂
I love recipes that are an excuse to buy new toys! Your Brulee looks fab
I’m like you, any excuse to go out and buy new tools! Your crème brûlée looks great!
sur la table is so dangerous!! 😉 your creme brulee looks fab, great job!
Your brulee is really pretty! I agree, there is nothing better than cream, milk, eggs and sugar.
How did you end up getting behind on gossip girl!?!? haha.. I don’t usually watch shows on tv because I’m so busy with school, but since I had to make the creme brulee, I thought I’d multitask. Usually I have to watch all my favourite shows on my laptop during my ride to school, which is annoying, but at least I skip all the commercials.
I wish Canada would have all the amazing kitchen stores that you guys have in the States. Do you know how difficult it can be to buy even a cookie scooper or a whisk!! I don’t even have ramekins because the ones I see are either too iffy or way too pricey.
Yay! You are a shopper, just like me. You asked where I got my ramekins – Homesense, in Ontario. They are made by Bia. They are pretty red but the dim light made them a little orangey in the pics.
I love all of your new treasures and your creme brulee!
That looks delicious! Especially with the strawberries! Great job!
Gosh, I wish I had a Sur La Table near me! Your brulee looks delicious! 🙂
Your brulee looks wonderful! Shopping for new kitchen toys is always such a dangerous proposition 🙂
I love the variety of ramekins you got. Creme brulee in every shape and size!
Your crème brûlée looks great!
It’s always fun to have a reason to buy a new kitchen gadget or two!
Your collection of dishes that your bought are so cute. I can’t even walk into Sur La Table, dangerous for the wallet. Your creme brulee looks delicious!
World Market, you say? I’m off to shop, since I don’t have enough gadgets! 😉 And your creme brulee is lovely.
I love the idea of buying different non-matchy creme brulee dishes! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Its my new TWD favorite 🙂
Clara @ iheartfood4thought
Thanks for visiting and for suggesting the manchego cheese – I will definitely try it. I was so excited when Sur La Table started opening more stores across the country – but now I wish I lived near a Cost Plus World Market too.
I thought your dishes looked familar, I have the same ones from Cost Plus! Your brulee looks delicious and I like the strawberries on top!
Ok, so I can’t walk into Sur la Table without really wanting to get married just for the registry. Is that wrong? Now you tell me about CostPlus. You’re killing me. Don’t send my boyfriend the link, ok?
Amazing pictures…
It is an easy dessert, isn’t it? And so impressive! Your brûlées look great!
Your brulees look wonderful! I love Cost Plus..score on the little dishes!
Ooooh, I love World Market… it’s a dangerous place for my wallet to be, lol. Congrats on all of the fun new kitchen toys.
Nice job on your c.b… it looks just like at the restaurant!
Sur La Table, Crate and Barrel, World Market, Pottery Barn, Target… you name it. These are the places that have contributed to my overly full cabinets. I can’t resist dishes (a weird addiction, I know).
Your strawberry topped brulee is beautiful!
I can relate to getting side tracked. I can go into a store with 5 things on my list and come out with 30 things I absolutely NEED 🙂
I love the strawberries as part of the topping. It looks great! 😉