Cayenne Cafe's citrus tiramisu

Cayenne Cafe's citrus tiramisu. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

By Noelle Carter, Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times

June 23, 2011
 


Dear SOS: I just got home from our neighborhood restaurant, Cayenne Cafe, on Beverly Boulevard. We go there a lot, as it is close by, the food is always good and the staff is very friendly. We never usually get dessert. However, it was our friend's birthday, so we decided to splurge. We ordered two, first their carrot cake, which was very good, with cream cheese frosting and a caramel sauce. My husband doesn't like tiramisu because it is made with coffee, and he doesn't like cold coffee. But their citrus tiramisu was absolutely delicious. We were all licking the plate. It was one of the most delicious and unique dishes we have had in a long time. It was light and moist, and I would love to have the recipe to be able to make it during the summer.

Judy Hollander

Los Angeles

Dear Judy: We loved the fresh, bright, lemony notes in Cayenne Cafe's version of the classic Italian dessert tiramisu, or "pick me up."

Cayenne Cafe's citrus tiramisu

Total time: 1 hour, plus chilling time

Our recipes, your kitchen: If you try this or any other recipe from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen, we would like to know about it so we can showcase it on our food blog and occasionally in print. Upload pictures of the finished dish here.


Servings: 8 to 12

Note: Adapted from Cayenne Cafe on Beverly Boulevard

Lemon custard

2 tablespoons flour

3/4 cup sugar

Zest of 1 lemon

3 eggs

Juice of 3 lemons

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tablespoon dark rum

1 teaspoon vanilla extract