Poached Pears with Bitter Chocolate Sauce

• 1/2 qt. red wine,
• enough to cover the pears
• 2-7/8 oz. sugar,
• to taste
• 4 Williams pears
• 5-1/3 oz. chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa solids
• 1/8 qt. cream
• 7/8 oz. butter
• 1/8 qt. perry (pear liquer) *

1. First of all peel the pears, though leave the stalks on, and cut away a small piece at the base of the pear.
2. Place the sugar, red wine, and pears in a saucepan, bring to the simmer, and leave until the pears are soft.
3. Add the butter, alcohol, chocolate, and cream into a bain marie and heat gently until the sauce has amalgamated.
4. Drizzle the thick chocolate sauce on the plates (be as artistic as you like), then place 1 pear on each plate cut side down, and drizzle with a little more sauce.

red wine, enough, sugar, pears, chocolate, cream, butter, perry

Taken from www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/18741 (may not work)