National Pears Helene Day– March 15, 2022

National Pears Helene Day, commemorated on March 15 every year, honors the scrumptious French dessert made up of warm poached pears, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce. The dessert is a celebration of French culture and history, and National Pears Helene Day helps us keep the tradition alive.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL PEARS HELENE DAY
Pears have actually long been used in desserts because of their natural sweetness, and Pears Helene is no exception. The Pears Helene Dessert is a French dessert made with poached pears, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce.

Pears Helene is a ‘pâte de fruit’ dessert, which is popular in France, and originated in the early 1860s. It has actually been a popular meal for several years. This delicacy typically includes pâte de fruit covered with whipped cream, however you can also make it with apricot or pineapple pâte de fruits and vanilla ice cream on top instead of the whipped cream.

The origin of Pears Helene can be traced back to around 1864 when French Chef Georges Auguste Escoffier made a dish from pears poached in sugar syrup and served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and took shape violets. He created this meal in the honor of the operetta La belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach. Over time, this tasty and renowned meal has taken lots of forms, and easier versions of Pears Helene have been developed by replacing the poached pears with canned pears and the crystallized violets with chopped almonds.

NATIONAL PEARS HELENE DAY TIMELINE
1846
The Birth of Georges Auguste Escoffier
Escoffier, the French Chef, restaurateur, cooking author, and creator of Pears Helene, is born.

1864
Pears Helene is Born
Escoffier produces the iconic Pears Helene and names it after the operetta “La belle Hélène.”

1864
” La Belle Hélène”
” La belle Hélène,” or “The gorgeous Helene,” premiers at the ‘Théâtre des Variétés,’ Paris.

1950s
Simpler Pears Helene
Individuals start to embrace easier versions of Pears Helene.

NATIONAL PEARS HELENE DAY FAQS
Is National Pears Helene Day a worldwide occasion?
Technically, National Pears Helene Day is only commemorated in the U.S. But, who’s stopping you from celebrating?

Is Pears Helene a difficult meal to make?
The original meal can be difficult due to all the methods included, however any person might make Pears Helene with the ideal ingredients at hand. Use the substituted variation for a simple Pears Helene!

For how long does it take to prepare Pears Helene?
The dish preparation takes about 10 to 30 minutes, however the whole meal takes about an hour to complete.

NATIONAL PEARS HELENE DAY ACTIVITIES
Treat your palate
The greatest enjoyment you can have on National Pears Helene Day is by eating it! Visit your preferred restaurant that serves Pears Helene and take pleasure in!

Prepare it yourself
Prepared to bring out the supreme chef in you? Buy some pears and all the other active ingredients and begin preparing them yourself. You can invite your family and friends and serve it to them too.

Enjoy pears
You can enjoy pears in their natural form by consuming them raw if you can’t get your hands on any Pears Helene.

5 SMOOTH FACTS ABOUT PEARS HELENE
We love pears 3,000!
There are over 3,000 varieties of pears worldwide.

The U.S. stands tall
The U.S. is one of the largest producers of pears globally.

Pears have a history
Pears are among the very couple of fruits with a comprehensive history, dating back to about 1000 B.C.

Avocados vs. pears
Today, avocados are typically called ‘butter fruit,’ but pears were called ‘butter fruit’ for their soft, butter-like texture in the olden days.

Pears are music
The wood of the pear tree is utilized to construct musical instruments and often even furnishings and other wood decoration.

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL PEARS HELENE DAY
Pears Helene is worthy of love
Pears Helene is among the scrumptious desserts one can ever taste. So, a big day to celebrate this special dish is most welcome!

Another reason to taste this rich dessert
National Pears Helene Day permits us to enjoy this delicious meal. So, what’s not to enjoy about this day!

Pears are healthy
Although the richness of this dish involving chocolate and other sugary foods might seem like overkill for some, pears are really nutritious fruits.