"seasonal flavors" news and stories

For most of us, the shift from August to September means it's back to school time. For restaurants, it's time to make the seasonal changes to the menu. It's a little less complicated with the bread situation, but the pastry cooks and our pastry chef have been talking about the new fall dessert items for a couple weeks now. They've been thinking, discussing, going back and forth, and hammering out details. It can be hard to come up with new menu items with all of the things you need to keep in mind: seasonal flavors, not repeating flavors too much, having a variety of options (different textures, temperatures, etc), keeping in mind what your guests will actually eat, thinking about possible allergies...

It's definitely a challenge, but trying to come up with new dessert ideas also makes me think about what I would most like to eat. These are my favorite dessert flavors. Tastes and flavor preferences are very personal, so what are some of your favorite dessert flavors?

1. I'll eat anything raspberry. Definitely my all time favorite.
2. Blueberry is delicious.
3. Hazelnut is so sophisticated yet satisfying.
4. I really enjoy lemon-y dessert.
5. I'm sorry, but I think chocolate is on everyone's list.
6. Mocha is also a favorite.
7. I love desserts that incorporate wine, red or white, sweet or not.
8. It's a toss up between strawberry and cassis (black currant).