The Tiramisu Shot

Our newest creation 'Tiramisu Shot' alongside the delicious ingredients used to create it.

Our newest creation ‘Tiramisu Shot’ alongside the delicious ingredients used to create it

We all need a pick-me-up from time to time, right? 

We are pleased to announce a great comeback to Giapo..  the Tiramisu Shot!  

The meaning of tiramisu literally is ‘pick me up’, and I believe it truly holds more than one meaning. Not only pertaining to the burning desire to pick up this dessert and consume it, but also its ability to bring happiness to the person eating it. I have many fond memories of the tiramisu from my childhood. It was my mother’s favourite dessert, to make and eat.  Every time she made it everyone was so happy and it would change everyone’s mood. In the challenging times the world is facing now, we don’t need a grandiose gesture or object to change someone’s world. We just need a sliver of happiness. I hope with our Tiramisu we can bring our customers that happiness – at least a sliver of it.  

Due to the time factor, and the fact that we currently have limited resources, only a small quantity of the Tiramisu Shot is available. We do the best we can, but once it’s sold out, it’s sold out. Also, Giapo’s new Winter hours means we are only open Friday through Sunday. If you’d like to read Giapo’s weekly updates, please click here.

What’s inside the Tiramisu?

The classic components of the tiramisu are: homemade lady finger biscuits, mascarpone cheese, and of course, coffee. What makes our tiramisu a little different is that it is gluten-free – probably the first of its kind. It’s important to us that we allow individuals who may have specific health requirements to have the opportunity to break monotony and seek nonconformity like the rest of our amazing customers. We’ve gone through many trials to ensure we could create a completely gluten-free menu. If you’d like to read more about us becoming completely gluten-free, please click here.

My wife Annarosa and I were both very fond of my mother’s tiramisu, and because we already had plans to make the whole Giapo menu gluten-free, we took the challenge of creating a GF tiramisu recipe.

Our containers allow you to see all the layers that make up our newest creation

Our containers allow you to see all the layers that make up our newest creation

What sizes are available?

We offer the tiramisu in two sizes, a small shot (less than 90 grams), and a larger shot – a container to be specific for 4-6 people (roughly 400 grams). They are made fresh in limited quantities daily. The best way to order your Tiramisu Shot is through the app. 

Our 4-6 serve Tiramisu Shot

Our 4-6 serve Tiramisu Shot

The Process

Like our ever-evolving fight of challenging the status quo, creating this dessert involved challenges that we had to overcome to present to you what we envisioned.

One of our biggest issues was that we couldn’t seem to get the biscuit right. But, we persevered, because we wanted to provide a sweet treat for our gluten intolerance and celiac friends who usually must forgo many delicious dishes. 

The problem was the biscuit would break easily, and it needed to provide a stable foundation for the dessert. Gluten, in a basic scientific explanation, is a type of protein found in wheat, barley, and so on. When combined with water, it becomes a sticky consistency that provides the ‘glue’ to many of our beloved foods.

It is for this reason our biscuits would crumble. It took me back to my days studying food science at AUT, where I had begun research in suitable alternatives for gluten that could provide an elastic property to the recipe.  

We were able to use innovation to overcome this issue by doubling the size of the biscuit, in order to make it sturdier with the lack of gluten. 

We also toyed around with a few different dimensions of the shot, as we wanted to serve more to people, while also keeping the prices lowered.  We decided on the final design as we thought it was an ideal size for one person, and it was a maximum of about 200 calories.

What is in a traditional tiramisu dessert? 

An Italian coffee dessert. Created with coffee dipped savoiardi (lady fingers biscuits) layered with a cocoa mascarpone cheese mixture. 

This is how a traditional Italian tiramisu dessert looks. Photo credit: https://bit.ly/3fSVT46

This is how a traditional Italian tiramisu dessert looks. Photo credit: https://bit.ly/3fSVT46

What is the tiramisu’s history? 

The origins of which region of Italy tiramisu originated from is debated – similar to how the Pavlova is claimed by both Australia and New Zealand. From Tuscany to Veneto, the regions want to claim ownership of the world famous dessert. Some sources claim it is centuries old and was used as an aphrodisiac in brothels, but when governments closed them, it’s history was hidden until it was re-popularised in the 1960’s. A restaurant called Le Beccherie in Treviso, Veneto (about a 40 minute drive from Venice), is where the general origins of the dessert are believed to have appeared. The recipe is credited to the owner’s wife Ada, who wanted a re-energising treat after the birth of their child. The original tiramisu recipe is still served at the restaurant, although it is no longer owned by the family.

What is the recipe for this creation? 

Our recipe:

Ladyfingers (savoiardi)

Potato flour 150g

Corn flour 30g

Whole eggs 425g

Sugar 180g

  1. Beat egg yolks and sugar into a light and fluffy consistency
  2. Bet the egg whites into stiff and shiny peaks that will be then folded into the egg yolk mixture
  3. Sift both the flours into the mixture and gently fold it through
  4. Pipe the mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking paper
  5. Sprinkle with sugar
  6. Bake it into a preheated oven at 180C for 14 mins

Coffee

200g coffee

60g Tagliatella liqueur

30g icing sugar

  1. Whisk the coffee, tagliatella liqueur, and icing sugar together
  2. Dip the top part of the ladyfingers (that has been sprinkled with sugar) in the espresso mixture.

Filling

400g Mascarpone

200g caramel

60g icing sugar

  1. Beat mascarpone, caramel and icing sugar together

Finally, bring the elements together

  1. Line dipped ladyfingers in the bottom of a fridge pan
  2. Layer some of the mascarpone mixture on top of the ladyfingers
  3. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and dark chocolate bits
  4. Keep building 2 more layers following the method above until all mixture and biscuits are used
  5. Chill it for 2 to 3 hrs before you enjoy it
Once you have combined all the components into a shot glass or bowl (or anything else of your choosing), it should look something like this

Once you have combined all the components into a shot glass or bowl (or anything else of your choosing), it should look something like this

If you’ve read any of our blogs before, you will know about our Third Narrative of ice cream here at Giapo. The Third Narrative is not only the combination of American, Italian and New Zealand influences, but the change of the three traditional functions of ice cream:

  1. To cool down on a hot day
  2. To have a sweet treat
  3. To lick

This allows us to create something unique – a New Zealand food which is specific to us. We aim to change the traditional ideals and function of ice cream because we know that you don’t need any more conformity in your life. Traditional ice cream, albeit tasting delicious, is uninspiring and boring – it doesn’t make you feel a sense of freedom or euphoria. But, that’s why we’re here. We’re here to encourage you – through our own creations – to break tradition in your own life. Our Tiramisu Shot defies the original functions of ice cream. Like all the ice cream creations on our menu, the Tiramisu Shot is a piece of art that we would like our customers to relate their own meaning to, and connect to with their own emotions. It is a blank canvas that provides whatever wonder to our customer needs in this challenging time.

This creation allowed Annarosa and I to go back to our roots, and create something that is dear to both of our hearts. Although, the Tiramisu Shot’s real purpose is to create a comfort food for our customers, and to help them find normality in these challenging times. It has been a difficult time for us all, but like always we hope that our returning customers have found the wonder and imagination they continue to seek and received from us before. For me, traditional Italian desserts are a taste of home, nostalgia, and of love. And I hope that all those who taste our creation feel the same way. If you would like to try the Tiramisu Shot, pop into our downtown Britomart store on 12 Gore Street, Auckland City. If you would like to check out our Click and Collect and Delivery options, please click here.

 

References for “What is the tiramisu’s history?”: