BRISBANE NEWS, MARCH 26 - APRIL 1 2008

Sweet Words
By Kylie Lang

One of the most delicious desserts I’ve tasted is Philip Johnson’s lemon tart. It was on the menu, in one incarnation or another, at his landmark e’cco bistro for years. It even rated a mention in The New York Times, in 1998, as one of Brisbane’s best dishes. The lemon tart doesn’t feature in Phil’s latest book, but as Decadence is his fifth, you can forgive him for not repeating himself. Instead, there’s a more-ish mandarin tart, a yoghurt citrus cake, and a steamed lemon pudding. There’s also honey parfait with grilled plums and pistachios, apple jelly and calvados panna cotta, and chocolate fondants with mint chocolate ice cream. Recipes range from simple creations to those designed to test even the best cooks.