Strolling the market aisles, there it is. That unmistakable perfume of Meyer lemons. A cross between lemons and mandarin oranges, these beauties are both tart and sweet, adding depth to any recipe calling for either lemons or oranges. They have a short season, and that’s a good thing, for prolonged exposure means wearying of their charms and taking them for granted.
If you search for Valentine’s Day desserts, you’ll likely come up with either chocolate or fruits, and preferably red fruits. With this recipe you have both : dark sweet cherries, buttermilk panna cotta tinted with cherry juice and topped with dark chocolate ganache. The panna cotta is tart-sweet, a nice counterpoint to the sweetness of the ganache. The dark cherries need no added sugar, as they are tender and sweet all by themselves.