First, repeat after me.

"This is a torch and THIS is a lighter..."

"This is a torch and THIS is a lighter..."

"This is a torch and THIS is a lighter..."

Now...the secret to creme brulee is cold "creme" and hot "brulee." The creme part of this delicious dessert is a custard made from egg yolks, sugar and cream. You cook it slowly so that it does not curdle or separate. Then you have to chill it. Preferably overnight. Then, just before serving, you top it with sugar and torch the top to caramelize the sugar. A perfect creme brulee goes to the table hot on the top from the torch, but cold underneath.

A very good friend of ours, who happens to be a caterer, had a party the other night for 60 guests. The dessert was creme brulee.

Realizing, the day of the event, that he could not find his torch, he asked if we had one he could borrow. We had borrowed a bunch of supplies from them the week before, including some portable butane burners, and they were coming over anyway to pick them up. I found our torch and put it aside for them. It was blue, very much like the one in the photo, only a bit smaller.

That afternoon, we were both busy. I was out of the shop running an errand, and he was prepping for dinner. He sent one of his servers to pick up his supplies and the torch. One of my employees helped load the truck.

Long story made short, the serve took a "blue" lighter instead of the blue torch.

When I returned from my errands, I noticed the torch was still on the counter and called the caterer. Voice mail. Left a message that I would be happy to drop it off if they called and let me know where the event was. Never got a call back.



When the server returned, the caterer asked if he had the blue torch. The server said yes. And that was that. Until it was time to torch the cremes for dessert. He asked for the torch and was handed the lighter.

I won't repeat what happened next.

"This is a torch and THIS is a lighter..."

Even if the lighter is blue.

Recipe for Creme Brulee

2 cups heavy cream

5 large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1 vanilla bean