Bruleau

Ingredients

• 3 ladlefuls brandy
• 1/2 orange
• 12 cloves
• 1 stick cinnamon
• allspice
• 6 lumps sugar
• 1 small cupful strong, hot, clear black coffee
• alcohol

Instructions

1. Put three ladlefuls of brandy into the special bruleau bowl along with the yellow peel of half an orange, a dozen cloves, a stick of cinnamon, a few grains of allspice, and six lumps of sugar. Let stand several hours to extract the essential oils.
2. At serving time, add an extra ladleful of brandy for every person to be served, and two lumps of domino sugar. Pour alcohol into the tray underneath the bowl and light it. Stir the brandy back and forth until it also catches from the flame below.
3. Let burn for two or three minutes. If the lights have been extinguished as they should be, the effect is beautifully spectral. After three minutes, pour in a small cupful of strong, hot, clear black coffee for each person. Keep stirring until the flame dies out, then serve literally blazing hot.