A Meiringer By Any Other Name

A Meiringer By Any Other Name

According to local legend, meringues were invented in 1720 in the Bernese Oberland town of Meiringen by a Swiss confectioner named Gasparini. The popularity of the fluffy deserts was so great that they soon spread to neighboring France, where Marie Antoinette apparently was so taken with them that she was said to actually make them herself regularly at the Trianon. From the palaces of France the dish spread to the rest of the world, and it is the French angle that led to the name change: from the original meiringer to the more common meringue. Melt-in-your-mouth meringues are still a local specialty in Meiringen, where they are sold in dozens of pastry shops. To make them yourself, whip two parts egg whites together with one part sugar until the mass is light and fluffy. Bake for three hours at low heat, then let cool. Serve with a generous dollop of fresh whipped cream. Afterward, you might want to make an appointment with your personal trainer.