Comice pear

Poire Doyenné du Comice

What it is

It was raised in the garden of the Comice Horticole at Angers and first fruited around 1849; a plaque there still names the gardener Dhommé and the society's president, Millet de la Turtaudière. The greatest dessert pear in France is therefore named after a committee.

In the kitchen

It ripens off the tree and from the inside out: buy it hard, keep it at room temperature and press at the neck rather than the belly — by the time the belly yields, the core has gone brown. It will not hold its shape in a pan, so serve it raw with a blue cheese and leave the poaching to Williams.

Goes with

Roquefort Walnut Honey Dark chocolate Comté Cream

Same species

Nashi pear Pear Perry vinegar Poire tapée Williams pear

Also used with

Omija (schisandra berry) Prosciutto di San Daniele Génépi

In season alongside

Persimmon Arbutus berry Blood orange Candy cap Cherimoya Menton lemon

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