Before the series existed, there were the books by Julia Quinn, that inspired the whole Briderton series, and for many kids, now adults, the books were a tad spicy. So, they stayed out of reach under the stern gaze of the school librarian, but no more, as the books have been brought to life, mostly retaining the essence of the books by bringing forth the regency era, where women were born to serve society, wed and be human incubators. But things get better in the series as there’s love at the end of the tunnel in the adapted series, so here’s reimagining the headstrong characters as desserts. Remember to try this birthday gift suggestions at your next loved ones party by bringing all these desserts along.
Starting with the OG diamond of the season, Daphne gives off the vibe of a goody-two-shoes character, until her love interest is introduced and we see her unravel and come undone. She labels him a rake and goes risque with him making her brother want to shoot the head of the Duke of Hastings, who coincidentally was also his dear friend. Daphne is a mille-feuille with its delicate puff pastry held by a layer or two of the crème pâtissière. As lighthearted as the show is, there was much more scope to explore her character that alas has been left to the imagination. The French assertiveness and delicacy with her layered personality shine through as you take in the first season so the French dessert is a perfect match for the not-so-flawless diamond.
There’s something fundamentally attractive yet icky about the Bridgerton men, and the Duke of Hastings exemplifies it with his tortured adult-child syndrome. To match Daphne’s stubbornness, he’s a creme brulee, that like a coconut if you crack, the softness comes through. He’s one hell of a problematic character and somehow his wife managed to reform him, not in a very good way, and he turns a new leaf and (in Lady Whistedown’s voice) all is well by the end of the season, as it should be.
Remember how Anthony Bridgerton almost died after catching a whiff of the oldest Sharma sibling? She is a heady drug for another rake-ish character that the oldest Bridgerton is, so the coffee-soaked Tiramisu, that originated in a love house in Italy. Denial can be a great recipe for the enemy-to-lovers arc and the creators went a tad too far and added some Bollywood masala to it, which was disorganised chaos at best. Somehow it managed to bring out the bullish character of Kate and sublime dialogue that made for a sizzling onscreen intense chemistry between her and the Viscount Bridgerton.
Somehow when it comes to marriage, the men act like shrivelled-up cabbages in suits and Anthony quickly sobered up when he realised his retirement days of fooling around were knocking at the door. The shrivelled-up cabbage revived because of Kate Sharma followed by a scandal that made him push away his intended from him, at the wedding altar no less, and choose his bride-to-be’s older sister instead. So, the pouffy souffle for the pompous Anthony with dialogues that can melt you in your seat, we get you, Kate Sharma, we really do.
She was born in the wrong era, to run a successful gossip mag much loved by the ladies and secretly liked by the men too. She is a mouse when it comes to The Queen's Ball, thrown for the single folks to find their partners. She was the wallflower until her season in season 3 when her “friend”, the exasperating Colin finally starts to notice her. You might like the cheesecake, like Colin likes Penelope, as a friend. But introduce matcha to it you might not think of it as much until you taste it. Ahem, let’s say once the junior Bridergton has a taste of the ‘matcha cheesecake’ it kind of grew on him like an addiction.
He had always been in the shadows as the passion and chemistry ran deep between the characters, until season 3 where he’s thrust into the spotlight. He follows a similar path as his predecessors, until Penelope Featherington, scrambles his brain, during that “particular” scene. He is cringe at best with an inferiority complex because surprise, Penelope is an established secret writer under her alias Lady Whistledown. He has the feel of the humble bread pudding that takes on “main character” energy and becomes a Sunday morning staple or a dessert staple in your everyday life.