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" The French celebrate Christmas with b\u00FBche de No\u00EBl, a classic rolled cake shaped and decorated to look like a log. The dessert was originally inspired by the thick branches that were burned in the hearth on Christmas Eve. I always make b\u00FBche de No\u00EBl for my restaurant staff to share, and I give slices of it to our guests as a little treat during the holidays.  B\u00FBche de No\u00EBl is usually layered with chocolate butter cream, but it can have other sweet fillings, including ice cream. I like it best with chocolate ganache. It&amp;#039;s the same filling you find in chocolate truffles\u2014it&amp;#039;s a little bitter, very creamy, and rich in flavor.  The cake itself is a simple batter made especially light by separately whipping the egg whites. The roll is actually quite thin\u2014my philosophy is that it&amp;#039;s always better to have less cake and more delicious filling. The cake is soaked with a syrup of vanilla and rum, which gives the dessert a very sophisticated flavor. And with a finishing touch of chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, and, if you like, tiny meringue cookies or kisses, you have a dessert that&amp;#039;s elegant, festive, and decadent. Now that&amp;#039;s a happy holiday. Joyeux No\u00EBl! What to Drink  &amp;quot;A holiday dinner is the time to break out some of the more extravagant beverages,&amp;quot; says Daniel Johnnes, wine director of Daniel Boulud&amp;#039;s restaurants. He recommends two sweet wines that fit the occasion\u2014and this b\u00FBche de No\u00EBl dessert\u2014perfectly. The first is Taylor 20-Year Tawny Port NV ($45). &amp;quot;It has an amber color and aromas of raisin, orange, and spice,&amp;quot; Johnnes says, &amp;quot;with enough sweetness and texture to match the rich dessert without seeming heavy.&amp;quot; The second is Emilio Lustau Pedro Xim\u00E9nez Murillo Sherry ($51), bottled from a 30- to 40-year-old solera. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s rich and creamy, with flavors of chocolate, toffee, and dried fruit,&amp;quot; he explains. &amp;quot;Small sips form a wonderful marriage of complex flavors.&amp;quot; Click here to see the recipe for B\u00FBche de No\u00EBl. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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