the Bosc pear

Bosc pears have always fascinated me.  Their cinnamon brown skin (in my opinion) resembles a potato more than a piece of fruit.  Truth be told, if I had to choose between a Bosc pear and an in-season apple, I would normally go for the apple, except for this past weekend.  I was at our local farm market and picked up a bag of Bosc pears (grown in NY state).        

The Bosc pear is a cultivar of the European Pear (Pyrus communis) and is sometimes called the “aristocrat of pears”.  Many people think you have to peel or cook the pears, but that is not the case.  I prefer mine sliced and plated, but you can bite right in like an apple, if you choose.     

Many artists feature the russeted Bosc pear in their paintings, drawings, and photography because of its natural beauty.  I have recently seen a lot of decorations and arrangements with them.  Presently, our pears are sitting in our Simon Pearce Dover bowl, and it looks quite lovely.