National Pears Hélène Day is a food holiday that celebrates the dessert of poached pears, ice cream, and chocolate sauce. Pears Hélène is a dessert made from pears poached in sugar syrup and served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and crystallized violets. Around 1864, French Chef Auguste Escoffier created the dessert in honor of the operetta La belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach. Pears and violets are a classic dessert combination, but there's a catch: pears must be poached and violets need to be crystallized. The result is a complex dessert that many people can't make at home. Fortunately for us, canned pears and sliced almonds are more readily available than poached pears and crystallized violets.  

National Pears Helene Day celebrated on March 15.

We have been unable thus far to find the creator of this national day, but we will be sure to keep you posted.