Dessert

From Chef Tasso for Supper Underground, supperunderground.com

2 cups port wine
½ cup water
¼ cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped (keep the seeds and pod)
1 stick cinnamon
½ tsp. whole allspice
peel of half a lemon
2 pears

Combine all ingredients except pears in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Flame off alcohol.