Categories: Fruits, Ice cream 
      Yield: 4 servings 
  
      1 qt Water                               4 oz Dark sweet chocolate 
  2 1/2 c  Sugar                             1/2 c  Whipping cream 
      1    Vanilla bean split                       French vanilla ice cream 
      4    Pears; peeled                   
  
  Combine water,sugar and vanilla bean in large sauce pan and bring to boil. 
  Add pears, reduce heat and cook gently until tender (30 minutes). 
  Refrigerate pears and syrup for 24 hours. Remove vanilla bean from syrup. 
  Melt chocolate in heavy pan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth 
  and glossy. Scrape vanilla bean pulp into chocolate. Add cream and bring to 
  a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. To serve, place scoop of ice 
  cream in bowl. Place pear alongside ice cream and spoon chocolate sauce 
  over top.