Step 1

In a large saucepan, boil the water, sugar and lemon to form a syrup. Add the vanilla powder, if using.

Step 2

Peel the pears, leaving the stalk and the core intact. Ensure the pears are covered by the syrup by placing parchment paper on top and cover with a lid.  Poach in the syrup for about 30 minutes until tender.

Step 3

Remove the pears from the syrup and finely cut the ends off so that each pear can stand up right without falling over. Chill in the fridge until needed.

Step 4

In each serving dish, serve 1-2 scoops of ice cream, top with a pear and pour over the warm sauce. Garnish with grilled or toasted hazelnuts and serve immediately.