"FLAVOR OF THE YEAR"

Nothing gets tongues wagging and mouths watering more than the suggestion that a particular foodstuff is dubbed the Best Bite of 2008.

A recent article in The New York Times claims that salted caramels get to wear the beauty queen’s sash  this year.  Reporter Kim Severson says the buttery candies that are dusted with chi-chi finishing salts and, often, enrobed in rich chocolate, are “one of those rare flavors that works its way from an elite culinary obsession to the American mass market.”

To prove the point, Severson talks about Haagen-Dazs’ introduction last spring of a “reserve” brand of salted caramel ice cream, as well as Starbucks’ recent salted caramel hot chocolate drink. Just before the holidays, Wal-Mart gave the sweet-salty confection a vote of confidence by creating a store-brand salted caramel truffle.

I’m happy to give credit to the French for the original idea of teaming up sweet, buttery cooked sugar with crunchy salt grains. (Salted caramel is an art form in Brittany where the local marshes surrender the top-of-the-line finishing salt called Fleur de Sel, “ flower of the salt.”)

However, having eaten my weight in salted caramels over the years, I’m convinced that some of the best are produced right here in the U. S. of A.

These are my favorites. If I’ve missed a great one, PLEASE let me know. I wouldn't want to miss out on a single brilliant bite.

RECCHIUTI CONFECTIONS

Michael Recchiuti’s fleur de sel caramels are out of this world – smooth, soft, buttery, ever-so-slightly smoky, with a few tiny grains to tickle your tongue for an instant before giving way to overwhelming richness.
A 16-piece box costs $23 at Recchuiti.com and at their store in the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco. 

FRAN’S SALT CARAMELS

 President-Elect Obama is about to make Fran’s of Seattle’s salted caramels the 2009 equivalent of the Ronald Reagan Jelly-Belly.

But those in the know have been swooning over this company’s products for years.  Fran Bigelow’s Salt Caramels are beautiful -- plump, pliant, cloaked in dark or milk chocolate and artistically sprinkled with gray sea salt or Welsh smoked sea salt. Aficionados claim these have the highest “salty” quotient of all the upscale caramels out there.

A 16-piece box costs  $24 at the Fran’s Web site as well as in many upscale supermarkets and gourmet shops.

Fran’s also offers an excellent Caramel Sauce in a pretty jar (pour it on ice cream and sprinkle your own favorite finishing salt on top).  Unfortunately, the company stopped making my favorite, Espresso Caramel Sauce, years ago.

L.A. BURDICK

L.A. Burdick won my heart years ago with their adorable “mousie” truffles. Recently, they extended their winning streak with two new amazing caramels dusted with fine salt.  They are pure and buttery, with the salt adding lovely crunch. The company’s original caramels—mocha, apricot and vanilla – may not have the salt but are definitely worth tasting too.  A very pretty “collection” box costs $44 on the L.A. Burdick Web site.

CHARLES CHOCOLATES

This San Fran-based company is one of my favorites for chocolates that are gorgeous to look at and heavenly to eat.  The Charles dark, rich caramel square is dusted with fleur de sel and enrobed in 65 percent bittersweet chocolate. You can also get the Pecan Caramel which features the fleur de sel, a freshly roasted pecan and the same dreamy chocolate coat.  The caramels cost $30 for a 20-piece package at Charles Chocolates.

POCO DOLCE

OK. So technically, the exquisite salt-dusted chocolate “tiles” from this relatively new little company, aren’t real caramels. But they do feature burnt caramel toffee, toasted almonds, bittersweet chocolate and sea salt….and they ARE scrumptious. $34 buys 16 pieces at PocoDolce.com.

VOSGES HAUT-CHOCOLAT

Vosges Chocolates, the Chicago purveyor of extravagant, expensive and, sometimes, way-out confections, does a  Marchesa Casati caramel truffle that involves black sea salt,  85% dark chocolate and, get this,  real freshwater pearl dust.. According to the Web site, the marvelous morsels are only made during holiday seasons and are currently sold out. Since the pricetag is 45 bucks for 9 pieces, I’m not exactly boo-hooing the scarcity. In fact, I’m quite content with the company’s delicious Blush Caramels that are sprinkled with Hawaiian red sea salt and something called li hing powder (which apparently is salty dried plum powder). They cost $9.50 for a package of four “exotic” caramels.

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