No one seems totally sure why a day that commemorates the death of a saint – three saints actually, all called St. Valentine – should be an excuse for pigging out on chocolate….But, hey, who am I to argue?
Here are some tantalizing ways to sweet-talk the chocoholic in your life. Tomorrow, I’ll dish about cool gifts that break out of the chocolate mold.
*** If you’re looking for pure flavors, impeccable texture and elegant presentation, look no further than RECCHIUTI CHOCOLATES of San Francisco. Cacao maestro Michael Recchiuti does a sublime Champagne Truffle (with Schramsberg sparkling wine and a powdered sugar cloak); yummy Burnt Caramel Chocolates; and a beautiful assortment ($26) with a “heart” motif. They’re available at the shop in San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace; at some Peet’s Coffee & Tea stores; and on-line at Recchiuti.com.
*** For those with Champagne tastes on a beer budget: Some COSTCO stores have an on-the-premises chocolate factory that can match truffles with the best of ‘em. In San Diego, head to the Morena Boulevard warehouse store for spectacular magnum-size chocolate “Champagne bottles” in dark and milk chocolate. The bottle’s “label” can be personalized to say “Happy Valentine’s Day,” “Congratulations,” or whatever. Costco choco-wizards also make a charming heart-shaped shell out of dark chocolate and fill it with an assortment of truffles and nut clusters. The heart-shaped shell goes for about $17; a nearly 2-pound assortment of clusters and truffles is $19.99. The hand-made chocolates are availableonly at the MorenaBlvd. store. In other cities, call your local Costco to find out if there’s a chocolate factoryin the store.
**** Chocolate fountains have gone mainstream. No longer just a novelty at wedding showers and Sweet Sixteen bashes, the portable metal contraptions can now be bought for as low as $30. From my experience, it’s something you don’t want to clean up after more than once or twice a year. But as a Valentine’s Day gift, it shows that the giver is one mighty cool dude(tte). Walmart carries the Total Chef version for about $50; Amazon.com carries the Rival for $30.
*** Calling all artistes! Body Frosting, in three titillating flavors (Espresso, Midnight Mocha and Cherry Chocolate), comes complete with a paintbrush. Far as I know, there’s no instruction manual, so you’re on your own there.
The same manufacturer, Chocoholics Divine Desserts of Clements, CA (near Lodi), also offers a “Strip
Chocolate” board game, a “Chocolate Dice” game, and an “Edible Tattoo Set” that includes chocolate body frosting, a paintbrush and a set of stencils that includes such messages as “Yummy,” “Kiss,” and “Start Here.” There’s also a "Chocolate Passion Body Powder" that’s billed as chocolate “dust” that will make you “look, feel, smell and taste good enough to…” You get the picture. Frosting costs $8 a jar. Games and gifts range from $15 to $30. Order on-line at GourmetChocolate.com.
*** CHUAO CHOCOLATIER is well known for its way-out flavors and chile-spiked confections. I, personally, opt for their "Parchita" bonbon, filled with fresh passion fruit, soft caramel and milk chocolate instead. I also like the “Chocolate Lover’s Flight” –a selection of filled chocolates that includes such supposed aphrodisiacs as honey, pomegranate and almonds. The “Flight” costs about $25 at the company's San Diego cafes and on-line at ChuaoChocolatier.com. www.chuaochocolatier.com
*** Trader Joe’s. Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. In a plastic tub. For 3 bucks. Be still my heart.
*** Snapping Turtles are a specialty at ECLIPSE CHOCOLAT in San Diego. These smoky chocolate-dipped caramels are topped with cayenne-candied pecans. Visit the Café at 2121 El Cajon Blvd. or order on-line at EclipseChocolat.com. eclipsechocolat.com
*** Another San Diego chocolate master is JACK FISHER, pastry chef at 910 Restaurant in La Jolla. JF Confections offers a pretty chocolate-brown box filled with bons bons that are as delicious as they are beautiful for $24. Fisher's creations are small enough that you can sample and savor a couple at one sitting...a tactic I prefer to chomping into one humongous Joseph-Schmidt-like candy. Fisher's flavors vary with the season but there’s always a lemony creation to swoon over and an elegant cherry-flavored number that would have thrilled Lucy and Ethel. Order on-line at JF Confections.
*** How about a fancy-schmancy box that you can EAT when the truffles are gone? I love the edible chocolate boxes from CHARLES CHOCOLATES. You can stick to the VDay schtick with the "Heart Collection" (which contains the company’s amazing Passion Fruit and Mojioto ganache fillings) or celebrate the romance of the snowflake with the "Winter Collection". Both cost about $60 for 24 pieces plus the solid chocolate box and lid. Many Charles offerings are available at Amazon.com; the Heart and Winter boxes are available at CharlesChocolates.com only.
Yum! Chocolate. Recchuiuti is one of my favorites - thinking of it makes me long for San Francisco. I wonder if I can find them on the East Coast anywhere?
Posted by: Angela | February 11, 2009 at 09:32 AM
There is a new website which is a gourmet food directory for Vendors that offer mail order - www.foodsoftheweb.com The ever increasing Merchant list now exceeds 400 with over 1000 food products. The site uses clear photos of the products along with descriptions of the products and the Merchant. Then if interested there is a link the Merchant's website. Foods of the WEB eliminates the need for surfing the search engines and easily provides many options of what food to send.
Posted by: Aaron Vincent | February 25, 2009 at 12:35 PM