With descriptions more often found on the back of a wine bottle than a bar of chocolate, Mast Brothers gourmet chocolate is no average candy bar. Available in 19 flavors and split into two categories, Single Estates/Origins and Blends & Pairings, expect to taste the unexpected. From Vanilla and Smoke to Black Truffle and Moho River, no bar comes in with under 70% of organic cocao harvested from small farm cooperatives dotted around South America, and no, none of the bars come with a milk or white chocolate option as, to the gourmet chocolatier, either would be cocao sacrilege.
Easter candy may be the best time of year if you’re as much of a chocoholic, candy-feign as we are. Just think about it; there’s peeps dipped in chocolate, pectin jelly beans in every flavor imaginable, there’s chocolate eggs, mello-creams, Cadbury cream eggs, and chocolate bunnies, lambs, cows, ducks, etc. Not to mention specialty cookies and cakes that are holiday specific. So, are you drooling yet?
We’ve compiled a list of delicious and decadent holiday gifts to help you narrow down what to put in your basket or someone else’s if you’re feeling generous enough. Don’t live in NYC? Don’t worry some of our Easter favs ship nationwide.
We've always been a fan of chocolatier and pastry chef, Francois Payard, and let's face it--it's hard not to be. But when the chocolatiest holiday of the year comes around, you know you are in for something special. Francois Payard shops are stocking up on delicious goodies for this decadent holiday and we couldn't be more thrilled. Francois has created great new desserts and flavors just for the occassion, so if you still need to pick up something sweet for your sweetie, now you know where to go.
Well known for his famous macarons, Payard is not just letting you purchase all his usual and seasonal flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and chestnut, but he has added four new flavors to the menu, which you can present to your beau in a heart-shaped box. Indulge in caramel coriander, strawberry basil, lemon thyme and mint chocolate in addition to all the classics ($48 for 17, $35 for 12). Looking for something super traditional? Scoop up a box of V-Day chocolates ($28 for 12, $55 for 30), comprised of specially made flavors such as mint chocolate, mango passion fruit & citrus zest, lemon thyme, and caramel coriander. Presented in a beautiful box, this will have anybody swooning.
The 2nd Annual Chocolate Week will be taking place next week, from February 4th through 13th. Presented by MPB Agency, in partnership with Cacao Noel, the event celebrates the versatility of chocolate and chocolate-lovers. This year, the week will be embracing a new concept with the promotion of Cafe Gourmand, Tea Gourmand, or Bubbly Gourmand. Participating shops will offer a cup of coffee, tea or sparkling wine with a chocolate inspired mignardises (aka sweet treats) for $10 ($15 with sparkling wine). The goal of the event is for "people to have a chocolate treat at the end of their meal, the ideal sweet ending" states Chocolate Week founder, Severine Picquet.
Calling all chocolate lovers! It's always a treat to receive some sort of delicious chocolate no matter what the occasion is. As the holiday season sets you in a gift buying frenzy--go the easy way with giving out some delicious sweets! After attending The Chicago Fine Chocolate Show last month, and eating more than my fair share of chocolate over the last several months, I can confidently recommend the following as the best of the bunch for chocoholics on your Christmas list:
1. Katherine Anne Confections – This Chicago-based chocolatier ships nationally, although you have to stop by her Logan Square storefront if you want to try her decadently thick hot chocolate topped with homemade marshmallows in flavors like early grey and salted caramel. For a holiday gift, order her mixed pack of truffles, fluffy marshmallows and caramels here!
Cobble Hill’s PS29′s fourth annual “Eat Pie and Shop” is taking place this Sunday December 2nd from 11am to 4pm. The pie filled fest will include a Holiday Gift Fair, Pie Social and celebrity-judged baking contest, with proceeds benefiting the local school’s PTA funded arts and enrichment programs.
The pie competition will be an afternoon highlight, as bakers are invited to bring pies to be judged by parents and a panel of celebrity judges. The panel will include Gail Simmons, Food & Wine and “Top Chef” judge, Melissa Clark, food columnist for the New York Times, Gia Giasullo, co-founder of Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain, Steven Gutterman, Executive Chef of Gastronomie 491 and local restaurant owner Jeff Lederman, of Strong Place, Bocca Lupo and Nectar. The winner will receive a gift package from Food & Wine and bragging rights for the year! Judging will take place at 1pm.
With winter temps rapidly on the decline, cozy everything takes precedence from sweaters, to scarves to stews and soups. Here are some of our latest favorite, on the sweeter side of the spectrum, comfort foods to warm up to on a biting November day.
Shortstacks
What’s better on a Saturday then sleeping in and whipping up some breakfast in bed? Georgia-based, Shortstacks delivers a tall dose of Southern comfort in fine flapjack form. High-quality ingredients like house-made wafers and strawberries create a tantalizing base for these waffle and pancake mixes. From banana pudding to sweet potato, consider them your fluffy first class ticket to epicurean heaven.
Kathleen King, creator and owner of Tate’s Bake Shop in Southampton, got an early start in the baking business. By age eleven she began selling her baked goods out of her family’s Long Island farmstand. In 1980, Kathleen opened her first bakeshop and just kept baking. Since then, Kathleen’s chocolate chip cookies have been selected as the best of the best, her baked goods are sold in gourmet markets nationwide, and her flagship bakeshop has been voted the Best in The Hamptons year after year. Kathleen is also the author of three cookbooks. Her newest, Baking for Friends, is an excellent choice for beginning bakers and also those more skilled in the art of baking.
Marisa Churchill, a former contestant on Top Chef, loves to put healthy spins on scrumptious classics. Her cookbook, Sweet & Skinny ($24), is all about healthier ways to make your favorite desserts. So far, Marisa has shared with us her recipe for PB&J Cookies and Almond Joy Macaroons. This week, we learn how to whip up some good ol' Whoopie Pies!
Marisa Churchill, a former contestant on Top Chef, loves to put healthy spins on yummy classics. Her cookbook, Sweet & Skinny ($24), is chock full of delicious desserts that won't have you hitting the gym twice as hard after you eat 'em. Last week, Marisa shared with us her recipe for PB&J Cookies. This week, it's all about macaroons. Check out her low-cal recipe below!