Baci!

Perugina, the legendary Italian chocolatier known world-wide for creating only the highest quality confections, debuts its specialty heart-shaped box filled with iconic Baci confections just in time for Valentine’s Day. “Baci” is the Italian word for “kisses” and the confections are produced in the hills of Perugia, Italy near the historic home of St. Valentine. Almost 90 years after their creation and in keeping with tradition, each Bacio (singular) includes a special message of love tucked into each foil wrapper. Legend has it that Perugina’s founding partners would express their sentiments for each other by passing hidden love notes in the Baci wrappings.

Baci are Perugina’s most popular chocolate confections and their coveted recipe has remained virtually unchanged since Baci were first created in 1922. Baci have a gianduia center, a sensuous whipped chocolate filling blended with finely chopped hazelnuts, that is crowned with a whole hazelnut and then enrobed in a silky, dark chocolate.

Beautiful, delicious and exquisite. A lovely gift!

www.perugina.com

Do You like Chocolate?

Is that a Trick Question? No, but you might find a treat by tuning in this Wednesday, October 26 at 8:00pm EST for a live chat on “Tips and Tricks for Baking with SCHARFFEN BERGER Chocolate” with Yigit Pura, executive pastry chef at San Francisco's Taste Catering Co. and winner of Top Chef: Just Desserts Season 1.

HOW TO JOIN

1) Join by logging into Ustream and visiting the Scharffen Berger channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/scharffen-berger

2) Join by logging into Facebook and visiting the Scharffen Berger page, UStream tab: https://www.facebook.com/ScharffenBergerChocolateMaker?sk=app_196506863720166

3) Join by following #ElevatedDesserts on Twitter

Chef Yigit Pura (pronounced Yeet) will answer your questions on everything from baking with chocolate to mastering the perfect cake texture to making a glossy, smooth ganache that will impress your guests every time.

Yigit has a lifetime of experience in the pastry kitchen, beginning his culinary career at age four in Ankara, Turkey. To help launch the Elevate a Classic Dessert with SCHARFFEN BERGER Chocolate Contest, Yigit specially developed this recipe to which he will share the inspiration: Chai Tea-Spiced Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache.

Up next for Yigit: the 2012 opening of Tout Sweet, a high-end pastry shop located in San Francisco's Union Square, followed by a cookbook titled "Sweet Alchemy" with Chronicle Books that will be released in 2013.

So, DO you like chocolate?   http://www.scharffenberger.com/

Chocolate Coquettes

Divine truffles with seemingly magic ingredients. Magic or not, they are delicious and will tempt even the most strong-willed among us. The Sweet Coquette Collection from Vosges Haut Chocolat will please beyond a doubt and if you are going to give or receive or eat chocolate and chocolate truffels, you might as well enjoy the experience as much as possible,

The directions for storing and savoring the truffles are reminiscent of romance. The instructions advise that you first enjoy how the truffles looks and then lightly taste the top of the truffle.Then bite and listen for the snap of the chocolate and taste the truffle in two slow, languishing bites. There's no gobbling to be done here. A slow, intense savoring of every taste and texture.
 They are made with fresh cream and so must be consumed with 10 of receiving them--which should be no problem. But do take it slow....
For a delightful visual tour visit http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

Very Choice Chocolate

 Here is an absolutely heavenly chocolate bar. Amano Artisan Chocolate recently launched its Montanya (70% cacao) chocolate bar and two new Milk Chocolate bars - Jembrana and Ocumare. To bite into them and savor them is to love them.

In 1996, Art Pollard decided that there had to be better chocolate than what was available in the U.S. So began his quest for the “ultimate chocolate.” After much research and experimentation, Art developed a process that incorporated both modern and ancient chocolate-making techniques. After studying chocolate manufacturing in Europe and further honing his skills, in 2006 Art and his business partner Clark Goble  felt the chocolate was  comparable to the very best European chocolate and Amano Artisan Chocolate company was created.

This is simply divine chocolate. The Milk Chocolate has the depth and smoothness of Dark Chocolate, but it is very much milk chocolate. And the Dark Chocolate—let’s just say you will never forget it.  Amano has received numerous awards worldwide and is now recognized by industry experts and top chefs as producing one of the highest quality chocolates in the world. One taste and you will know why. These chocolates are meant to be savored

Amano Chocolate is available at specialty foods retailers nationwide and at amanochocolate.com.