20680 Tue Jul 23 20:35:18 -0700 2002 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 72334 The last couple of times I've been to the Tuesday market at Justin Herman Plaza, chocolatier Michael Recchiuti has had a booth -- which he mans himself. The samples alone are worth a trip: his rich fudgey brownies, chocolate, fruit pates, and ice cream and sorbet. I couldn't resist emulating one clever woman who speared a chunk of chocolate ganache and dipped it into the raspberry sorbet ... yummmm! Although he doesn't have chocolates by the piece, he has small bags of his most popular items (rose caramels, ginger hearts, etc.). Five dollars for a bag of six might seem high, but I'm used to paying $1.25-1.30 apiece for the rose caramels by weight at Confetti, so I snapped a bag right up. In addition to the brownies he also had vanilla bean marshmallows, s'mores and other goodies. In addition to the raspberry sorbet there was Santa Rosa plum sorbet and burnt caramel ice cream (and a couple of other flavors I've forgotten). I got a pint of the burnt caramel ($7) and took it back to the office. Thinking my boss would like it (she's not a chowhound, but she is quite a connoisseur of confectionary), I dished a couple of spoonfuls into plastic cups for each of the four other members of my department. Then the funniest thing happened. I proffered a cup to one of my colleagues. She stepped back and looked at it suspiciously. "What is it?" "Burnt caramel ice cream." You would have thought I said "mashed banana slugs." She took another step back, screwed-up her face and declined. I was so taken aback I burst out "Geez, you didn't have to make a face!" Everyone else loved the burnt caramel ice cream [vbg]. I also gave my boss one of the rose caramels. Watching the expressions on her face change from mild anticipation to startlement (the caramel is liquidy), to wonderment to voluptuous pleasure was worth every penny! Tue Jul 23 20:35:18 -0700 2002 0 Ruth Lafler 1 72340 You're making it very difficult to be satisfied with the Reese's peanut butter cups I got out of the snack machine to tide me over until the dinner break . . . Tue Jul 23 20:46:48 -0700 2002 72334 0 Melanie Wong 2 72364 I just posted this to torture you [vbg]. Goodness knows your posts have done the same to me more times than I can count. Tue Jul 23 22:16:02 -0700 2002 72340 0 Ruth Lafler 1 72380 I love the rose caramels too. As well as the bergamot chocolates and the pink peppercorn and star anise, which is nearly as arty as Richart. I have a chocolate snob friend who thinks Richart is much more refined... but hey, Michael is local,hence fresher, and Richart is a bit too intellectual in their flavors. Wed Jul 24 01:00:33 -0700 2002 72334 0 Joan Kureczka 1 72399 Whoopie pies were one of the other goodies he had - moist chocolate cake with a slight orange flavor, filled with marshmallow, covered in chocolate - oh so good! I so hope he's there next week cause I'm buying more than one next time! Wed Jul 24 09:09:45 -0700 2002 72334 0 Celery 1 72466 Yesterday I only had time for a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream, and mostly concentrated on the flavor (very intense burnt sugar). Today I dished myself up a larger portion and was struck by the texture -- possibly the best mouthfeel of any ice cream I've ever had: very smooth without a hint of iciness or airiness; creamy without being gummy or sticky. Yesterday my boss had remarked about how creamy it was, but it didn't really register until today. Outstanding and highly recommended. Does anyone know if it can be purchased anywhere other than at his farmers' market booth? Wed Jul 24 19:57:05 -0700 2002 72334 0 Ruth Lafler