32817 Mon Nov 29 16:08:24 -0800 2004 6 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 145807 I have just moved to San Francisco to attend culinary school at CCA, and while discovering the city and the wonderful restaurants and food scene here (I went to Lulus last night - thanks for the recommendation), I have also discovered Lake Champlain Five Star chocolate bars. They have them at Whole Foods: little fat delicious gourmet bars. My favorite is the carmel... Are there other good but unpretentious chocolates I should know about in time for the holidays? Link: http://lakechamplainchocolate.com/Dept.aspx?pn_deptid=9 Mon Nov 29 16:08:24 -0800 2004 0 simka 1 145839 Scharffenberger, with a factory in Berkeley, makes excellent chocolate in a full range of cacao % for cooking and eating. My partner's mom, also a culinary student/chef, has us send her packages of it. I imagine they make more eatin' type chocolates, too, but I usually just use their blocks for moles and chili, and of course baking. They have a shop at the Ferry Building Marketplace. For an excellent--but not unpretentious--chocolate experience, check out Recchiuti confectioners, also in the Ferry Building. Very expensive, insanely good, beautifully hand crafted chocolates. My favorite is the Fleur de sel, a burnt-caramel/bittersweet-chocolate candy with a touch of sea salt. Mmph. Link: http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/html/pastry__ice_cream___chocolate.html#recchiuti Image: http://www.recchiuticonfections.com/images/home/photo_01.jpg Mon Nov 29 18:13:36 -0800 2004 145807 0 patrick 2 145916 mmmmm... burnt caramel things? I may run to the ferry building instead of to the gym! I knew food-school would try my self-control, but I had no idea that the rest of San Francisco was also going to put my waistline at risk! Tue Nov 30 13:14:54 -0800 2004 145839 0 simka 3 145944 Hee! Welcome to the most food-mad city in the US. While we're sending you out for insanely good local chocolates, don't miss XOX Truffles on Columbus in North Beach -- their burnt caramel truffles are also moan-worthy. At Michael Rechuitti, I agree wholeheartedly with Patrick on the fleur de sel caramels; other favorites are the cassis (cassis pate de fruit and chocolate ganache, enrobed in chocolate), the rose caramels and the honeycomb malt. Tue Nov 30 16:27:59 -0800 2004 145916 0 Ruth Lafler 4 146011 "cassis (cassis pate de fruit and chocolate ganache, enrobed in chocolate)" Good god, Ruth, you're killing me! (she says, whimpering) Tue Nov 30 23:44:55 -0800 2004 145944 0 Caitlin McGrath 5 146021 It is very good! Wed Dec 01 01:43:15 -0800 2004 146011 0 wally 1 145849 You'll love XOX Truffles. XOX has a website (linked below) and a storefront on Columbus Ave in North Beach (as well as a new one in Montclair, across the bay). Delicious, rough, unglitzy. There are many raves about them on the board - just do a search for XOX. Have fun exploring! Link: http://www.xoxtruffles.com/framepage.htm Mon Nov 29 19:27:35 -0800 2004 145807 0 Alexandra