346457 Tue Nov 28 21:42:29 -0800 2006 26 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2053686 I'd like to order my SO some fabulous chocolate covered toffee for part of his Christmas gift. Does anyone have a favorite site? I only want to buy a pound or so. I'm in Boston if anyone has any local suggestions as well. TIA! Tue Nov 28 21:42:29 -0800 2006 43168 eriberri 1 2053725 Have you thought about making toffee yourself? I have an embarassingly easy recipe if you would like it. Tue Nov 28 21:54:18 -0800 2006 2053686 48876 mamaciita 2 2053745 Please do. Thanks!!! :) Tue Nov 28 22:00:18 -0800 2006 2053725 20762 Phoebe 3 2062080 Here's another recipe. David Lebovitz's Chocolate Almond Buttercrunch Toffee is excellent. I haven't tasted better and it's quite easy to make. The baking soda will give you a slightly lighter, very crunchy toffee. http://davidlebovitz.com/archives/2005/12/index.html#000175 Fri Dec 01 18:06:50 -0800 2006 2053745 18705 emily 1 2053815 Here it is--I got it from Southern Living 2001 Annual Recipes. Toffee 1 cup slivered almonds 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup water 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups (12 ounces) milk chocolate morsels 1 cup finely ground walnuts Place almonds in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cook butter and next 4 ingredients in heavy saucepan over high heat, stirring constantly, 15-18 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 310 degrees. Remove from heat and immediately pour over almonds (do not scrape pan). Sprinkle immediately with chocolate morsels, and spread evenly to 1/2 inch from sides. Sprinkle with ground nuts, and let stand until firm. Break into small pieces, and store in an airtight container. Yield: 1 3/4 pounds The most difficult step (for me) is grinding the walnuts because it means I have to haul out my baby food processor. I think I've been using the wrong king of almonds all this time--I always use the sliced ones (horizontally, with the skins still on). It has never taken me 15 minutes to get to 310--more like 5. (I cook with electric, so it may be way too hot.) If you really want to knock people's socks off, make the toffee with only the almonds, spread it as thin as possible, and break it into small chips when cool. Make a recipe of Alton Brown's Chocolate Mousse, and substitute Frangelico for the rum. Brush some ladyfingers with Frangelico. Layer the ladyfingers, mousse, toffee, and sweetened whipped cream for a stellar trifle. Good luck!! (Let me know how you like it.) Tue Nov 28 22:19:18 -0800 2006 2053686 48876 mamaciita 1 2053942 Toodie Jane posted a great one last Xmas also. Enstrom.com was recommended by hounds upon a request from last season! Tue Nov 28 23:09:34 -0800 2006 2053686 10776 4chowpups 2 2054101 i second the enstrom's reccomendation. we get a box every christmas. Wed Nov 29 00:02:09 -0800 2006 2053942 14819 cookie monster 1 2054517 The toffee from B.T. McElrath of Minneapolis is extraordinary - they have several kinds. https://www.btmcelrath.com/mall/dynamic.asp?Category=toffee A friend gives me a box every year and I just adore it. The best I've ever had. Also fabulous artisanal chocolates. The website has a list of stores so they may have a Boston outlet. Wed Nov 29 02:57:41 -0800 2006 2053686 32444 MakingSense 2 2054614 Chocolate Potpourri in Glenview, Illinois, right outside Chicago,and run now for the secoond generation by the Gordon family, makes an incredible chocolate and nut covered toffee with an unsurpassed buttery flavor, in my opinion. http://www.Chocolatetruffles.com Enjoy, Evil Ronnie Wed Nov 29 03:47:48 -0800 2006 2054517 14463 Evil Ronnie 2 2063707 I second the recommendation for B.T. McElrath toffee. I'm currently addicted to the dark chocolate-macadamia toffee, but their milk chocolate-almond toffee is wonderful, too. Anne Sat Dec 02 06:35:56 -0800 2006 2054517 12541 AnneInMpls 1 2054771 eriberri, i'm in boston too and interestingly enough, i have been on a MISSION to locate the best DARK choc covered turtles(good luck!!) and nut toffees. enstrom's is my mom's and manys' fav, and it is delic and they FINALLY have a dark choc version which i have ordered but not tried yet. however,after much research, i have found another EXCELLENT and very unusual line of artisinal nut toffees made by the oregon based www.lilliebellefarms.com. their pistachio, and spicy pecan, dark choc covered toffees are VERY dangerous. come in 4 ou. pkgs so you could give him a variety. Wed Nov 29 05:33:27 -0800 2006 2053686 10110 opinionatedchef 2 2055208 OpChef, thanks! I'm sure you've already encountered them in your search, but have you tried Turtle Alley in Gloucester? I'm not a turtle person myself, but I have heard many good things. Cheers! Wed Nov 29 14:36:57 -0800 2006 2054771 43168 eriberri 3 2061001 eri, thanks much for that gloucester tip. i'll follow up on that! Fri Dec 01 05:49:16 -0800 2006 2055208 10110 opinionatedchef 2 2074459 opinionatedchef, I was reading down further and CynD posted a url for a place here in Los Angeles that sounded interesting for English Toffee. Checking out their website they sell a dark chocolate turtle, but they call them gadgets. You might be interested. http://www.littlejohnscandies.com/gadgets.html Wed Dec 06 08:31:05 -0800 2006 2054771 57299 Feed_me 1 2054936 Keller's Crunch is the best I've ever had, but alas it is no more. I have friends who would kill me if I didn't buy Enstrom's for them. I've been using Enstrom's for at least 15 years, and service has been flawless. Wed Nov 29 08:47:24 -0800 2006 2053686 10031 Dave Feldman 1 2055204 I am always amazed with the breadth of knowledge and incredibly helpful suggestions here. I'm going to check out all of the sites, buy some for SO and make some for gifts. If it comes out good, I'll make his gift toffee next year. Excited to try my new (and first!) candy thermometer! Wed Nov 29 14:35:19 -0800 2006 2053686 43168 eriberri 2 2056752 One "warning" about the toffee at Enstrom's. It ain't elegant-looking. The toffee starts with large slabs, and most of the time, it breaks up into irregular pieces in shipment. And then the nuts on the outside of the candy tends to break up and form a wonderful melange of pebbles in the box as the candy is eaten. I love all this about Enstrom's, but it might not be for everyone. Wed Nov 29 22:52:06 -0800 2006 2055204 10031 Dave Feldman 3 2059160 all true. and the toffee "pebbles" in the bottom of the box make a great topping for ice cream. Thu Nov 30 19:13:02 -0800 2006 2056752 14819 cookie monster 4 2059889 Now THAT is a great idea -- why have I never thought of doing that? Thu Nov 30 22:10:13 -0800 2006 2059160 10031 Dave Feldman 1 2061142 We were disappointed with the toffee from ENSTROM'S because of the mess of crumbs and lack of real pieces. They actually sell the crumbs to use in baking, and I wondered if anyone had used them. We got Butter Crunch Toffee from LI-LAC in NY and it was wonderful, less sweet. There is a great recipe for Mahagony Toffee in Rose Levy Beranbaum's Christmas Cookie Book. Fri Dec 01 09:14:33 -0800 2006 2053686 10838 Fleur 2 2064550 fleur, thanks for those helpful comments. i'll try to google li- lac. i ALWAYS prefer my candy on the less-sweet side. Sat Dec 02 20:11:16 -0800 2006 2061142 10110 opinionatedchef 1 2071553 I'm a fan of See's Victoria Toffee. Last year I bought the Engstrom's toffee because so many Chowhounds recommended it, but I didn't like it as much as I like See's. http://www.sees.com/Prod.cfm?CatGroup=00250067 Tue Dec 05 15:58:22 -0800 2006 2053686 10644 Nancy Berry 1 2072967 Outstanding English Toffee from a confectionary shop in Los Angeles' Farmers' Market, where you can still see it being made: http://www.littlejohnscandies.com/ Tue Dec 05 21:40:36 -0800 2006 2053686 10203 CynD 1 2116839 Hands-down the absolute best we've had is from Mrs. Primrose in Southern California.It's always fresh and very yummy. Their site is http://www.mrsprimrose.com Wed Dec 20 18:35:55 -0800 2006 2053686 60999 Food Appraiser 1 2117967 I love the Vosges toffee. They seem to have some to sample half the time i go to the store, and it's always deeeeeelish! YUM! Wed Dec 20 23:30:43 -0800 2006 2053686 49957 annimal 1 2121245 I have been a long time fan of Enstrom's. (just tried the toffee crumbs for the first time - very good - but I like the whole pieces crushed as a topping, better than this.) Just came across Valerie Confections toffee (thanks to the Candyblog for this rec.) and this is good stuff! More upscale and refined packaging and product than Enstrom's, this makes a beautiful gift. They have different flavors - the almond, hazlenut, peanut, are my favorites, and most come in both milk and bittersweet. (their rocher is also delish) I could also post this on the thread "food you ship to yourself" as after my first order to sample it for possible gift giving, I have already sent myself a few boxes, along with the gifts I ordered. Here is the link to their site: http://www.valerieconfections.com/store/ And to pictures and the review on the Candyblog: http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/item/valerie_toffees_nougats/ Valerie doesn't knock Enstrom's off its perch, they are two different types of toffee in two different price ranges, but it could vie for top honors in its category. Like Dave F. above, there are people on my list who adore the Enstrom's and "expect" it this time of year - I wouldn't give them Valerie's. But there are the chocolate lovers on my list, who might less appreciate the simple deliciousness that is Enstrom's, for whom Valerie's is a great gift. Currently, I have open boxes both in my fridge, that will not be around for long. :-) Fri Dec 22 00:25:32 -0800 2006 2053686 11773 shortstop 1 2121266 I have always had great experiences with Ethel M. chocolatiers out of Las Vegas. They make a butter crunch that is out of this world!! They also make wonderful filled chocolates and amazing chocolate liqueurs. Very highly recommended. Web site is www.ethelm.com Fri Dec 22 00:33:06 -0800 2006 2053686 46604 paisleypark20