349688 Sat Dec 09 13:12:01 -0800 2006 23 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2084427 I've never tried them, but keep hearing so much about them...love the salty sweet combo....so I'm looking for the best ones to order for the holidays (maybe chocolate covered, maybe not?). Can anyone suggest some resources for me? Thanks! Sat Dec 09 13:12:01 -0800 2006 28182 stacylyn 1 2084478 stacylyn, I am going to try these-- http://littleflowercandyco.com/press_new.html The reviews sound wonderful. Maybe someone has tasted these already, and can report? Sat Dec 09 14:05:06 -0800 2006 2084427 42470 blue room 2 2085134 Little Flower sea salt caramels have a really buttery flavor that lasts a long time on your tongue. They're mildly salty, and good. I've also tried the Fran's caramels. They're a little "precious". If you feel like experimenting, make the chocolate salt caramels in the December issue of Gourmet (recipe available on the Epicurious web site). I've been wowing my friends with them. Sat Dec 09 20:08:32 -0800 2006 2084478 10926 mnosyne 2 2087832 They are indeed wonderful. I use salt very sparingly, so I found them to be more than mildy salty, but they have a good chewy texture, and good balance of sweet with the salty. Mon Dec 11 02:41:27 -0800 2006 2084478 46671 notmartha 2 2130232 I loved them. I bought the salted, regular and lemon to taste test. Couldn't get enough of them, but the salted ones were definitely my favorite. I didn't realize how salty they were until tasting them next to the plain vanilla caramels. I LOVE that addition of salt! Wed Dec 27 01:10:08 -0800 2006 2084478 11921 wyf4lyf 1 2084861 Thanks for that post -- I'll have to pick some of those up. For the chocolate-covered style, I love the fleur de sel caramels from Michael Recchiuti: http://www.recchiuti.com/cgi-bin/recchiuti/108.html Sat Dec 09 17:38:41 -0800 2006 2084427 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 2128646 Just tried the Recchiuti sea salt caramels (purchased from Ferry Building). They are better than the Little Flower Company (but more expensive). It's a bit less salty, and the thin veil of chocolate really makes it more interesting. Tue Dec 26 05:41:31 -0800 2006 2084861 46671 notmartha 2 4232741 I third (fourth? fifth?) the Rechiutti suggestion. Hands down the best salt caramels I've eaten. Of course, they taste better when you are sitting lazy at a bench, watching the ocean at the Ferry market. Rest of Rechiutti creations are also good. Tue Dec 09 11:05:27 -0800 2008 2084861 53259 emerilcantcook 2 4233555 These are my favorites. YUM. Also, in Seattle, Frans does good caramels and chocolate covered caramels. Tue Dec 09 14:36:07 -0800 2008 2084861 156153 akq 1 2084886 This isn't going to be overly useful, since apparently these are only available from the manufacturer in France, but they are amazingly good. Recchiuti's are good, but these are divine: Caramel au Beurre Sale from LeRoux Chocolatier, Quiberon, France There is supposedly a retail store in Paris, but I've never been able to find it! If you can find them, try them! Sat Dec 09 17:51:11 -0800 2006 2084427 22319 waldrons 2 4234283 Agreed, the Leroux salted butter caramels are absolutely delicious. In Paris, L'Etoile D'or, 30 rue Fontaine, carries them. A little out of the way, it is worth the detour to stock up on the caramels as well as Bernachon chocolates. For fleur de sel in a toffee - Valerie Confections' Almond Fleur de Sel toffee is scrumptious. (as are most of their toffees and their peanut candy.) http://www.valerieconfections.com/confections/flavours.php Tue Dec 09 19:27:51 -0800 2008 2084886 11773 shortstop 1 2084998 There is a big range of flavors and salt intensity. I prefer the one that feature more salt and often are labeled "burnt" carmel as well. The Recchiuti mentioned above are very good when visiting SF but never very good off the shelf in LA. I also like the ones at Woodhouse in Nappa. I've got a big box on order as a christmas present to myself. Sat Dec 09 18:42:53 -0800 2006 2084427 10099 JudiAU 1 2085109 http://www.franschocolates.com/catalog/product.asp?cid=8 I enjoy these a lot. Sat Dec 09 19:52:43 -0800 2006 2084427 22184 duckduck 2 4234396 Fran's are my favorite, and they have some other, higher-profile fans as well... http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/143881.asp Tue Dec 09 20:24:11 -0800 2008 2085109 27327 MsMaryMc 1 2085635 Do you have a Trader Joe's nearby? They are making a version of their own this year. In the true TJ's tradition, they are quite good, and far below the price you would pay elswehre. Worth a trip. Sun Dec 10 00:23:30 -0800 2006 2084427 51804 french roast 2 2131052 I thought the TJs ones had a decent flavor but I wanted them to be a little saltier. Wed Dec 27 15:22:32 -0800 2006 2085635 11921 wyf4lyf 3 4232169 They are good, but I think the salt is only on the outside in the TJ caramels, at least last year that was the case. I'm trying to make my own this year, first batch was a little overdone in the sugar boiling, but I kinda really like that taste. I've had the little flower ones too, and liked those. That was a few years ago. Tue Dec 09 08:30:43 -0800 2008 2131052 12752 MsDiPesto 1 2086226 If there is a local Whole Foods Market, they will have the salted caramels, including the Frans brand. Buy a box to see how you like them (they're a bit pricey though), and then you can move on to smaller, more boutique like brands :). Sun Dec 10 07:52:16 -0800 2006 2084427 11006 chica 1 2130246 I bought some smoked and grey salt caramels from Fran's for my mother for Christmas. She opened them for all to try and everyone loved them. Wed Dec 27 01:18:40 -0800 2006 2084427 16406 ziggylu 1 4232250 I fourth or fifth Recchiuti fluer de sel caramels as they are not salty, not too sweet, just good quality, chewy, intense caramel flavor. However, I did have them at the Ferry Building so can't vouch for mail order as someone else mentioned. Tue Dec 09 08:57:10 -0800 2008 2084427 108661 ceekskat 1 4233751 I also endorse Recchiuti as the best I have had - the caramel is darker than some, which I prefer. Fran's are good. Love Lilliebelle farms, especially their lavender salted caramel...mmm...but I do like the other Lilliebelle creations. They are out of the Rogue River Valley in Oregon I believe. The one's without chocolate at TJs i tried were OK, but not great. Not enough salt, and too light for my tastes. Charles' chocolates have some, which I put in the OK category, but prefer others. Tried Moonstruck - I liked the cajeta one, less much the salted caramel. They are more liquidy caramel. Tried one from Whole Foods, from Santa Cruz, CA I think and wasn't too excited about any of them. Tue Dec 09 15:44:19 -0800 2008 2084427 15001 jsaimd 1 4233828 I have made these a bunch http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/fleur-de-sel-caramels-recipe/index.html super easy and super good Tue Dec 09 16:13:32 -0800 2008 2084427 158016 cassoulady 1 4234204 I really like the fleur de sel caramel recipe on epicurious. I up the salt by about 50% and try to use the best butter and cream. If you multiply the recipe by 5 you've got a nice jelly roll pan full of caramels. I think the Fran's are kinda blah. Tue Dec 09 18:53:01 -0800 2008 2084427 64882 Vetter 1 4234440 Check these out, really, really good, celtic sea salt, yum! http://www.bequetconfections.com/products.html Tue Dec 09 20:47:22 -0800 2008 2084427 161523 rcspott