45071 Tue Apr 11 21:19:49 -0700 2006 14 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 222513 were to get the best, since the EG discussion sort of led there a little bit. but where to get the best non-fruit filled. wacky flavors are ok chile, peppercorn, gorgonalaza, st. augur blue cheese, taragon, etc. but no fruit filled ones. i've only tried the ones at Reichcutti at the Ferry Building so far, good not great though. i had the caramel sea salt, chocolate espresso that looks like a junior pyramide, and a chile one. Tue Apr 11 21:19:49 -0700 2006 0 kevin 1 222518 Why not just go to Epicurious Garden? It's not that bad of a walk from the downtown Berkeley station. Tue Apr 11 21:37:55 -0700 2006 222513 0 jschyun 1 222532 My favorites are from XOXO in North Beach. Tue Apr 11 22:52:39 -0700 2006 222513 0 nooodles 2 222554 XOX -- no second O. The burnt caramel are amazing. But I'm a little confused about your mention of Recchuiti -- are you looking for truffles or any high-end chocolates (Recchuiti doesn't do truffles). Wed Apr 12 01:30:35 -0700 2006 222532 0 Ruth Lafler 3 222557 Good point (and thanks for catching my XOX typo). I just saw "truffles" in the post and needed to talk about XOX. Maybe the OP just means great chocolate in general? Wed Apr 12 01:40:58 -0700 2006 222554 0 nooodles 4 222623 Recchiuti does have truffles. Although I haven't tried them yet, I have seen them at the Ferry Building shop in bags (not in a box, as pictured below). Link: http://www.recchiuti.com/cgi-bin/chocolate/shop/product.html?mv_arg=prod_code%3d819895%2d000749 Wed Apr 12 13:53:15 -0700 2006 222557 0 Debbie M. 5 222650 I guess they must be new -- the price is given as the "introductory price." I don't believe the sell them by the piece. Wed Apr 12 14:57:20 -0700 2006 222623 0 Ruth Lafler 6 222655 If they sold them by the piece I would have tried them by now, instead of having to wait until I'm feeling flush enough to drop $30+ for a bag! Wed Apr 12 15:05:59 -0700 2006 222650 0 Debbie M. 7 222667 Same here! Wed Apr 12 15:36:13 -0700 2006 222655 0 Ruth Lafler 6 222674 I think that the truffle is the same as the special they were selling in February and in a box for Valentine's day. That one was coated in powdered sugar, this one in cocoa. Wed Apr 12 16:05:20 -0700 2006 222650 0 wally 7 222833 Actually, they sold at Vday and still sell the Champagne (dusted outside, chocolate no fruit or anything inside) and Chocolate (dusted) truffles....I love the Chocolate and really hated the Champagne ones.... Thu Apr 13 13:03:05 -0700 2006 222674 0 bandit 1 222586 I'll also have to second the vote for XOX Truffles. They are phenomenal and the flavors are sublime. I prefer the traditional dark chocolate, but the caramel is pretty amazing too. If you really feel like guilding the lilly, then have a cup of hot chocolate or a mocha, both are made with the same rich ganache that is used to make the truffles. a sante, Curtis Wed Apr 12 09:18:13 -0700 2006 222513 0 Curtis 1 222606 I also love XOX truffles. But if you're just looking for chocolates, I recommend Woodhouse chocolates in St. Helena. They are Belgian style and come in many different flavors. It's a trek, I know, but you can also order online and have them shipped: www.woodhousechocolate.com Not cheap, but during winter, you can have them shipped to the Bay Area via ground delivery and save some money there. Wed Apr 12 12:49:22 -0700 2006 222513 0 Anya L 1 222694 How do modern truffles compare to the classic Cocolat truffles on which I cut my gastronomic eyeteeth? Frankly, when Cocolat closed, I stopped eating truffles. I think I still have a little Cocolat box with some ossified nuggets in it way in the back of my frig. I believe Zabar's was still selling them after the fall. So has truffle technology advanced? I switched to tarts! Wed Apr 12 18:07:39 -0700 2006 222513 0 chocolatetartguy 2 222704 I think maybe the Cocolat style is making a comeback, after the truffle field was dominated by oversized, hard-shelled versions for a long time. XOX is definitely a direct descendent of the Cocolat truffle: free-form nubbins dusted in cocoa (or things like chopped nuts). Very small (there's about 80 to a pound) but rich and intense. The Recchuiti truffles also appear to be that style. Link: http://www.recchiuti.com/cgi-bin/chocolate/shop/product.html?mv_arg=prod_code%3d819895%2d000749 Wed Apr 12 18:55:59 -0700 2006 222694 0 Ruth Lafler