COOK IT: coco-luxe confections

these truffles with retro graphics are delish and adorable!

(and so is its box, perfectly packaged.)

thank stephanie marcon, the amazingly creative chocolatier and creator of coco-luxe confections located in san francisco.

her inspiration: childhood.

the flavors of her handmade chocolate bars, caramels, artisan truffles + "sipping chocolates" nod to nostalgia in a most delightful way.

like this box of assorted dark chocolate truffles in three fun flavors:

~ "double cherry" - dark chocolate cherry ganache with bits of dried sour cherries

~ "devil's food" - pure dark chocolate ganache

~ "after dinner mint" - dark chocolate ganache swirled with mint

(and...if you like wine, might add that the "double cherry" chocolates pair beautifully with an affordable bottle of pinot from mark west, "the pinot for the people.")

if you live in san francisco, hurry over to her chocolate boutique for cupid's treat or order online here.

or...if you prefer to do-it-yourself this valentine's day, stephanie has graciously provided us a fondue recipe for one - or two or more.

very sweet.

note it:

"sugar (gimme some)" by trick daddy

CHOCOLATE FONDUE

8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

½ cup sweetened condensed milk

¾ cup whole milk

2 tablespoons Gran Marnier

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl.

Heat condensed milk and whole milk over medium heat until boiling, and then pour over chocolate. Allow to rest for 1 minute. Using a whisk, and starting at the center of the bowl and moving outward, gently stir mixture until all of the chocolate is melted. Add Gran Marnier and vanilla extract.

Serve fondue immediately, or let it cool, cover with plastic wrap, and store at room temperature overnight. It can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

To reheat, place bowl over a pan of simmering water, and gently warm, stirring continuously. Be careful not to let the temperature rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or the mixture might spill. If it does spill, it can be repaired by whizzing it in a food processor until smooth, or by using a small immersion blender.

Serve warm, with desired fruits, cakes and cookies. If you find the fondue a little bit thick, thin with whole milk to desired consistency. Enjoy!

(Serves 6)

PAIR IT: 5 for $50

i like food. i like wine. so why not combine the two?

not so.

welcome to "pair it," my diary of wine shop bottles (largely due to the fact of picking out not so great ones by myself at grocery store du jour).

yep, it's my quest to find those wines made for food, not necessarily for sipping or collecting (i'm far too frugalista these days...). the bottles i seek are those that bring out the flavors of food without overpowering, underwhelming or offending a meal.

menu in hand (e.g., hearty dinner salads, bbq, roasted chicken, pizza), i unabashedly gave my wine guy a "5 for $50" challenge (5 bottles for $50 bucks). was it possible?

good grapes, yes!

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place:

KL wine merchants (lucky for me, this famed shop is right down the street + they ship!)

pursuit:

"5 for $50" - in other words, food-friendly wines that don't break the bank

price:

$49.95 + tax

picks:

2008 El Hada Verdejo-Viura Rueda - little known and recommended for tapas, cheeses, + many kinds of salads. from spain. $9.99. tasty notes from K&L's website: "A delicious, dry white blend from Verdejo and Viura grapes, with vivid flavors of citrus and peach, this wine makes a mouthwateringly delicious aperitif or a perfect accompaniment to a wide range of tapas, cheeses and seafood dishes. A great follow up to their 2007 vintage, which Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar described as: "Light yellow. Spicy, mineral-dominated aromas of lemon zest, peach pit and green banana, with a tangy, chalky undercurrent. Racy and firm, with juicy citrus flavors and slow-building salty minerality. Crisp, refreshing and a steal."

2008 Vallevò Trebbiano d'Abruzzo - another salad wine (i'm big on making homemade vinaigrettes + croutons). from italy. $8.99. tasty notes from K&L's website: "This wine is pale straw in color, with aromas of almond, citrus and a hint of herbs. It is bone dry and finishes with a very attractive hint of apple-skin. This is a knockout everyday bottle of white wine, flavorful enough to stand up to a range of dishes but bright enough to make a good dry aperitif" (see next bottle for an idea of what the label looks like).

2007 Vallevò Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - the pick for pizza/pasta, a typical "house" wine. from italy. $8.99. tasty notes from K&L's website: "There is nothing musty or old fashioned about this straight forward red, with fresh "modern" styling in its rich dark fruit and sweet tannins. Made entirely of the Montepulciano grape from the region of Abruzzo, this will work well with pizza/pasta or just as an all-around excellent Tuesday night quaffer!"

2007 Domaine de Mayran Côtes du Rhône - a top pick by K&L! 2007 was a great year for rhone. my wine guy, Dave, raves for this one. roasted poultry + veggies is on my menu. from france. $10.99. tasty notes from K&L's website: "Domaine de Mayran is a small biodynamic estate run by brothers Frederic and Bernard Duseigneur who are fifth generation vignerons from the Rhone Valley. This 2007 grenache based Rhone posesses generous amounts of deep red fruits, along with just a hint of spice and white pepper. The tannins are ripe and fine, making this elegant red the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of mediterranean inspired dishes. Delicious, well priced and bio-dynamic? Yes, it's almost too good to be true, but it is! 14% abv."

2008 Fontanafredda Barbera Piemonte "Briccotondo" - i tried this one last night with homemade pizza topped with molinari pepperoni, sliced crimini mushrooms, fresh ricotta + mozzarella...together, yum! from italy. $10.99. tasty notes from K&L's website: "This Barbera has been one of out most popular "Bargain Wines" for the last couple of years as well as Top 100 wine in the Wine Spectator. Fontanafredda has done an outstanding job of making a wine with real, vibrant flavors that just jump out of the glass. They've also done an amazing job of softening Barbera's sometime forceful acidity to make this wine supremely pleasant for anyone to drink! Try it with foods from the BBQ or your favorite pasta, it is a real winner! (Greg St.Clair K&L's Italian buyer) According to Wine Spectator: "Raspberry and blueberry aromas lead to a medium body, with delicious fruit and hints of vanilla and cream. Drink now. 42,000 cases made." (12/09)"