Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Flashback to the Seventies: Swiss Squareshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/15/flashback-to-the-seventies-swiss-squares/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/15/flashback-to-the-seventies-swiss-squares/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/15/flashback-to-the-seventies-swiss-squares/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In this weekly series, home cook Bruce Watson works his way through a decades-old family cookbook, adapting the best recipes exclusively for Slashfood.

When I came across a recipe for "Swiss Squares" in my family's cookbook, I got excited. Although the dish seemed like a basic chocolate cake recipe, it used sour cream for leavening. As this is a pretty uncommon choice, I wanted to see its effect on the product.

Overall, I found that the bars were a bit richer than expected, with a nice moist crumb. In my finished version, I massively increased the chocolate and dolled up the frosting. Still, at its heart, this is a recipe for a rich chocolate cake. Then again, even the simplest cake can be pretty profound!

Get the Swiss squares recipe after the jump.

Continue reading Flashback to the Seventies: Swiss Squares

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]]>bakers chocolateBakersChocolatebeyond rice krispiebeyond rice krispie treatsBeyondRiceKrispieBeyondRiceKrispieTreatschocolate liqueurChocolateLiqueurswiss squaresSwissSquaresBruce Watson2009-05-15T17:00:00+00:00Pom Iced Coffee Consideredhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/04/pom-iced-coffee/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/04/pom-iced-coffee/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/04/pom-iced-coffee/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

bottle of pom iced coffeeAs we've noted, it's iced coffee time, folks. While we can all agree that the best version is that which is freshly brewed, sometimes you've got to make do with what can be grabbed out of the convenience store fridge. Starbucks' Frappuccino is a perennial favorite, and we're fans of their Doubleshot Energy Drink (especially the new Cinnamon Dulce flavor) when caffeine alone isn't quite enough.

Behold, however, a challenge to Starbucks supremacy from Pom Iced Coffee. Far from an unpleasant mix of joe and pomegranate juice (though it does feature a touch of the antioxidant-laced fruit extract), this is one smooth-blended iced coffee drink. The cafe au lait version is delightful, but it is the chocolate that may soon boast the title of best bottled iced coffee, with an addiction-inspiring taste reminiscent of a blend of Yoo-Hoo and chocolate Nestle Quik.

The only problem with this cooling nectar? It's only available at select stores and Whole Foods in the Northeast (though bottles have been spied at 99-cent stores on the west coast). If anything were to make a convenience store crawl or a trip to a pricey specialty grocer worth it, it is Pom Chocolate Iced Coffee. So stock up.

Note: Slashfood does not accept compensation of any sort in exchange for reviews.
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]]>antioxidantscaffeinefrappucinoiced coffeeIcedCoffeepompom iced coffeePomIcedCoffeestarbucksLissa Townsend Rodgers2009-05-04T16:00:00+00:00Barbie Gets a Sweet Tooth with New Candy Linehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/23/barbies-sweet-tooth/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/23/barbies-sweet-tooth/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/23/barbies-sweet-tooth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

barbie
Barbie, as you may know, turned 50 earlier this year. If this slightly belated bit of promotional whimsy is any indication, plenty of you still want a piece of her.

To celebrate the doll's 50th, Dylan's Candy Bar created "Barbie Loves Dylan's," a line of chocolate and candy outfitted in colorful graphics befitting the belle's pop-art and pop-cultural legacy. We love the way these chocolates are packaged, with through-the-years pix inspiring affectionate memories of both "The Brady Bunch" and yearbook photos of days (and unfortunate hairstyles) gone by.

It's rare to come across chocolate whose packaging wouldn't look out of place next to a Warhol, and we applaud whatever graphic design genius was behind this. But if Barbie taught us anything, it's that beauty is skin deep, and that lesson unfortunately applies to the chocolate bearing her name. It tastes as plastic as Barbie herself or, in the words of one judge, "like drugstore Easter candy." Like Barbie herself, this chocolate could last 50 years ... in the back of a pantry.

For $14, a better move might be to pop the candies into a frame on the bedroom wall. 'Cause Barbie also taught us that when substance fails, style triumphs.

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]]>barbiebarbie dollBarbieDollcandiescandychocolatedylans candy barDylansCandyBargimmickRebecca Flint Marx2009-04-23T15:00:00+00:00What's On Tap, St. Louis - Bailey's Chocolate Barhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/15/whats-on-tap-st-louis-baileys-chocolate-bar/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/15/whats-on-tap-st-louis-baileys-chocolate-bar/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/15/whats-on-tap-st-louis-baileys-chocolate-bar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bailey's Chocolate Bar logo
A weekly look at the draft selection at beer-friendly bars across the country.

We all have our vices: Some live for libations while others pine for sweets. In St. Louis these two groups can merge in one ecstatic, sugar-fueled pit of sin at Bailey's Chocolate Bar. A lengthy menu of treats includes dramatic desserts, award-winning cocktails and sometimes the two in one beautiful bite (Irish Cream cheesecake, anyone?).

Beer is another of Chocolate Bar's specialties, as it boasts one of STL's most highly-regarded draft lists. A few selections seem obvious (such as Young's Double Chocolate Stout and Arcadia Cocoa Loco) but the bar also boasts a namesake brew, Bailey's Chocolate Bar Chocolate Ale. Of course, a great beer bar can't just stock stouts, and general manager Gene Bailey says they strive for "good enough variety where everyone can find something they like." Many of the current taps come from one brewery: "We're big fans of the New Belgium [Fat Tire] people," Gene admits. Beyond pure pints, Bailey's happily mingles sugar & suds: The Stout Beer Shake, blending chocolate stout and cinnamon ice cream, is a favorite.

Check out Bailey's Chocolate Bar's complete draft list after the jump, tell us if you've got a favorite chocolate beer and get your indulgence on in person next time you're in St. Louis.

Continue reading What's On Tap, St. Louis - Bailey's Chocolate Bar

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]]>BaileysBaileys Chocolate BarbeerchocolateChocolate Barcraft beerCraftBeermicrobrewmicrobreweriesNew BelgiumSt LouisSt Louis MissouristoutMike Pomranz2009-04-15T11:00:00+00:00Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs - 5 Easter Candies in 5 Dayshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/09/peanut-butter-chocolate-eggs-5-easter-candies-in-5-days/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/09/peanut-butter-chocolate-eggs-5-easter-candies-in-5-days/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/09/peanut-butter-chocolate-eggs-5-easter-candies-in-5-days/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Peanut Butter Chocolate EggsIt's easy to be mesmerized by decadent, complex flavors. Sometimes, though, the sweetest surprise is one that basks in simple, nostalgia-inducing basics.

Peanut butter Chocolate Eggs are a staple of the classic Easter basket. Nestled amongst the malted milk balls, cream eggs and bunnies, they are also a mystery: Seemingly innocuous chocolate conceals a treasure of nutty, buttery flavor. Some might take these treats for granted -- especially in their store-bought incarnation -- but we reckon once candy-lovers taste this incredible homemade variety they may not be able to go back to the bag.

Continue reading Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs - 5 Easter Candies in 5 Days

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]]>5 Easter Candies in 5 Days5EasterCandiesIn5DaysEaster candyEasterCandyPeanut Butter Chocolate EggsPeanut Butter Easter EggsPeanutButterChocolateEggsPeanutButterEasterEggsMonika Bartyzel2009-04-09T14:00:00+00:00Lemon Truffles - 5 Easter Candies in 5 Dayshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/08/lemon-truffles-5-easter-candies-in-5-days/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/08/lemon-truffles-5-easter-candies-in-5-days/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/08/lemon-truffles-5-easter-candies-in-5-days/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

lemon truffles
From chocolate bunnies to bright, chipper Peeps, certain candies stick with us from childhood. That doesn't mean an Easter basket has to be free of adult-friendly, finger-licking flavor though. Why not parry the chocolate onslaught with bright and delicious citrus?

En route to a sugar coma this holiday, consider lemon: These white-chocolate lemon truffles are light, bright and fit well within the holiday color scheme. Though a tad time-consuming, they're well worth the effort. Just imagine biting through a bright, thin layer of silky white chocolate to get a tart burst of lemon -- it's our sprightly homage to the decadent Lindor truffle.

Easter never tasted so good!

Continue reading Lemon Truffles - 5 Easter Candies in 5 Days

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]]>5 Easter Candies in 5 Days5EasterCandiesIn5Dayschocolate creamsChocolateCreamseaster candiesEasterCandiesLemon and white chocolate creamsLemon TrufflesLemonAndWhiteChocolateCreamsLemonTrufflesMonika Bartyzel2009-04-08T16:00:00+00:00Feast Your Eyes: Fromage Before Beautyhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/06/feast-your-eyes-fromage-before-beauty/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/06/feast-your-eyes-fromage-before-beauty/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/06/feast-your-eyes-fromage-before-beauty/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Humboldt Fog

Dense, rich Humboldt Fog goat's-milk cheese topped with a river of sweet cocoa-and-fig jam? Are you guys drooling too?

We saw this photo over at The Kitchn last week and immediately canceled our existing Friday-night plan, instead summoning four friends to eat cheese and sip beer with us.

One word of advice: Certain fromage freaks might ignore the cracker entirely to try a hunk drizzled with fig compote sans cracker. Messy? A bit. Worth it? Oh, yes.

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]]>Alex Van Buren2009-04-06T10:00:00+00:00Wine and Chocolate - Match Made in Heaven or Total Disaster?http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/28/wine-and-chocolate-match-made-in-heaven-or-total-disaster/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/28/wine-and-chocolate-match-made-in-heaven-or-total-disaster/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/28/wine-and-chocolate-match-made-in-heaven-or-total-disaster/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Brix Chocolate

Wine and chocolate? Blech. At least that's my usual ho-hum reaction when I read (yet another) Valentine's wine-and-chocolate pairing story. If you ask me, pairing wine and chocolate is usually a futile exercise in taking two perfectly delicious things and ruining them by forcing them together. They bring out each other's worst qualities: overharsh tannins, weird flavors and aromas lurking beneath the surface, personality quirks that don't come out when they're alone.

But then I tried Brix, a line of chocolates made especially to go with wine, and I changed my tune. Brix is made from a single-origin chocolate from Ghana blended with Belgian chocolate. Each of the three blends (milk, dark, and extra-dark) was developed to complement different varietals and styles of wine. The darkest is good with Cabernet Sauvignon and other powerhouses; the middle complements Syrah and Zinfandel, and the milk chocolate is good with dessert wine and Pinot Noir.

My husband and I decided to go all out experimenting with the chocolates. We lined them up with a bunch of wines, and added some Dove dark chocolates and Lindor milk chocolate truffles to the mix.

Results after the jump.

Continue reading Wine and Chocolate - Match Made in Heaven or Total Disaster?

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]]>brixchocolatepairingswineGretchen Roberts2009-02-28T14:00:00+00:00Oscar Party Idea - Cupcake Decoratinghttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/19/oscar-party-idea-cupcake-decorating/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/19/oscar-party-idea-cupcake-decorating/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/19/oscar-party-idea-cupcake-decorating/#commentsFiled under: , ,

super bowl cupcakes
Throwing an Oscar party? Need a party activity to keep guests entertained during all the boring awards? How about a movie-themed cupcake decorating contest? For this idea, I'm taking a page from my friends Jamie and Sarah's playbook: For their Super Bowl party, they mixed up buttercream icing tinted with Steelers and Cardinals colors, and during halftime we festooned delicious chocolate cupcakes with helmets, logos, and footballs. Some particularly artistic examples are pictured.

This idea would translate easily to an Oscar party. Options abound: you could ice one with an Oscar statuette, or you could decorate one with a best- or worst-dressed star. Give Mickey Rourke a facelift! Better yet, take inspiration from the movies nominated. Make sure to mix up black icing for the nuns' habits in Doubt (not to mention Richard Nixon's suit). Gooey icing should allow for an evocative interpretation of Two Face in The Dark Knight. And even though the Academy didn't give it the props many think it deserved, Wall-E ought to inspire some stellar cupcake art. One tip I learned from Jamie and Sarah: provide toothpicks for the fine detail work, like getting the Joker's makeup to bleed into his facial creases just so. And then eat up!
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]]>Amy McDaniel2009-02-19T10:05:00+00:00Escazu Artisan Chocolateshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/18/escazu-artisan-chocolates/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/18/escazu-artisan-chocolates/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/18/escazu-artisan-chocolates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

escazu chocolateAs a dedicated Slashfoodie, you've already noticed that for Valentine's Day, we at Slashfood wrote a lot about such expressions of romantic appreciation as were appropriate for general readership. We introduced you to chocolate from Askinosie, Dagoba and Green & Blacks. Hopefully you're not too chocolated-out after the weekend for just one more bite. Because if the chocolate is Escazu, you will want to make room.

Escazu is a town in Costa Rica and a chocolatier in Raleigh, North Carolina. According to the Escazu website, chocolatier Hallot Parson formed Escazu Artisan Chocolates after travels through Venezuela and Costa Rica, including visits to the cocoa farms. Thus was born -- perhaps more accurately bloomed -- the vision of artisinal chocolate executed with respect to chocolate's Latin American heritage.

Continue reading Escazu Artisan Chocolates

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]]>artisan chocolateArtisanChocolateeric dieselEricDieselescazu chocolateEscazuChocolateEric Diesel2009-02-18T09:03:00+00:00Chocolate Bar at the Ritz-Carltonhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/13/chocolate-bar-at-the-ritz-carlton/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/13/chocolate-bar-at-the-ritz-carlton/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/13/chocolate-bar-at-the-ritz-carlton/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Wonka.

Just getting that out of the way first, as it's proved nigh on impossible to mention this event to anyone without their invoking Roald Dahl's tale of confectionary hedonism. Pastry chef Laurent Richard has crafted a carnival-themed, all-you-can-eat chocolate dessert buffet at New York City's Ritz-Carlton's 14th floor Rise Bar, and for the price of admission, one receives the privilege of sticking one's face into the endless treat plates borne by spinning ferris wheel, carousel and roller coaster, and not coming up for air until every last Nutella crepe, haute faux Twix (Chef Ricard calls it a Raider Bar), chocolate financier, Valrhona-slathered strawberry and morsel of Black Forest griotine has been gobbled up. Don't worry -- he'll make more.

Continue reading Chocolate Bar at the Ritz-Carlton

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]]>chocolatekat kinsmanKatKinsmanlaurent richardLaurentRichardnew yorkNewYorkritz-carltonvalentines dayValentinesDayKat Kinsman2009-02-13T19:30:00+00:00White and Milk Chocolate Shavings over Pinkberry Yogurthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/13/white-and-milk-chocolate-shavings-over-pinkberry-yogurt/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/13/white-and-milk-chocolate-shavings-over-pinkberry-yogurt/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/13/white-and-milk-chocolate-shavings-over-pinkberry-yogurt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pinkberry with Chocolate Shavings
One of the many reasons we love Pinkberry is because of its many fabulous toppings, such as daily cut fresh fruit. Now, they've added white and milk chocolate shavings. Unlike many yogurt places that use stale chocolate chips, Pinkberry cuts shavings of fresh Belgian chocolate. The chocolate perfectly balances Pinkberry's three tangy flavors: Original, Pomegranate, and Green Tea.

The timing of the addition of this topping is perfect! Just in time for Valentine's Day, chocolate lovers can take their significant others to Pinkberry for some rich chocolate mixed in with smooth luscious yogurt. Pinkberry doesn't gratuitously add new flavors. When you try the chocolate, one of the first things you'll notice is its amazing quality.

A combo that I recommend is the original flavor topped with chocolate shavings, strawberries, and blueberries. Or, if you feeling like escaping to the Caribbean, try the original flavor with both white and milk chocolate shavings and coconut. If you've tried these new chocolate shavings, what were some of your favorite combos?
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]]>chocolatechocolate shavingChocolateShavingfrozen yogurtFrozenYogurtmilk chocolateMilkChocolatepinkberrywhite chocolateWhiteChocolateMax Shrem2009-02-13T17:00:00+00:00Chocolate for Valentine's Day: Green & Black's http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/12/chocolate-for-valentines-day-green-and-blacks/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/12/chocolate-for-valentines-day-green-and-blacks/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/12/chocolate-for-valentines-day-green-and-blacks/#commentsFiled under: ,

variety of green & black's chocolate bars
Don't find yourself scrambling on Valentine's Day for a good gift for the chocolate lover in your life. Get them half a dozen of Green & Black's chocolate bars in the knowledge that happiness is assured when you come with good chocolate in hand. Green & Black's makes a wide variety of high quality, organic chocolate. It's available nationwide and I can even pick several different kinds up at my local corner store (making it perfect for last minute hostess gifts).

If you want something a little more elegant than a simple bar, Green & Black's also individually-wrapped chocolate coins that come packaged in tall, slender boxes.
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]]>chocolategreen blacksGreenBlacksorganic chocolateOrganicChocolatevalentines dayValentinesDayMarisa McClellan2009-02-12T17:56:00+00:00Chocolate for Valentine's Day - Dagoba Baking Chocolatehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/10/chocolate-for-valentines-day-dagoba-baking-chocolate/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/10/chocolate-for-valentines-day-dagoba-baking-chocolate/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/10/chocolate-for-valentines-day-dagoba-baking-chocolate/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dagoba baking chocolate
Next in our series of good chocolate for Valentine's Day is Dagoba's baking chocolate. Since 2001, Dagoba has been making a variety of organic chocolate products in their Ashland, OR factory (they were one of the very first organic chocolate producers). I'm a sucker for their Mint-Rosemary Bar, but recently, I've also become a total convert to their line of baking chocolates.

These chocolates turn a standard brownie recipe into something revelatory. If you're planning to bake something special for your sweetheart this year, instead of reaching for your regular baking chocolate, get yourself some of this Dagoba goodness. If you're on the hunt for the right recipe to romance your chocolate-loving Valentine, consider this flourless chocolate cake (I'd recommend the bittersweet chocolate for that cake, not the unsweetened variety pictured above). Pair it with raspberry sauce and freshly whipped cream for a dessert that says, "I love you."
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]]>chocolatedagoba baking chocolateDagobaBakingChocolateflourless chocolate cakeFlourlessChocolateCakevalentines dayValentinesDayMarisa McClellan2009-02-10T16:57:00+00:00Chocolates for Valentine's Day - Slashfood Ate (8)http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/10/chocolates-for-valentines-day-slashfood-ate-8/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/10/chocolates-for-valentines-day-slashfood-ate-8/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/10/chocolates-for-valentines-day-slashfood-ate-8/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dozen Box of Roni's RosesStudies reveal that certain sweets, like chocolate activate the libido. Just last week, The Times of India had an article reporting on the aphrodisiac effects of chocolate particularly on men. Food scientists tracked down a specific ingredient responsible for these effects - Eurycoma Longifolia Jack.

Chocolates have long been associated with romance. As far back as the eighteenth century, food enthusiasts, like Brillat Savarin, raved about chocolate's corporal effects. So, when thinking about sweets for Valentine's Day, I often think of various chocolate confections and cakes.

Below are 8 chocolates I highly recommend this Valentine's Day:

  1. Durand Chocolates from Brittany, France
  2. Dozen Box of Roni's Roses - These chocolates are flavored with rose petal jam, powdered rose petals and exotic rose liqueur. If you're in NY, I highly suggest that you check out Roni-Sue's in the Essex Street Market in the Lower East Side.
  3. Poco Dolce Burt Caramel Tiles - Everything made by Poco Dolce is phenomenal. They have truly mastered the delicious combination of salt and sweet.
  4. Assortment from La Maison du Chocolate
  5. Valentine's Selection from Jacques Torres
  6. Pralus Chocolate Bars from France
  7. Truffle Collection from Vosges Chocolate
  8. Knipschildt Chocolate Box
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]]>candychocolateslashfood ateSlashfoodAtesweetsvalentines dayValentinesDayMax Shrem2009-02-10T11:00:00+00:00Chocolate for Valentine's Day - Askinosie Chocolatehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/09/chocolate-for-valentines-day-askinosie-chocolate/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/09/chocolate-for-valentines-day-askinosie-chocolate/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/09/chocolate-for-valentines-day-askinosie-chocolate/#commentsFiled under: ,

askinosie chocolate barNext Saturday is Valentine's Day. I know that for some people, it's a holiday about love, romance and jewelry. However, for me, it will always be a day devoted to candy, particularly chocolate. When I was growing up, my mom would always leave little baskets of treats at our places at the breakfast table, and so my sister I would start the day with a chocolate heart, along with our Cheerios. The school day would progress with a parade of conversation hearts, red gummies and more chocolate.

In honor of coming holiday, I'm going to be featuring some of the best chocolates that have come my way in recent days. One of my very favorites that I discovered last summer is Askinosie Chocolate. It's made by a man who is absolutely passionate about chocolate and who travels the world to meet the farmers who grow his beans. The resulting chocolate bars are single source and hand roasted, making for seriously intense and unique flavors. If you're shopping for a dark chocolate lover who's interested in terroir and the artisanal process, this would be an excellent choice.
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]]>askinosie chocolateAskinosieChocolatedark chocolateDarkChocolateterroir in chocolateTerroirInChocolatevalentines dayValentinesDayMarisa McClellan2009-02-09T12:02:00+00:00Decadent Lactose-Free Hot Chocolate for Valentine's Day http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/07/decadent-lactose-free-hot-chocolate-for-valentines-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/07/decadent-lactose-free-hot-chocolate-for-valentines-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/07/decadent-lactose-free-hot-chocolate-for-valentines-day/#commentsFiled under: ,

cocoa
In her A Good Appetite column, New York Times food writer Melissa Clark describes her quest to create a perfect cup of Valentine's Day hot chocolate for her husband. The catch? Her husband can't eat cream, or milk, or soy milk, or rice milk or nut milk. So Clark turned to Maricel Presilla's "The New Taste of Chocolate: A Cultural and Natural History of Cacao With Recipes," for some pre-Columbian secrets to dairy-free hot chocolate, then, on the advice of a French chocolatier, tries a simple dark chocolate-and-water concoction. Finally, she combines the two concepts, mixing coconut milk with the pure dark chocolate, and comes up with a creamy, rich, deeply chocolatey yet lactose-free winner. She even figures out a merengue topping to mimic the fluffy goodness of whipped cream.

Check out this recent Slashfood post for eight more remarkable hot chocolate recipes.
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]]>hot chocolatelactosevalentines dayValentinesDayEmily Matchar2009-02-07T17:00:00+00:00World Nutella Day Recipe Rounduphttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/06/world-nutella-day-recipe-roundup/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/06/world-nutella-day-recipe-roundup/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/06/world-nutella-day-recipe-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World Nutella Day 2009
Ah, the rich velvety taste of hazelnuts and chocolate! What started as a small Italian company, from the 1940s, has become a world sensation. Indeed, yesterday blogs around the world celebrated World Nutella Day. Based on Piedmontese Gianduja, a chocolate containing about 50 percent almond and hazelnut paste, Nutella was created by Pietro Ferrero in his small patisserie in Alba.

World Nutella Day falls just before Valentine's Day, just in time for people to purchase a bottle and concoct a delicious Nutella-based cake. In fact, World Nutella Day even has it's own website with recipes that range from breads, cakes, and ice creams to savory dishes, like pizza. It turns out that you can have a three course meal with nutella! Check out some of our favorite recipes below:
There are also a whole bunch of delicious nutella-based treats in our Flickr pool. What are some of your favorites?
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]]>nutellanutella pancakesnutellacakeNutellaPancakesrecipesworld nutella dayWorldNutellaDayMax Shrem2009-02-06T15:00:00+00:00Coo Coo for Cocoa Podshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/02/coo-coo-for-cocoa-pods/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/02/coo-coo-for-cocoa-pods/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/02/coo-coo-for-cocoa-pods/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Chocolate comes from pods, such as the one photographed above. When I arrived in Jamaica, my first stop was to see Dennis, a fruit and spice vendor in Ocho Rios. After he showed me raw unsweetened morsels of cocoa, he took out a large cocoa pod. A pod contains 20 to 45 seeds, also called "beans", fixed in white pulp.

Each of these seeds contains a large amount of fat (40-50% as cocoa butter) and the active ingredient theobromine, similar to caffeine. Theobromine is what makes chocolate lethal for dogs. There are two cocoa varieties in Jamaica: Forastero and Criollo. The harvest takes place in the fall, between September and November. The beans are taken from the pods and processed extensively.

Tasting an unprocessed cocoa bean makes you realize how much sugar is added after being processed. The cocoa beans we tasted had a strong bitter flavor similar to that of a coffee bean. This has to do with the presence of theobromine, which like caffeine gives you energy. We purchased some of the beans and ground them with coffee beans to make a tasty energy drink - mocha coffee. I am curious to know other ways one can use unprocessed cocoa beans in cooking. If you have you ever used them, what sorts of dishes were they for?
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]]>chocolatecocoajamaicajamaicanMax Shrem2009-02-02T12:00:00+00:00Behold the $13 Chocolate Barhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/31/behold-the-13-chocolate-bar/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/31/behold-the-13-chocolate-bar/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/31/behold-the-13-chocolate-bar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

front of the $13 chocolate bar
There's no golden ticket in this new pricey chocolate bar, but you'll win more than a mere factory tour if you choose one of Lesal Ruskey's $13 treats.

The San Francisco chocolatier promises to plant a tree for every purchase of her 3.5-ounce Original Beans bars. She tells the San Francisco Chronicle that she'll plant a tree in the rain forest of the country where the bar's fair-trade cacao beans originate -- either Bolivia, Ecuador or the Congo. A certificate on the wrapper lets eaters know where their bar's beans came from.

"People are very judicious about spending their dollars," Ruskey told the paper. "We also believe if consumers are going to invest their precious dollars in an affordable luxury that they're investing in more than fleeting pleasure."

Analysts say that the shaky economy doesn't mean people are cutting back on expensive chocolate.

"It sounds expensive, but compared to a diamond or a car or a pair of a jeans or anything else you decide to be frivolous about, it's not that expensive," food analyst Marcia Mogelonsky told the paper.

While Original Beans is by no means the priciest chocolate bar on the market -- French producer Bonnat's bars top $22 -- it remains to be seen whether choco-nuts will plunk down the $13 for a taste of the eco-friendly treat.

Would you?

[via: The San Francisco Chronicle]
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