Chocolate

Where is the best local chocolate? What flavors do you love the most? Anyone making small-batch truffles, especially with offbeat flavors? Tell me!

I went to a place in Sebastopol called Infusions, for tea. Among other tastey treats,the owners also make some of the best infused chocolate truffles, I've ever had. I don't remember the kind I tried, but it was yummy! The trufles are decorated beautifully and infused with differfent flavors of tea and spices. there were flavors such as lavendar and spicy peanutbutter. They are $2.00 a piece and well worth it, Im sure.

Well, you know how I feel about Gandolfs. Love them!! But, I also had another nice truffle find this weekend (I must have been one of those truffle-finding pigs in a previous life...) We went to Rocker Oysterfeller's on Sunday. They have a Sunday supper deal- $20 for a three-course dinner. This week, it was a mixed green salad, chicken and dumplings (awesome!) and these Sharffenberger (sp?) truffles. The truffles were great! Then again, I don't think I've ever had anything there I didn't like a lot.

Whoppers malted milk balls. A dollar for a whole bag at the Dollar Tree. Munch to your heart's content and don't go broke.

You have to try, Wine Country Chocolates! They truffles are awesome with some Brut! Going on Saturday for some more!

Cy you've got to be kidding? But then you may be a Mac addict too.

Good luck

Viva Cocolat in Petaluma has a fabulous selection of chocolates. She has a fondue dish that can be shared with another and the dipping chocolate that accompanies the fondue is addicting. And then she offers a sipping chocolate another to die for, you actually start to salivate just remembering the experience of it. Her shelves are loaded with top shelf chocolate, truffles, cakes, bars, etc. Don't be foolish just go and see for yourself.

Great easy recipe:
Microwave one or two or three Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Bars (they come in a small three-pack)

Add about a cup of Trader Joe's salted pecans.

Stir to coat. Place individually on wax paper and refrigerate about 1/2 hour.

Sooooooo good!

Great easy recipe:
Microwave one or two or three Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Bars (they come in a small three-pack)

Add about a cup of Trader Joe's salted pecans.

Stir to coat. Place individually on wax paper and refrigerate about 1/2 hour.

Sooooooo good!

Went to La Dolce Vi in Sebastopol...that place sucks. Horrible chocolates. True.

Went to La Dolce Vi in Sebastopol...that place sucks. Horrible chocolates. True.

How local is local? I haven't been wildly impressed by any Sonoma County chocolatiers. But Woodhouse in Napa is divine.

Most of my faves are closer to SF -

XOX Truffles

Coco-luxe (OMG gingerbread!)

Michael Mischer (some of these are as gorgeous as they are delicious, but Christopher Elbow still holds the championship belt in this title, IMO.)

The Xocolate Bar

And I just tasted TCHO's goods over the weekend. Very nice chocolate bars they're making in the city.

Sonoma Chocolatiers in Sebastopol just won Best Chocolatier in Sonoma County by the Bohemian (2nd place). That's the one mentioned at the top of the list at Infusions teahouse in Sebastopol, next to Whole Foods. They make all their truffles and chocolate bars using Scharffen Berger chocolate. My favorite is the Smoked Chipotle; try the zinfandel, or the coconut almond.

What? No mention of Sees? Come on your snobs, lets talk about a good chocolate, go to Sees and try a decent piece of chocolate for crying out loud!

I am a natiave Santa Rosa girl who now lives in the mid-west. Oh for the days of that special treat when Mom used to stop at McFarlands Candy. See's was a very special treat also in my family growing up. I haven't found any like them where I am at now. Sweet Memories!

Try the raw chocolate made at Cafe' Gratitude in Healdsburg, Ca. or the Living Light Culinary Arts Ctr. in Fort Bragg, Ca. To live in heaven while eating healthy at the same time. Delicious!!! Always enjoy RAW VEGAN desserts...