Category Archives: Chocolate

All Roads Lead to Routier

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A most satisfying duck leg confit at Routier.
A most satisfying duck leg confit at Routier.

Watching the Olympics these past few weeks sure made me long to be in Paris.

Fortunately, San Francisco’s Routier more than satisfied my yearning with its comforting French bistro-like fare with California aplomb.

Audaciously opened during the height of the pandemic with only food to-go, Routier has grown into a warm, cozy dining spot, the type every neighborhood would be so lucky to have.

That it not only launched but overcame such a tumultuous time is a testament to its owners: Chef John Paul Carmona, former chef de cuisine of the former Michelin powerhouse Manresa in Los Gatos; Pastry Chef Belinda Leong, who also owns B. Patisserie a few steps away and B. On The Go, the kitty-corner sandwich shop; and Michel Suas, co-owner of B. Patisserie and founder of the San Francisco Baking Institute.

The main floor dining room.
The main floor dining room.

On a Friday night, the corner restaurant with windows all around, was humming with diners galore in the dining room done up in shades of blue.

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Artisan Chocolates with Filipino Flair

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If life is like a box of chocolates, this one will transport you to a far-off land.
If life is like a box of chocolates, this one will transport you to a far-off land.

It’s hard to believe that as a kid, Daniel Corpuz refused to eat anything except plain white rice.

Because what he creates now as an adult is full of brilliantly bold flavors.

His medium?

Chocolate. As in dazzling, hand-crafted bonbons with many fillings inspired by his Filipino heritage.

He started Daniel Corpuz Chocolatier in New York City after working as a pastry chef at renowned fine-dining establishments, The Modern at MoMA, Manhatta, and One White Street.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he shifted to concentrating on chocolates following the pandemic. It landed him a spot on Netflix’s “School of Chocolate” in 2021, hosted by the celebrated pastry chef, Amaury Guichon.

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Milkboy’s New White Chocolate with Bourbon Vanilla and Raspberry Plus Seasonal Bars

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Swiss-made Milkboy's new white chocolate bar with bourbon vanilla and raspberries.
Swiss-made Milkboy’s new white chocolate bar with bourbon vanilla and raspberries.

Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of white chocolate, as so many are way too sweet and too waxy.

But from the get-go, Milkboy’s new White Chocolate with Bourbon Vanilla and Raspberry bar had me sold with its taste like that of a vanilla milkshake with tangy pieces of berries hitting your straw here and there.

The slight tang of the berries balances the sweetness of the very creamy white chocolate. Chop up the bar and add the pieces to a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe for a fun new twist.

Milkboy’s award-winning chocolates are made in Switzerland from milk sourced from the Swiss Alpine region. They are gluten-free, soy-free, and certified kosher. Moreover, Milkboy uses only Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa in its chocolate products and Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper for its packaging. 

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Get Ready For the Wackiest Chocolates Yet

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You have to taste these TCHO chocolates to believe them.
You have to taste these TCHO chocolates to believe them.

Imagine chocolates that taste exactly like Doritos dipped in queso.

Is your mind reeling yet?

Mine certainly was when I popped a sample of the new limited-edition TCHO Natchos into my mouth.

Yes, just in time for the Super Bowl, the zany minds at Berkeley’s bean-to-bar maker have outdone themselves with this latest creation.

Chief Chocolate Maker Brad Kintzer is a Philadelphia Eagles fan (don’t hold that against him), who started playing around with crafting a nacho-flavored chocolate bar in 2018 when his beloved team competed in (and won) the Super Bowl.

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Dandelion Chocolates’ 12 Nights of Chocolate

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Chocolate braised lamb pierogies by Sarah Rich at "12 Nights of Chocolate.''
Chocolate braised lamb pierogies by Sarah Rich at “12 Nights of Chocolate.”

Could there be a more wonderful way to spend an evening than indulging in chocolate, chocolate, and more artisan chocolate?

That’s just what Dandelion Chocolates’ annual “12 Nights of Chocolate” is all about. The San Francisco bean-to-bar chocolate factory celebrates everything chocolate in its 9th year of this festive event that benefits the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

I had the opportunity to experience night #3 when Dandelion’s pastry chef, Stephen Durfee, kindly invited me as his guest.

From the moment you open the door of the 16th Street factory, you are enveloped in the hedonistic aroma of chocolate everywhere. If only my house could smell this way all the time.

The setting for the evening.
The setting for the evening.

The factory’s loading dock was transformed into a wonderland for the event with chandeliers hanging over three long tables set with a line of illuminated candles. A piano player provided welcoming cheer next to decorated holiday trees.

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