SF Chocolate Salon 2011

This years salon is the 5th annual SF Chocolate Salon and it looks to be the best one yet! Each year I discover a new chocolate maker that I love, many of whom are local to the Bay Area. The plethora of amazing artisan chocolate makers is absolutely mind blowing!

On top of the opportunity to taste test many of these delicious concoctions, there will be recipe and technique demos, interviews with top chocolate specialists like one of my personal faves Alice Medrich and some fascinating takes on the classic treat via such as Van Gogh Vodka, the makers of Dutch Chocolate flavored Vodka.

There are still some tickets left, so join your fellow chocolate lovers and let's enjoy some of the best that is on offer!

Here is a list of just some of the participants this year:

The TeaRoom chocolate, Guittard Chocolate Company, Christopher Michael Chocolates, Choclatique, Divine Chocolate, Alter Eco Fair TradeChocolate, Dolce Bella Chocolates and Cafe, Neo Cocoa, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Vice Chocolates, Socola Chocolatier, Amano Artisan Chocolate, and many many more!

Follow the Chooclate Salon on Twitter!

Luna's Pick of the week: Pinky Vodka

I have to admit that Pinky Vodka was a bit of a challenge for me. The flavors were not quite what I was used to. I tried it over a scoop of fresh Peach sorbet, which was delicious.



I couldn't think of a what to combine it with, so I decided to call in the big guns. The flavor is unusual, wth roses, violets and other botanicals. I went to the Ruby Room where Sascha came up with a lovely cocktail that I think compliments the vodka nicely!

Ruby Fizz

In a rocks glass over ice:

1 pt Pinky Vodka
1 pt grapefruit
simple syrup to taste
splash lime
splash grenadine
splash soda water

This is a refreshing drink with just the right amount of fizz. A votre sante!

SF Chocolate Salon: The Review

The SF Chocolate Salon was a fun and interesting revalation. I learned that cacao grows in Hawaii, and is being used by such wonderful chocolatiers as Chocolatique and Guittard.

I now know that while I like Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka, the chocolate bacon bar left me wanting.

I discovered that there are some amazing chocolatiers here in the Bay Area and you will find out, too, as at least two of them have agreed to be interviewed!

For sure you need to check out:
Poco Dolce Toffee Squares

So Cola's Strauss Butter and Cream Filled treats, esp the Burnt Baby Burnt

Edible Love's amazing Absinthe and Elderflower (oh and a host of other delights, which we will discuss further!)

For your cookbook needs hit up the wonderful ladies of Omnivore, as Celia has collected so many she had to open a store!!

Coco-Luxe, very popular here at Kitchen Magic, will be adding wine to the tasting room for pairings, from 122 West Winery, which we look forward to enjoying.

All in all, the salon was a wonderful experience, though I did have a few minor issues: in the future I would like to see it more organized, as people were cutting in line and causing a bit of chaos.

And two I wonder if would be possible for people to not stand directly in front of tables once no longer tasting? That too would help speed things long.

I certainly look forward to more events from the gang at TasteTv!

Seeking spirits that are Sustainable

In a world were resources are changing, as is our attitude towards them, I was intrigued to find that there are more alcohols being created from sustainable sources. I wanted to share that, so here we go!

www.veevlife.com is an Acai based spirit and $1 from the sale of each bottle goes to help the rainforest

www.orangev.com are distilled, premium American grains, flavored with Florida Oranges

www.rainvodka.com creates small batches of vodka made organic white corn

Bison Brewery, a Berkeley company, makes organic beer. Check it out!
http://bisonbrew.com/default.asp

www.buttecreek.com though the site is not up yet, keep your eye out for these organic brewers, also out of California