What do fig, hazelnut, pepper and champagne have in common?
They are all happy residents inside of rich, perfectly formed, chocolates. I found them all with their decor and etchings, in a row, in a new chocolate shop that just opened its doors on Orcas Island: Kathleen Taylor Chocolates.
I was visiting the island, happily cycling through the humble yet striking East Sound, when we fell upon this quaint little shop. Suffice it to say, we went back a second time, to try even more of their chocolates. Well, that isn’t entirely true. My eldest son went back for seconds of the very same treat: their fruit tart. The fruit tart includes a tart shell, a lining of chocolate and a topping of glazed fruit. My son was in heaven; he informed me it was the best dessert he has ever had [in his entire life]. Now, instead of dwelling on the fact that he didn’t say this about one of my own desserts (but what about the creme brulee I make you: you love that!), I instead lingered happily on the thought that a memory materialized before my very eyes. How can a 12 year old boy forget ‘the best dessert I ever ate’ when on a quaint island in the throws of a family vacation? We went back twice for that tart!
I love innovations in the realm of chocolate. People who push the flavor profiles farther and farther and are able to achieve both pleasure and surprise for my palate. I tried a pink peppermint chocolate: real mint infused chocolate with pink peppercorns to send spice notes through the mint flavor. And it worked.
What unusual flavors have you experienced with chocolate?
Tags: chocolates, Kathleen Taylor Chocolates, Orcas Island, tart
Comments
We have a couple of interesting chocolatiers down here in Portland as well. Of note are Pix Patisserie: http://www.pixpatisserie.com/collections/chocolate featuring such bizarre and unexpectedly delicious treats as the fleur de sel truffle, a salted caramel concoction; and the bleu cheese truffle (an exercise in open mindedness!) Alma Chocolate: http://www.almachocolate.com/ also has some interesting mixes and makes all their sweets from natural, organic and fair traded ingredients. Their website isn’t so great, so I guess you’ll just have to come down here to try them!
I love your post about your 12 year old son falling in love not only with the fruit tart, but really with the whole experience surrounding the finding of this treat. You’re right, it’s a wonderful memory. (Our middle son was in Paris for 2 1/2 days when he was 10 years old, and the experience of the fresh baguettes from the street corner boulangerie and the romance of the city was compelling to him. For him, too, a significant memory.)
I love the opportunity to tell you about my favorite chocolate shop - Downey’s Chocolates. Tracey Downey is a French trained Chocolatier and her creations are deeeelicious! Her Raspberry Symphony is a bite of heaven. Take a look at her website and, if you’re ever in Orange County, California, go to her Chocolate Cafe for breakfast or lunch crepes and enjoy some of her designer (and tasty!) chocolates as an after-meal treat! Very yummy. Enjoy!
http://www.mychocolatefix.com/
“Mac”
http://www.greensfirst.com/5039