HAPPY HOLIDAYS – HAPPY NEW YEAR
TIME TO CELEBRATE
AND HERE IS NUMBER FIVE: KNIPSCHILDT CHOCOLATES
This summer, I attended the Global Fancy Food Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. This was a wonderful opportunity in getting oriented to new products and taste a significant number of sweets and other “foods of interest” that were presented at the show. Knipschildt Chocolates were one of the booths that I made an unplanned stop. They were not listed under my “must visit” category, because I do not care for golf-ball-size truffles. In this case, larger is not better. However, they were offering to taste one of their fruit-based syrups (I had the raspberry with peppercorn) reconstituted with champagne and served in a flute. I could not resist and I did not regret it. This was one of the best champagne cocktail I have ever poured down my throat. In fact, I would compare the experience to drinking one of those “super-thick, super-rich” (as described by Nibbles) full-bodied, real chocolate-based hot chocolate in Cambridge, Mass at L A Burdick. Yum.
Since I was standing at the front of their booth and their truffles were staring right at me, I decided to sacrifice myself and taste one of the dark chocolates. I must admit that right after the first bite, I was ready to be converted and ordered two boxes to be shipped to my office. It is not a total shock, however, since they are using Valrhona chocolate for the ganache, and the cream that is added to the chocolate to create the ganache is infused with vanilla pods for 24 hours prior to use.
Knipschildt’s best chocolate is the Green Tea Truffle. Each bittersweet chocolate ganache truffle is rolled in matcha, the fine green tea powder used for the Japanese tea ceremony; true green tea is the first flavor that tickles your palate and the flavor lingers ever so pleasantly for quite awhile. With this product Fritz Knipschildt created the true interpretation of a green tea truffle. Moreover, their presentation in a beautiful pastel-green box sealed with a bamboo pick is a genius design. Other flavors at Knipschildt include pumpkin, caramel sea salt (this one is excellent), passion fruit, pear, rose water, black currant, apricot basil and other exotic flavors, as well as some classic favorites like softly roasted hazelnut and Manuka honey from New Zealand.
Knipschildt’s “La Madeline au Truffe” was recognized by Forbes Magazine as the most expensive chocolate in the world. It is based on 70% Valrhona chocolate for the ganache with authentic truffle oil and ends with the same for dipping. The ganache is shaped around a French Perigord Truffle, aka French Black Truffle (this truffle alone costs up to $1,000 per pound) and completed by dusting it with Valrhona’s cocoa powder. Can you imagine to have a bite of this gem? It is only a mere $2,100/pound. But you can get one truffle, weighing nearly 2 ounce for $250.00. A real bargain. It is delivered to the lucky recipient placed on a bed of sugar pearls in a silver box tied with a beautiful ribbon. Sheer extravaganza!
I guess that is what the republicans meant when they were demanding a tax cut for those making $250,000 or over – they will support the economy while indulging in life’s super-delicacies, unattainable by others.
By the way, Knipschildt Chocolates won the coveted Sofie Award at the Fancy Food Show with their Hanna Mini Signature Chocolate Box (Burnt Caramel with Hawaiian Sea Salt). The Sofi Awards are the highest honor in the specialty food industry.
Hello my friends! – I still did not hear from anyone about your favorites. I would love to create another reference list developed by the readers of this post.