Chocolate of the Day:Marco Paolo Chocolates, LLC
Espresso with Anise Marzipan (truffle)
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece / 4.3 oz. (127 g.) (estimate) 9-piece box
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $25.00 for 9-piece box
Purchased from: Marco Paolo Chocolates, Van Nuys, CAThe annual Chocolate Salon was held in San Francisco today. This show offered a dazzling display of chocolate wares from a long list of chocolatiers, confectioners, chocolate makers -- and an opportunity to discover new chocolates. (I left the show with two full bags.)
Today's Espresso with Anise Marzipan truffle was part of a beautifully designed, 9-piece box of colorful gems (the "Sense Venture" collection) from Marco Paolo Chocolates (Van Nuys, CA). I sampled a tiny tasting truffle at the Marco Paolo table at the show, before buying a box. (These 1/2 bite sized truffles are a great, economical way to sample flavors for exhibitors and attendees alike.)
Each of the 9 pieces in this collection contained bold combinations of layered flavors. Today's piece contained espresso mocha ganache on top of a layer of anise infused marzipan; and these flavors were encased in a dark chocolate shell (fair trade from Kallari), decorated with strokes of colored cocoa butter.I Love Layers
I'm a big fan of filled chocolates and truffles containing flavor parfaits like today's collection. These separate layers can add to the complexity and richness of the tasting experience, in the same way that a sandwich allows one to taste all the ingredients -- separately, and together. I wouldn't put a sandwich into a blender first before eating it, particularly if it were made with fine ingredients that I wanted to savor one flavor bite at a time. The same is true for certain flavor combinations.
Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Espresso Theme Week.
