February 14th and I have a love/hate relationship. I’m no fan of silly hearts, roses or diamonds, but I do love candy–especially chocolate. In preparation for 2/14 I’ve picked a few new items and old favorites to highlight throughout the week.

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Old World Truffles – For those looking for a spicy kick in their truffles, these dark chocolates are just the treat. The package of six contains two each of: Spiced Sumatran, Aztec and Raspberry Pink Peppercorn flavored dark chocolate ganache covered in a layer of dark chocolate.

These Peanut Butter Cups are a more mature take on the classic candy combination. A delicate, yet not overly sweet, peanut butter layer is sandwiched between two layers of smooth milk chocolate. I’ve checked with the company and the peanut butter they use to create this confection is safe and not part of the recall. These especially hit the spot during a mid-afternoon sweet craving.

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Sometimes a girl needs kitchen inspiration on the cheap, and that’s when a visit to Ichiban Kan is in order. No high-end pans or cutlery to be found here. Instead, the small store in San Francisco’s Japantown is stuffed full of cheap but super-cute goods for the kitchen and the rest of the house. The store is probably best known for carrying inexpensive bento boxes in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Below are just a few samples examples of little toys for the kitchen:

Boiled Egg Mold

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On my way to the Fancy Food Show today, and tomorrow is Food Fete — both here in SF. Look for posts all next week on new products, favorite tastes and even a few interviews.

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Hey folks–I’ll be in Portland this weekend and plan to stop by the farmer’s market on Saturday, but am looking for suggestions for restaurants. I’ve done a little research and there seem to be so many that I need your help. I love greasy spoons and diners and would also like to try one of the many restaurants that focus on local foods.

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Inspired by my recent Thai cooking class, I stopped by the local Asian food mart in search of galangal, shrimp paste and fish sauce for green curry sauce. As I stood in line to pay I spotted a big bin of freeze dried durian. Normally I only make last minute impulse purchases when chocolate is involved, but having recently seen and read so much about the much-maligned fruit, I quickly grabbed a bag and added it to my basket.

Ok, so while I was excited to tear into the package, it wasn’t in the same way that I might anticipate a creamy chocolate bar or moist cake snack. Instead, I was eager to taste this indescribable king of fruits. What does it taste like? Indeed, it is indescribable. The best I can do is to say that, the freeze dried version anway, tastes like very strong, stale Japanese rice cracker snack mix with a fishy, salty aftertaste.

After doing some research, it seems that the gasses the fruit emits is likely to contribute to the intense flavor. Since there’s no gas in the freeze dried form, I’m guessing it’s much milder than taking a bite out of the fresh, chewy flesh.

I ate one piece and stored the rest away in a sealed bag–if anyone has a hankering, let me know. I don’t intend to finish the bag!

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