fête à fête

Perfect for Spring and Mother's Day (or Father's Day, graduation presents), Bay Area chocolatier Coco-luxe Confections is introducing their new '07 chocolate bars and dragées line. Founder Stephanie Marcon wanted to share her vision of summer celebrations, with a playful twist on her flavor profile. Without losing her sophisticated touch, the smooth chocolate bars bring forth more reasons to indulge with loved ones. With flavors like Good Fortune (dark chocolate with candied ginger and fortune cookie pieces), it's a unique yet whimsical combo to experience. I liked the way the sea salt added a nice contrast to the pumpkin seeds and goji berries in the Happy Trails bar. Monkey’in Around is another fave, with milk chocolate mixed in with banana chips and cocoa nibs.

The other new product, the nut Dragées, are amazingly addictive. I love the County Fair Peanuts - roasted cayenne candied peanuts enrobed in a nice layer of milk chocolate, then dusted with cocoa powder. It's not too spicy, leaving a nice lingering warmth on your tongue as you think about savoring the next bite. It was hard not to reach for another piece. These dragees also come in another yummy flavor, Block Party Almonds (cinnamon candied almonds rolled in dark chocolate).

Available online at www.Coco-luxe.com