Pardon the slightly disjointed nature of this post; it was meant to be report on my TCHO factory experience that evolved into a St. Patrick’s Day recipe that now includes a mention of Japan. Apologies, but I couldn’t not mention that I fell in love with Japan long before I visited it for the first […]...
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all! If you’re just here for cake, at the end of this post you’ll find a recipe for an absolutely addictive gianduja mousse cake. A rendition of flourless chocolate cake made even more irresistable by the addition of fresh toasted hazelnut paste to the batter. This is defnitely a one-slice-is-all-you-need dessert; […]...
{SF} A Foodie Weekend in Three Acts
Act I. “Pour Yourself a Stiff Drink, There’s a Lot More to Come.” The kickoff party for Scharffen Berger’s annual Chocolate Adventure Contest has become an Orson tradition. Exotic drinks, whimsical nibbles, and a whole lot of chocolate cupcakes. The theme this year for the Chocolate Adventure Contest is cupcakes – devise a cupcake made […]...
{Sweet San Francisco} Cocoabella: Like a Kid in A Candy Store
When a pre-packaged box of chocolates just won’t do, CocoaBella Chocolates comes to the rescue with their handpicked selection of chocolates from around the world. My favorites include Christopher Elbow, Marquise de Sevigne, and Valrhona. Brett Beach, one of the founders of Madecasse Chocolate, conducting a tasting of his chocolate bars at the store. See […]...
{SF} A Soy and Chocolate Pairing with Michael Recchiuti
A week ago I got the opportunity to attend a most intriguing presentation and I'm eager to share the experience with you! The event was a Soy and Chocolate pairing, part of Michael Recchiuti's Taste Project where he combines his renowned chocolate with another unexpected ingredient, such as cheese, beer, or salt. As Michael explained to […]...
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
