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Vosges Haut-Chocolat: Unique Recipes and Exotic Ingredients

Filed under: Dining

In a business frequently epitomized by identical delicacies mass-produced and placed in fancy packaging, Vosges Haut-Chocolat is about as outside the box as it gets. Its unique recipes and exotic ingredients have earned Vosges plenty of international recognition, including a Luxist nomination in the best truffles category.

A relative newcomer on the century-old confectionary scene, Vosges was founded in 1998 by chocolatier/entrepreneur Katrina Markoff. After learning the tricks of the French confectionery trade at Le Cordon Blue in Paris, she traversed the globe and completed an array of apprenticeships before returning to open Vosges in Chicago.

Gallery: More from Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Markoff personally selects spices, herbs, roots, flowers, nuts and other ingredients from all over the world. Whether it's combining chocolate with curry or with Applewood bacon, every one of Vosges' chocolates is something of a culinary culture clash. In the spirit of planetary harmony, Vosges' certified-organic facilities are powered by 100% renewable energy.

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Vosges Sensory Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Instead of providing your beloved with a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day you can provide them with a whole taste experience and an education in understanding chocolate. The Sensory Collection includes 28 dark, 6 milk and 6 white single origin chocolate bars from Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad, Java, Ghana, Madagascar, Venezuela, Grenada, Bolivia, Tanzania, Peru, Costa Rica & Santo Domingo, 42 aroma essences including tobacco, charcoal and asparagus, a chocolate guide book, a flavor wheel, a notebook and a blindfold to help you concentrate on the flavors. It sells for $375.

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Tags: chocolate, tasting, valentine, vosges

Vosges Luxe Gatsby Box

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Vosges has put together a luxurious collection of truffles for your Valentine, all tucked neatly into a decorative, limited edition Lucite box. Two types of truffles are included in the Luxe Gatsby Collection: Daisy and Gatsby. Daisy is a rose and white chocolate champagne truffle, topped with a pink rose petal. Gatsby is a dark chocolate champagne truffle, topped with a red petal. Underneath the chocolate array is a "love potion kit," which includes sweetened rose water syrup, pearl dust and real pearls "to add to champagne and charm your love!" It is a lovely collection that is sure to produce a more positive end result than the fictional Daisy and Gatsby's relationship. Price: $250.

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Tags: chocolate, chocolates, gatsby, great gatsby, truffles, vosges

Alexis Wine and Vosges Chocolates, Heaven in a Box

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine

There's nothing like receiving a surprise box of chocolates. Even better when that box of chocolates is from Vosges and much, much better when that box of chocolates comes with a bottle of red wine. I'm traditionally a chocolate and Port girl but this combo works equally well, especially since it is a match made in flavor-pairing heaven. The set includes a bottle of 2003 Alexis Estate Red which is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with a bit of Syrah. The Vosges chocolates are made to match the wine, the creamy ganache is blended with the Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon and then draped in dark chocolate and kissed with a dusting of curry powder. On the tongue, the dark chocolate and Cabernet Sauvigon form their usual happy marriage of strong flavors but the whisper of curry picks ups the spicier nuances of the Syrah.

How did such a delicious pairing come to be? Alexis Swanson the lovely namesake of the Alexis wine met the equally ravishing Katrina Markoff, who would go on to create Vosges, in Paris years ago. A friendship of palates developed over time and eventually the two decided to collaborate. It took nine months of testing to create the perfect truffle to match with the Alexis Estate Red.

The gift set sells for $110 and comes in a well-protected rosy pink box making it an unabashedly romantic gift for sharing . Those who want the complete Swanson experience can visit the Swanson Salon in Rutherford, California where intimate tastings are done by appointment in a charmingly elegant setting.

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Tags: alexis swanson, AlexisSwanson, katrina markoff, swanson vineyards, vosges

Olive Oil and Italiano Gift Box, Mother's Day Gift

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Lavish, adventurous and wrapped up with a big purple bow, the Olive Oil and Italiano Gift Box from Vosges Chocolate is the perfect gift for a mom who is a little bit of a foodie. Instead of the usual box of chocolates, the Vosages gift has a 750-ml bottle of Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a box of nine unique truffles in five different flavors. They include:

Rooster- Italian taleggio cheese, organic walnuts and Tahitian vanilla beans with bittersweet dark chocolate

Olio d'oliva- extra virgin olive oil and white chocolate with dried Kalamata olives

Balsamico- 10 year old balsamic vinegar and dark chocolate with roasted Sicilian hazelnuts

Sale del Mare- Sicilian sea salt caramel and milk chocolate with pine nuts

Finnochio- Wild Tuscan fennel pollen with dark chocolate and anise

The olio d'olive truffle is made with the same type of olive oil included with the gift. Mom is certain to remember the unusual and delicious flavor combinations in the truffles. Price: $56.

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Tags: candy, chocolate, chocolates, gift, mom, mother's day, mother's day gift, olive oil, truffles, vosges

Bobbi Brown Chocolate Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Chocolate plus cosmetics? It brings to mind childhood and Bonne Bell lip glosses but with makeup magician Bobbi Brown and Vosges Haut Chocolat involved, this is a treat for grownups. WWD has the details on Brown's new limited-edition fall color collection which was inspired by chocolate. Bobbie Brown also has created a dark milk chocolate Beauty Bar. The $6 bar will be on sale starting in July at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and four freestanding Vosges stores. The bar includes one of the "it" ingredients of the moment, matcha green tea which is supposed to speed up the metabolism. Brown's chocolate-themed makeup includes an eyeshadow palette, Chocolate Cherry nail polish, blushes and lip duos and also goes on sale in July. Alas, they are not flavored.

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Tags: blush, bobbi brown, BobbiBrown, chocolate, cosmetics, eyeshadow, lipstick, makeup, vosges

Vosges Red Fire Brownies

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Vosges chocolates, famed for their purple boxes and their combinations of chocolates with flavors like curry and wasabi has now branched into selling brownies. But as is the Vosges way, these are no ordinary brownies. Their Red Fire Brownies are dark chocolate brownies spiced with ancho, chipotle and guajillo chillies, cinnamon and vanilla and studded with Red Fire chocolate chips and crunchy cocoa nibs. The brownies sell for $39 for an eight pack. If you are interested in the homemade approach for Valentine's Day, Vosges has a recipe for Chocolate Fire Brownies and you can ordered the Red Fire chips and bars off their website.

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Tags: brownies, chocolate, valentine's day, vosges