TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Cake Truffles & Other Sweets
 [1] The most glamorous cake truffles, from Kim Crawford and Mini Melanie Bakery. Both the wine bottles and truffles are limited edition for the holidays. (photo Kim Crawford).
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Our Top Picks Of The Week are four sweet treats we’re personally giving as holiday gifts.
1. MINI MELANIE CAKE TRUFFLES Cake truffles have been hot for the last five years, at least. But most of them don’t have the panache of these cake truffles from Mini Melanie bakery in Brooklyn. The dark chocolate ganache in the center of the cake truffle is infused with Kim Crawford Wines’ Sauvignon Blanc. The truffles are then coated in dark, milk or white chocolate, topped with 24 karat gold leaf, and accented with mini gold sugar dragées. For those who have never eaten gold before, it’s a novel experience, and a delicious one. For an even more elaborate gift, pair a box of the Mini Melanie cake truffles with Kim Crawford’s limited edition 2017 Holiday Bottle (photo #1). A dozen truffles in a beautiful box are $42. Get yours at MiniMelanie.com. What Is Edible Gold? Edible gold is 24 karat gold leaf: a beautiful yet flavorless, odorless and nontoxic form of gold. It’s pure gold leaf that’s been hammered into sheets as thin as possible, and used as a garnish for cocktails, desserts and other foods. It’s the same gold leaf that is used in gilding art, picture frames, ceilings and cathedral domes. All you need is love…and marshmallows, say the marshmallow artisans at XO. Handcrafted in small batches, they’re all natural, gluten free and egg free. In addition to a delicious vanilla marshmallow, there’s a specialty flavor for everyone: We ate them from the box, but they can be served: |
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If you’ve never had artisan marshmallows, you’re in for a real treat. Get yours at XOMarshmallow.com. The company also has gourmet S’mores kits, marshmallow cream and hot chocolate. |
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3. MICHEL CLUIZEL iCLUIZEL 8.1 Eat your mobile phone; or at least, a box that looks like a mobile phone with eight chocolate “apps” inside (photo #4). The apps are bonbons of 70% dark chocolate, with chocolate ganaches flavored with caramel, coconut, coffee, chocolate, praliné, nut-orange, raspberry and tea. The bonbons are dairy-free: no milk, butter or cream. iCluizel is $18, at Cluizel.us. Paris-based Michel Cluizel is one of the world’s greatest chocolate makers. Here’s our review of the brand. The nice twist with these premium raw honeys is that they are gathered from different regions and localities of the U.S. Give a bottle of honey from California, Dakota, Florida, Georgia, Great Lakes, Hawaii, Midwest, New York or Texas. If you prefer to go regional, there are honeys gathered in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Southeast. If you want the classics, there are Berry Honey, Blueberry Honey, Clover Honey, Orange Blossom Honey and Wildflower Honey, all raw and American-sourced. Bee Harmony Honey is dedicated to using “Beesponsible” practices (a.k.a. responsible beekeeping) and encouraging consumers to join the “beevolution” by taking steps to help keep honeybees a healthy and thriving part of our world. This includes buying raw, ethically sourced honey. Ethically sourced means that the bees’ welfare is paramount. A 13-ounce jars range from $9.99 to $11.99 Get yours at BeeSponsible.com. What Is Raw Honey? Raw honey comes straight from the beehive: There’s no pasteurization or other processing, which remove nutrients. |
 [4]. Eat your apps: There are eight chocolate bonbon “apps” inside this “phone” (photo Michel Cluizel).
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It is a potent superfood, containing bee pollen—packed with protein and amino acids, considered to be one of nature’s most nourishing foods. Mass-marketed honey (“supermarket honey”) honey does not contain bee pollen. |
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