Every season we look forward to the fleeting magic that Lady M imparts to their limited-edition Mille Crêpes Cakes. From today through the end of June, the special flavor is lavender.

Organic lavender flowers are infused in the milk used to make the pastry cream for the Lavender Mille Crêpes Cake, made from 20 alternating layers of paper-thin, handmade French crêpes and lavender pastry cream that surround a center filling of blackberry jelly.

The organic lavender flowers and delicate piping of lavender-blackberry cream are a delicate balance of floral and fruity, a true feast for both the eyes and the palate.

With its beautiful lavender color and delicious flavor profile, the Lavender Mille Crêpes Cake is perfect for Mother’s Day and other springtime celebrations, up through Father’s Day and graduation parties.

Serve it with sparkling wine or iced tea. Here’s a recipe for lavender iced tea.
 
 
GET YOUR LAVENDER MILLE CRÊPES CAKE

If you order the cake online, it is shipped frozen and can remain frozen for up to two months (once a cake is defrosted, it should not be re-frozen).

Fresh cakes from Lady M boutiques can last for two days.
 
If you can’t use a whole cake, look for a Lady M boutique near you and treat yourself to a slice or two.

Through May 14th only, in select boutiques and online, there’s Rose Mille Crêpes Cake, with delicate, rose-kissed pastry cream and topped with a glossy sweet rose jelly and edible rose petals (photo #4).
 
 
LADY M MILLE CRÊPES CAKE YEAR-ROUND FLAVORS

While there are seasonal flavors, the current roster of 9-inch Mille Crêpes Cakes includes:

 
There are seasonal flavors: Chestnut for the holidays, Champagne for the new year, Passion Fruit for the summer, and so on. Keep checking and you may find Purple Yam, Red Bean, and Salted Caramel.

You can even order a three-tier wedding cake, each layer made of “mille” crêpes.
 
 
> The history of cake and the different types of cakes.
 
 
ABOUT LADY M

Lady M is a New York City luxury confections brand with boutique locations worldwide. Created in 2001 and led by CEO Ken Romaniszyn, Lady M is the creator of the world famous Mille Crêpes.

Lady M marries French pastry techniques with Japanese sensibilities, resulting in delicate cakes that are a touch sweet and perfect for every occasion.

All cakes are handmade and prepared fresh without food additives or preservatives. Lady M’s recipes have been refined over the years to provide the finest quality in taste and appearance. Indulge in a world of cakes and confections at LadyM.com.

Lavender Mille Crepes Cake[/caption]
[1] Lady M’s Lavender Mille Crêpes Cake, a limited edition for May and June (photos © Lady M).

[2] The cake has a layer of blackberry jelly in the center.

[3] The view from above.

[4] A close-up of the Rose Mille Crêpes Cake.

[1] A flatbread pizza with avocado, fig, and optional prosciutto (photo © California Avocados).

[2] You know the avocado is ripe when the stem end is soft (photo © Love One Today).

[3] You can use any fresh figs, but black or brown figs like these black Mission figs provide appealing color contrast (photo © California Figs).

[4] Sliced prosciutto di Parma (photo © Di Bruno Bros.).

We made this grilled flatbread recipe for Sunday brunch, and can’t wait to make it again. It’s a flatbread pizza. Thanks to California Avocados for the recipe.

Wait, you say: Is it a flatbread or is it a pizza?
 
 
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLATBREAD & PIZZA

Flatbread and pizza can share the same toppings and the same pizza oven or grill. So how is flatbread different from pizza?

The main difference is the dough that is used.

 
Here’s where it gets confusing:

Many restaurants use pizza dough for their flatbreads. How can you tell?

A true flatbread will be thin, flat, and crisp. The crust of a flatbread made with pizza dough will, well, look like a pizza crust—even though it may be a rectangle or other shape.

Both are delicious.
 
 
RECIPE: GRILLED CALIFORNIA AVOCADO & FIG FLATBREAD PIZZA

Large Hass avocados are recommended for this recipe. A large avocado weighs about 8 ounces. If using smaller or larger size avocados, adjust the quantity accordingly.

While some people enjoy a beer with flatbread, a glass of Prosecco is a sparkling option.

Prep time is 15 min and cook time is 15 minutes.
 
Ingredients For 8 Servings

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the grill to 350°F. Stretch the pizza dough by hand into a 12″ x 14″ oval or rectangular shape.

2. LAY the crust on the grill for 2-3 minutes, or until cooked enough to flip. Continue cooking and flipping for about 7 more minutes. Watch for burning and move the crust to a cooler area of the grill to cook the center. When the crust is about 3 minutes from finished…

3. SLICE the avocado in half and remove the pit. Cut each half into 4 slices, leaving the skin on. Place the avocado slices on the grill, cooking 1-2 minutes per side. Set aside. Once the grilled crust is completed…

4. TRANSFER the crust to a large platter. Assemble the pizza by spreading crème fraîche over the crust, followed by the optional prosciutto. Remove the skin from the avocado slices, placing the slices atop the crème fraîche or prosciutto. Sprinkle with the arugula, and top with the sliced figs, Parmesan cheese, drizzled olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

5. CUT into squares and serve.
 
 
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*If you have leftover lamb or roast pork, you can use them instead.

Our first California Chardonnay obsession was Sonoma-Cutrer. We had “discovered” the wine, made in Sonoma’s Russian River growing region, on the opposite coast, in our hometown of New York City.

When we took our first trip to Sonoma County, we were treated to a tour of the winery and an hour of relaxation in the tasting room.

We loved the buttery, oaky, fruit-forward, full-bodied wine, made in the tradition of the great white wines of Burgundy (with a tip of the hat to Californian style), aged in barrels of French oak (the source of “buttery” and “oaky”).

Since the first 1981 Cutrer Vineyard Chardonnay, the winery has grown exponentially, producing Chardonnay from six different vineyards that express different terroir* qualities, plus reserve wines and blends. It’s a cornucopia of Chardonnay happiness. (Not to mention, the winery also makes delicious Pinot Noirs.)

And now, the award-winning vintner has launched Simply Cutrer, the brand’s first canned wine: ideal for one person, easy to transport, convenient to recycle—and, in our own lifestyle, great for party favors (with a ribbon) and stocking stuffers.
 
 
SIMPLY CUTRER: THE BEST WINE IN A CAN?

With Simply Cutrer, the venerable brand is breaking tradition by offering wine lovers a fine wine in a can. (While Sonoma-Cutrer is perhaps the most prestigious brand in the market, here’s more about premium wine in a can.)

As a winery that has ranked at the top of the Most Requested Chardonnay list in Wine & Spirits magazine’s annual restaurant poll, Sonoma-Cutrer hopes that Simply Cutrer will change the way consumers perceive wine in a can.

While the wine is ready for summer sipping at the pool or a barbecue, cookout‡, or picnic, it is versatile to pair with anything from a Salade Niçoise to chicken, fish, and shellfish.

Most bottles of Sonoma-Cutrer are made from grapes grown in specific vineyards (see *terroir, below). The winery does make wine from a blend of grapes from different vineyards, and the Chardonnay grapes for Simply Cutrer are a blend sourced from different vineyards.

In Simply Cutrer, aromas of peach, nectarine, and melon mingle with hints of vanilla, toasted nuts, and light caramel. On the palate, Simply Cutrer features notes of ripe pear and peach, and a long, lush finish.

Simply Cutrer has an ABV‡‡ of 13.9%. It retails for an SRP‡‡ of $19.99 for a four-pack of 250ml cans. It is available for purchase in select states‡‡‡ and on the Sonoma-Cutrer website.

Stock up for home and for gifting.
 
 
THE HISTORY OF CHARDONNAY

A white wine grape originating in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France, Chardonnay is now grown wherever wine is produced. It’s the most-consumed white wine in the world [source].

While many ampelographers (botanists who specialize in the identification and classification of grape vines) had theories as to the origins of the Chardonnay grape, modern DNA fingerprinting suggests that Chardonnay is a cross between the Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc grape varieties. The Romans are thought to have brought Gouais Blanc from Croatia to Gaul, and it was widely cultivated by peasants in eastern France [source].

The Pinot Noir grapes in Burgundy grew in close proximity to the Gouais Blanc, providing ample opportunity to interbreed. Since the two parent grapes were genetically distant, the hybrids were vigorous and were selected for further propagation.

A highly vigorous vine, the Chardonnay grape is easy to cultivate and adapts to different growing conditions. It takes on the attributes of its terroir and winemaker.

In France, Chardonnay is the second-most widely planted white grape variety just behind Ugni Blanc and ahead of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. (Ugni Blanc is grown extensively in the Cognac and Armagnac regions, and is distilled into brandy.)

[1] Simply Cutrer is the latest wine from Sonoma-Cutrer, a fine wine in trending 250 ml cans (photos #1 and #2 © Sonoma-Cutrer).

[2] You can use the individual cans as party favors and placeholders. Just tie a piece of twine (or a yellow ribbon) around the can.

[3] If you’re enjoying a nice meal at home, drinking out of a wine glass is perfectly acceptable—or empty the entire four-pack into a carafe (photo © Zwiesel Glas | Facebook).

[4] Chardonnay grapes. You can buy vines and grow your own (photo © Double A Vineyards | Pixie Gardens).

In the U.S., it is the number one white wine grape in California, predominantly in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

It is also an important grape in the Willamette Valley of Oregon; in the Alto-Aldige and Puglia regions of Italy; in the Marlborough region of New Zealand; and in the Thracian Valley of Bulgaria; and in Argentina, Australia, and Chile, among other regions.
 
 
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*Terroir, pronounced tur-WAH, *is a French agricultural term referring to the unique set of environmental factors in a specific habitat that affects a crop’s qualities. It includes climate, elevation, proximity to a body of water, slant of the land, soil type, and amount of sun. These environmental characteristics give a fruit or vegetable its unique character.

‡Barbecue is meat cooked “low and slow” inside direct heat. A cookout is when foods—burgers, hot dogs, fish, corn on the cob, etc.—are cooked over an open flame.

‡‡ABV is alcohol by volume. SRP is standard retail price.

‡‡‡Select states include Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Additional markets expected in 2023 include Arizona, California, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Rhode Island, Oregon, Utah, and Washington (availability is subject to change).
 
 

[1] Mango adds pizzazz to already-popular halibut tacos (photos #1 and #4 by Carlos Garcia © Flavor And The Menu).

[2] While this recipe was made with halibut, you could substitute cod, haddock, mahi mahi, tilapia, or grouper (photo © Good Eggs).

[3] Slicing a mango. Here’s how to slice a mango (photo © National Mango Board).

[4] Mango aïoli can also be used with many other dishes. See the footnote* below.

[5] Maseca brand corn flour is the most popular Mexican corn flour. Founded in 1949 in Mexico, it was the first “nixtamal” corn flour facility in the world. The name Maseca derives from “masa seca” (dry dough), dehydrated corn flour (photo © Gruma).

[6] You can substitute Mango Cart, a mango-flavored wheat ale, for the regular beer. The different types of beer (photo © Craft Beer Kings).

Cinco de Mayo is creeping up on us. We hasten to share this Mango Halibut Tacos recipe from John Baez, Executive Chef of Border Grill. We also have many more Cinco de Mayo recipes.

Thanks to the National Mango Board for sponsoring this recipe. They have a wonderful trove of mango recipes for every meal of the day. We’ve just made the Mango Baked Brie and this Mango Jalapeño Cornbread Stuffing, which we made in a muffin pan to create individual cups that can be served with anything.
 
 
RECIPE: MANGO & HALIBUT TACOS

You can save time by purchasing corn tortillas, instead of making them from scratch (Step 5).

You will need two squeeze bottles, for the Mango-Lime Vinaigrette and the Mango Aïoli.
 
Ingredients For 1 Serving (3 Tacos)

For The Mango-Lime Vinaigrette (Yields 24 Ounces)

 
For The Mango-Pineapple Slaw (Yield 24 Ounces)

 
For The Mango Aïoli (Yield 50 Portions)

 
For The Mango-Corn Tortillas (Yield 16)

 
For The Mango Beer Batter

 
To Assemble The Tacos (Per Serving)

 
Preparation

1. MAKE the Mango-Lime Vinaigrette. Peel and core the mangos, then purée the flesh in a blender on high speed until completely smooth. Add lime juice and purée together until thoroughly combined. Reduce the blender speed to low and slowly drizzle in olive oil to create an emulsion. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place in a squeeze bottle; reserve.

2. MAKE the Mango-Pineapple Slaw. Combine all the salsa ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss/mix gently by hand. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Do not add the vinaigrette until ready to serve (see Step 7).

3. MAKE the Mango Aïoli. Combine fresh mango purée, mayonnaise, and ginger juice in a mixing bowl and whisk together by hand until completely combined. Place in a squeeze bottle and refrigerate until ready to use. (Note: If you are making a large enough batch, fresh ginger can be placed in a food processor and puréed to speed up the juice extraction process. A few drops of lemon or lime juice can also brighten up the aïoli.

4. MAKE the Mango Beer Batter. Combine the puréed fresh mangos, flour, beer, and eggs in a mixing bowl and whisk by hand until completely combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. The consistency may be adjusted by adding more flour for a thicker batter or more purée for a thinner batter.

5. MAKE the Mango-Corn Tortillas. In a stand mixer, combine all ingredients. Using a paddle attachment, mix ingredients at medium speed until a smooth dough is formed. Do not overmix the dough or it will alter the texture of the tortillas. Remove dough from mixer bowl and, using gloved hands, form into 1.5- to 2-oz balls. Using a tortilla press, place each dough ball in the center and press firmly to flatten the dough ball into a flat circle of dough/masa about 1/8 in thick (line the tortilla press surface with plastic wrap to ensure that the dough doesn’t stick). Place the dough circle onto a hot flattop or saute pan (350°F+) and cook on the initial side for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Then flip over and cook for an additional 30 seconds or until the tortilla begins to puff up. Remove the tortilla from the heat and reserve. Repeat with the remaining dough, holding the tortillas warm until ready to use.

6. COOK the halibut. Toss halibut in the Mango Beer Batter, ensuring that it is completely coated, then drop into a deep fryer at 325°F for 3 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown and floating. Remove the halibut from the fryer and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate or other surface and allow excess oil to drain off; season with salt and pepper. While the halibut is cooking…

7. TOSS the slaw with the vinaigrette. (Note: Keep all ingredients/components separate until just prior to serving. Allowing ingredients to sit together for too long may result in the liquids over-saturating the fruits, causing them to be mushy.)

8. ASSEMBLE the Mango Halibut Tacos. Briefly heat† the tortillas to make them more pliable, then add a small amount of slaw in a line down the center of each tortilla. Place a piece of fried halibut in each tortilla directly on top of the slaw. Using a squeeze bottle, drizzle the Mango Aïoli in a zig-zag pattern over the top of the fish, then top with the remaining slaw.

9. PLATE. Gently fold the tortillas up and around the taco ingredients, place them on a plate, and prop them up with lime wedges on either end of the tortillas. Or check out these disposable taco holders, if you don’t serve tacos often enough to buy these colorful, reusable taco holders.

†Heat the tortillas in a dry hot pan for 20-30 seconds per side, or in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel. To microwave more than one, alternate the tortillas with damp paper towels, 30 seconds for one tortilla, and 1 minute for multiple tortillas. The goal in a microwave is to steam them.

‡Mango Cart wheat ale (photo #6) may be substituted for regular beer for even more mango flavor.
 
 

[1] Beautiful chocolates for any occasion (all photos © Dallmann Fine Chocolates).

[2] Memorable chocolates for Mother’s Day in a choice of box designs. Mother’s Day box designs are also available for vegan chocolates.

[3] The most delicious vegan gift.

[4] Mozartkugeln, the classic Austrian bonbon created in Vienna in 1890 and given a modern update by Dallmann.

[5] Sweet and spicy Triple Chili chocolate bars.

[6] The Provence chocolate bar infuses fresh lavender and a hint of fleur de sel.

[7] When it’s time for trick-or-treat, we’re ordering these charmers.

[8] You deserve a special treat.

It’s always a pleasure to discover an exciting producer of artisan foods. In the case of our Top Pick Of The Week, Dallmann Fine Chocolates of California, in the lovely town of San Marcos in San Diego County*.
 
 
A GREAT HERITAGE

Dallmann founder Isabella Knack is a third-generation confectioner. She grew up in a small town outside of Salzburg, Austria. Her family’s business was a pastry shop, begun in 1954 by her grandfather, Guenther Dallmann.

The shop was extremely popular among the locals. Guenther’s daughter Sylvia and her husband Franz continued his efforts, turning Dallmann’s into a world-renowned business.

One of her parents’ specialties was Mozartkugel, an irresistible nougat ball covered in chocolate, that was born in 1890 in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. (Readers who enjoy name disputes and copyright law will enjoy the details here.)

There’s more about the MozartKugel below.

Sylvia and Franz’s daughter Isabella grew up in her family’s pastry shop, learning the trade. When she had the opportunity to move to San Diego, she “jumped on it with the vision of keeping the family traditions and business alive.”

She headed to the West Coast, bringing the family’s artisan version of Mozartkugel to America in 2006. And from there, an exquisite chocolate shop was born, opening in 2011.

Isabella follows her grandfather’s practice of using only the finest ingredients and craftsmanship while adding modern flavor and artistic touches to her beautiful chocolate bonbons and bars.

And she says that her children are already getting involved with chocolate making. Welcome the fourth generation of chocolatiers!

> The history of chocolate.

> Chocolate terminology: a glossary.

> The origin of chocolate truffles.

> “Chocolate” vs. “chocolates.”

> Truffles vs. pralines.

> Pralines vs. bonbons.
 
 
THE TRUFFLES

What makes a great piece of chocolate? To start with, the couverture. Dallmann uses the best Swiss brand, Felchlin, a brand not well-known among American consumers but highly regarded by artisan chocolatiers.

Then, the centers: caramels, fruits, ganache, nuts, and seasonings (herbs, spices, spirits). The best of everything—no skimping.

Finally, the artisan touches that make each piece of chocolate so alluring, like the beautiful hand-painting.

The truffles (i.e., individual pieces of chocolate—we call them bonbons) are the main event.

There are pre-set and custom boxes of chocolate. Pre-set boxes include Bella’s Favorites, Vegan Chocolates, Exotic Chocolates, Wine Pairing Chocolates, Sugar-Free Chocolates (the latter are all dark chocolate ganache).

If you have a passion for some flavors over others, you can build a box with whatever you like!

Most flavors are available year-round, some flavors are seasonal. Currently, the flavors include:

 
Vegan Flavors

 
 
MOZARTKUGELN

If you like marzipan, you must! must! must! order Dallmann’s Mozartkugeln. They are the best!

The original recipe for Mozartkugel (meaning “Mozart ball,” plural -kugeln) starts with a ball of pistachio marzipan covered in a layer of nougat and coated in dark chocolate. It was wrapped in silver foil with an image of Mozart.

The originals were made by Paul Fürst, a Salzburg confectioner. They shot to popularity and were awarded a gold medal at a world trade fair in Paris in 1905.

Over time, copycat versions appeared, some with slight variations, some also claiming to be the “original.”

In 1996, the Austrian Supreme Court ruled that only Furst had the right to the name “original” Mozartkugel. If someone else makes a similar product, they may call it Mozartkugeln, but not “original.”

Americans may be most familiar with mass-produced versions like Victor Schmidt’s, which are often found in piled into containers next to the cash register at sweet shops, wrapped in four-color gold foil with Mozart’s image.

Dallmann’s Mozartkugeln is a ball of the most delectable pistachio marzipan under a layer of nougat made with pistachios, hazelnuts, and almonds and dipped in dark chocolate. The end result is so wonderful, we had to restrain ourselves from eating the whole box at once.
 
 
THE CHOCOLATE BARS

These wonderfully luxurious chocolate bars complete the “menu” at Dallmann:

 
 
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*The shop is located in San Marcos, a suburb of San Diego bounded by Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, and Vista. San Marcos has been cited as one of the best places to live in California, with good public schools, a university, and many restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. More about San Marcos.