Charles Chocolates produces smooth and beautifully wrapped chocolates in small handmade batches in San Francisco. They offer boxed sets of individual chocolates or bars in flavors like Bittersweet Caramelized Rice Krispie and Hazelnut with Candied Orange Peel. Even more tempting are their P.M.S. "prescriptions" that offer monthly deliveries of a small box of dark chocolates as well as one bittersweet chocolate bar to help alleviate any negative feelings brought on by those fluctuating hormones.
Richart chocolates originated in Paris but now ships to U.S. residents from their New York and San Francisco outlets. The Petits Richart True Connoisseur collection comes in a "vault" that houses 112 pieces of chocolate, 16 from each of Richart's 7 flavor families. Their flavor families include Balsamics, Herbal, Floral, Fruity, Citrus, Roasted, and Spiced and include flavors like Curry Praline, Jasmine Tea Ganache, Exotic Flower Ganache, Kumquat Coulis, and Neroli Ganache.
I'll reluctantly leave the world of chocolates to talk about Mad Mac NYC and their amazing parisian macarons. I had the pleasure of sampling a few of these at a party and I have been craving them ever since. Each little macaron is nestled in its own cavity built into a plastic tray so they arrive in one piece while looking nice at the same time with their candy-colored shells arranged decoratively. The texture of these little treats is perfect, with a crispy outer shell and the bit of softness inside along with a melt-in-your-mouth filling. The flavors are delicate but spot-on and if you choose to special order, you can pick six of the thirteen available flavors. The flavors offered are almond, apricot, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut), matcha, lemon, peanut butter, pistachio, raspberry, vanilla, and white chocolate.
I am glad I don't know of any local places that offer any of these treats because I would certainly be poor and morbidly obese by now. You'd see me rolling past you on the street on my Hoveround with a face full of chocolates and macarons, crying and begging for change.
