I know I’m not the only one who associates tastes and smells with memories and places. An example: One whiff of maple syrup, and suddenly I am four years old again, eating breakfast at the countertop as my grandma reads "Go, Dog. Go!" out loud.Eric Cayton, executive pastry chef and chocolatier for Derry Church Artisan Chocolates (www.derrychurchartisanchocolates.com) is a true master when it comes to linking flavors to geography. He sent samples of the company’s gourmet chocolates to the editors at Fancy Food, and we were thrilled with the guide that was included. It featured photos and descriptions of each of the chocolates in the box, and we noted how each chocolate was named for a different international city or area. Even the shapes of the chocolates were reflective of their names.
One of my favorites in the box was Tangier, inspired by the Moroccan city of the same name. With a swirled top that evokes imagery of towering minarets, Tangier is made with an organic African honey and tangerine-juice reduction with toasted ground cumin seed and cayenne pepper in a bittersweet chocolate ganache, The chocolate encapsulates exotic flavors that immediately drew my mind to all things Moroccan.
Other favorites among the Fancy Food team were New Orleans (a ganache of fresh banana puree, brown sugar-rum sauce and cinnamon), San Francisco (made with Northern California organic Black Mission figs) and Oaxaca (featuring spicy chipotle peppers pureed into a white-chocolate ganache).
Derry Church’s chocolates are made with organic creams and butters from local farms; the company uses 100-percent natural ingredients and no artificial flavorings or preservatives. Try these chocolates and prepare for a deliciously exquisite escape — no plane ticket required.
-Ashley
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