Monthly Flavors for September – Good Morning Autumn!
Welcome to the end of summer, and the start of autumn. The weather still hasn’t changed much here in San Diego, but I have hopes
Either you picked your flavors at The French Door Cafe or you let me create a box for you. These chocolates are some of my recent favorites! Some flavors may have been featured in other months, some are from custom orders, and some might be flavors I was playing around with (and may be future flavors). Take a look through the list of potentials to see what flavors you got in this box – each box is unique, so next time you will get something new!
Strawberry Pâte de Fruit with Black Pepper Dark Chocolate Ganache
I absolutely love the combination of strawberry and black pepper! It is often underutilized, but the blend of sweet and floral with earthy and spicy is so much fun! Pepper is also fantastic with apples, which I am sure I will play around with in the fall. The pâte de fruit is very bright and juicy and the ganache is deep and rich. So tasty!
Vanilla Rose Matcha White Chocolate Ganache
Here at the cafe we have been going through a lot matcha – it is such a lovely summer drink! Earthy, grassy, and often sweet, matcha is beloved for a reason. Vanilla is the most common added flavor with matcha, but I really love the addition of rose. I think the floral ties in so nicely – I hope you agree!
Kumquat and Raspberry Caramel
Summer is also still citrus season! A lovely client gave me a whole bag of kumquats off her tree and I knew I needed to make something for their short season. This caramel is a little bitter from the kumquat and the darkness of the sugar, tangy from the citrus and raspberry, and sweet. It is refreshing and oh so good!
Fig Pâte de Fruit with Basil Milk Chocolate Ganache
Figs are finally here! My mom absolutely adores figs. I have always loved the texture of the seeds, and the intense sweetness. They are so good with basil, and I am sad it is an underappreciated pairing. The peppery, earthy herb is so bright against the fruit, and that is showcased in this chocolate.
Mint and Floral Green Tea Milk Chocolate Ganache with Caramelized Almonds
As the name might suggest, ranger are often found in the woods protecting nature and guarding the edges of civilization. They are sneaky and have a magical connection to the wilderness and the animals within it. So, I wanted this chocolate to be earthy and outdoorsy! The ganache is a touch bitter from the tea, with the herbal and floral notes really making you feel like you are in a meadow. The crunchy caramelized almonds give a trail mix vibe in the best way.
Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (sugar, powdered whole milk, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, vanilla), Heavy Cream, Corn Syrup, Butter, Almonds, Paris for Her Green Tea (Green tea, raspberry, blue mallow flowers, rose, and sunflower petals, flavours (red fruits, rose lotus, lychee, raspberry)), Sugar, Spearmint, dried
Contains: Milk, Almond, Soy
Caramel Ganache with Ginger Pâte de Fruit
Barbarians are pretty obviously known for being big and strong and punching things. They get extra strong when they rage, much like the Hulk. But before that, they tend to be characterized as a bit dumb and often generally nice. I really took a lot of inspiration from Grog Strongjaw in Vox Machina for my flavors here. He is sweet and simple until mad, and then terrifying. The caramel ganache seems simple, but is complex in its evolution through sweet and bitter from both the caramel and mix of chocolates. The ginger is a punchy, spicy hit in the middle!
Ingredients: Heavy Cream, Dark Chocolate (Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Vanilla), Sugar, Milk Chocolate (sugar, powdered whole milk, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, vanilla), Ginger, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Butter, Sorbitol, Pectin, Citric Acid, Vanilla Paste
Contains: Milk, Soy
Pomegranate Molasses with Spiced Tea Dark Chocolate Ganache
Warlocks are people who have gained their magical powers through pacts. Technically these pacts do not need to be with evil forces, but they certainly make for a more interesting story! I wanted to evoke the indulgent, lusty nature of fiends and fey that might be your patron! The pomegranate molasses is sharp and acidic while the ganache is a little sweet, a little bitter, and brings to mind dark cloudy days.
Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Vanilla), Heavy Cream, Corn Syrup, Butter, Sorbitol, Trimoline, Christmas Tea Mix (black tea, cinnamon, orange peel, peppermint, clove, rosehip, nutmeg)
Contains: Milk, Soy
Lemon and Basil White Chocolate Ganache
Mango Caramel with Black Pepper Pop Rock Almond Duja
The magical inventors of Dungeons & Dragons, artificers see magic as a complex system to be decoded and harnessed through spells and inventions. They are mad scientists and potion masters. They are also particularly known for making things blow up. I wanted this chocolate to be explosive! So, the mango caramel is sweet and the color of flame, while the duja is spicy and will literally pop off in your mouth!
Matcha Almond Marzipan with Yuzu Milk Chocolate Ganache
Monks are able to magically harness the energy flowing through their bodies, making them expert fighters. Either given to monasteries as children or choosing the monastic life themselves later, monks are known for mediation and rigorous training. The marzipan is earthy and grounding, calming and somewhat familiar. The ganache though is a big punch of brightness, just like the signature “flurry of blows” monks are known for.
Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (sugar, powdered whole milk, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, vanilla), Yuzu Puree, Almonds, Heavy Cream, Powdered Sugar, Water, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Butter, Matcha Powder, Trimoline, Citric Acid
Red Wine Reduction with Sangria Dark Chocolate Ganache
Sangria is possibly one of the most quintessential summer drinks. This Spanish/Portuguese drink is usually red wine with oranges, lemon, apples, Cointreau, and cognac and is often served over ice. I knew that the apple would be difficult to come through, so instead of cognac, I used calvados to up the apple undertone. I actually learned how to make it from my mom, who makes a great sangria. The really fun thing about this one is the reduction is quite liquid – it is like a mouthful of wine! The fruit is subtle in the ganache, but the wine comes through nicely.
Peach Pâte de Fruit with Champagne Caramel White Chocolate Ganache
What is summer without brunch? And what is brunch without cocktails? Yes, there is the classic mimosa, but I absolutely love peaches so I will go for a peach bellini when available. As you may guess from the name, this cocktail comes from Italy! Classically, the build should be two-thirds prosecco and one-third peach puree. So, I mimic that with a strong peach pâte de fruit made with fresh peaches topped with a creamy champagne caramel ganache.
Candied Grapefruit Peel with Tequila Grapefruit White Chocolate Ganache
The paloma is grapefruit, lime, and tequila cocktail from possibly Jalisco, Mexico. As you may guess, a drink with such a basic build is hard to pin down. But no matter who invented it, this is a lovely sour style cocktail is perfect for the summer heat. Lightly sweet and tart with some carbonation, it is not hard to understand its popularity! So for this chocolate there is fresh grapefruit and lime juices in the ganache but also candied grapefruit peel to really back the citrusy flavor.
Salted Caramel
Fighter is one of the most iconic Dungeons and Dragons classes. It’s your stereotypical knight type – armor, sword, wants to fight monsters. So a nice classic salted caramel made sense to me! This caramel is just slightly bitter (probably about being overlooked so often), a little salty (blood, sweat, and tears are notoriously salty), and just dependently excellent.
Raspberry Jam with Nettle Dark Chocolate Ganache
Druids are a slightly newer class to Dungeons and Dragons. They were originally a cleric subtype and finally branched off on their own in fourth edition. They revere nature above all else, and draw their magic from nature. So, of course I had to look to the forests for flavor inspiration! The raspberry jam is a bit tart (wouldn’t you be with the destruction of nature all around you?) and sweet with the ganache being earthy and dark (you know, like the earth that all things depend on).
Chamomile Milk Chocolate Ganache
Another original class in Dungeons and Dragons, clerics are healers and fighters. They are the intermediaries between the mortal world and the planes of the gods. While they are actually decent fighters, the stereotypical use is for healing. So, chamomile tea! Feel embraced by the gods’ care and get ready to get back up and beat that dragon!
Wine Reduction with Mulled Wine Dark Chocolate Ganache
Bard is one of my personal all time favorite classes to play. A fairly ridiculous class, bards weave their magic through stories and songs. They are generally a support class, giving aid to their party, demoralizing the enemy, and doing some healing. Also, famously they are often found in taverns getting drunk. So I knew I needed to do something around wine. The reduction is a bit sweet but retains the tannins of the red wine, and the mulled wine ganache is comforting and familiar but new and different!
Coffee Hazelnut Duja with Lemongrass Milk Chocolate Ganache
Another absolute classic of Dungeons and Dragons, the wizard is the studious magic powerhouse. They spend decades learning all of the innerworkings of magic, and they are ready to show off all they have learned. With a love of big powerful spells, I knew I needed something with a good bit of pizzazz here for the wizard. The coffee hazelnut duja is crunchy and will help you with those long, late night study sessions. The ganache is big and bright and unexpected – just like a good fireball!
Spicy Dark Chocolate Caramel
Previously known as the thief class, rogues are sneaky and extremely dangerous. They pick locks, they skulk in darkness, they are your typical sneaky thief/assassin/con artist. So I went with this lovely caramel – it is silky smooth with a little dark chocolate bitterness, and then hits you with a lingering spice. Devilish!
Welcome to the end of summer, and the start of autumn. The weather still hasn’t changed much here in San Diego, but I have hopes