How would it feel to lunch at Michelin-starred The French Laundry while chatting with San Francisco Chronicle dining critic Michael Bauer? Or enjoy a chocolate and wine pairing with Alice Medrich, considered by many to be the first lady of chocolate, and Debbie Zachareas, co-owner of Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant? It’s possible through IfOnly’s $100,000 Ultimate Food Lovers Getaway, with impeccable timing as a Valentine’s Day gift .
The inspiration for the six-day package, which includes meeting the chefs at the helm of restaurants regularly decorated with Michelin stars, food writers, critics and wine and chocolate wine connoisseurs well respected in their field, was the Constellation Chocolate Collection, a chocolate box of 21 truffles, each representing a chef’s unique style.
Each piece of chocolate was developed by some of the world’s most recognized chefs including Tyler Florence, Jose Andres, Michael Mina and Traci Des Jardins, among others, and meant to showcase their signature culinary style. For example, Mina’s caramel is flecked with Maldon sea salt while Des Jardins’ smooth dark truffle is made with single origin cacao. The collection is packaged in an elegant box with an enclosed legend describing the chef’s inspiration for each confection.
By Megy Karydes, Forbes, SouthFloridaReporter.com, Jan. 29, 2016
