Pistachio Almond Toffee is one of three flavors made by Lillie Belle Farms that take a slightly different—and wonderful—point of view on a classic favorite.
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KAREN HOCHMAN is editorial director of THE NIBBLE.
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December 2005
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Lillie Belle Farms Gourmet Toffee
Three Special Flavors Add Spice (and Nuts) to Your Life
Toffee is a tradition at Christmas, and a delight anytime. One American chocolatier has tried his hand at making the candy, with delightful results.
Lillie Belle Farms’ toffee is a study of contrast and complement. The crunchy texture whips with a resounding, masculine “snap!” The delicate flavor of the mild, buttery toffee on the tongue is a decidedly feminine counterpart—perhaps the yin to accompany the yang.
Some toffees are big and bold. Lillie Belle’s is a more refined style. You’re not going to taste an explosion of big buttery sweetness, but more of a smooth buttery calmness, with an accent of chocolate. The single origin Costa Rican chocolate enrobing each piece has been selected carefully: it imparts just the right level of richness while it avoids being overly indulgent. This is a connoisseur’s toffee.
What also makes Lillie Belle Farms’ toffee so noteworthy are the extra goodies embedded into each piece. There are three varieties :
- Cocoa Nib Toffee. Crunch into roasted cocoa nibs as you bite into the toffee. The nibs, which are not sugared, cut the sweetness of the candy while adding an interesting second texture of crunch.
- Pistachio Almond Toffee. The glowing green freshness of pistachios, complemented by the nuttiness of the almonds, are excellent foils to the buttery toffee. Whereas other candymakers might have chosen one nut or the other, here the two are masterfully combined.
- Spicy Pecan Toffee. Toasted pecans dusted in chile give just the right amount of kick, and make this flavor a treat for those who like a little spice with their chocolate (include us among them).
Each pairing is equally delicious. The flavors are layered on top of each other and the special additions reveal themselves with each chew. Taste and texture converge into one final sensation that is so satisfying, it makes you grab for another piece. This is a product that can be enjoyed in large quantities without getting cloying; and luckily for us, each piece is generously sized. Unluckily, the bags themselves are small: an enthusiastic eater could easily see those four ounce bags as a “portion” (these toffees practically scream to be eaten by the handful). More sensible eaters will enjoy one piece a day, and stretch the bag for the better part of a week.
An an ideal world, there would be a large tin with all three flavors; but Jeff Shepard, the chocolatier at Lillie Belle Farms, is a former restaurant chef who knows that guests like to pick and choose from the menu. So, the current option is to buy the flavors you like (you should like them all) in four-ounce bags that make perfect stocking stuffers. Plan to buy more than one bag of each variety, because once the first small bag is finished, you’ll regret not having another.
The chocolate, nibs and sugar are organic, which should please people on your gift list who prefer to eat organic products (the butter, almonds and pecans are not organic).
LILLIE BELLE FARMS TOFFEE
Cocoa Nib, Pistachio Almond, & Spicy Pecan
Shipping additional. Prices and flavor availability are verified at publication but are subject to change over time.
Purchase online at LillieBelleFarms.com. |
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