Monday, August 24, 2009

I'm a Charlotte

From Miette
For a very short time each year, we make a very special, very dainty cake, the Charlotte. Look at her there, with her perfect ribbon. It takes a lot of work to look that pretty.

First, one of our lovely Ferry Building shopgirls scours the Farmers' Market for the most glorious nectarines, which our bakers puree and combine with Italian meringue & cream to create nectarine mousse. This delicate mousse is layered with fraimboise syrup-soaked cake & raspberry jam, with a floating cake layer in the center. Someday I hope to live in a floating cake layer. Mmmm.....


From Miette

But we're not done yet! The cake is encircled with house-made ladyfinger cookies, and tied up all lady-like with a satin ribbon. Our stalwart shopgirl returns to the Farmers' Market for luminous raspberries, and places them atop the Charlotte, just so.

Whew! I barely manage to pull my hair into a ponytail in the morning!

Charlotte
Price: $30
Availability: Ferry Building (Chestnut & Octavia by special order only)
Notes: Needs to be Refrigerated, Contains Gelatin

Friday, August 21, 2009

Just a hint...

From Miette

...we don't want to start a stampede.

From Miette
Fleur de Sel, Almonds & Sea Salt, Salt & Pepper, 70% Madagascar
Location: Octavia only, for now
Price: $12

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Whew!

From Miette
The nationwide Go Max Go shortage has ended!
At least here in our little corner of the nation.
And not a moment too soon.

Mahalo, Buccaneer, Jokerz, & Twilight
Price: $3
Availability: Just Octavia, for now

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Jamstresses & Jim-Jams*

From Miette

The talented jamstress Casey Havre of Loulou's Garden makes these precious little jars of jam for us, using seasonal fruit, very little sugar, and no pectin. The results are saucey & sassy, and there are soooo many amazing flavors beyond those you see here.

From Miette

The lists of ingredients are like my ultimate bedtime reading. Apricot-Sour Cherry Preserves: apricots, sour cherries, meyer lemon juice, sugar, cognac. Mmmmm. Does that come in a cocktail, too, perhaps?

From Miette


Plum Lavender Jam: Organic plums, sugar, lemon, garden lavender. Oh, to have a little garden with plum & lemon trees, & butterfly-filled lavender plants! My friend Mary once told me she hoped to someday have a little cottage, where "I would grow lavender, and wash my hair in a bowl". I've always loved that: it's so specific. I still dream of that for her, gorgeous & glamorous in her stone cottage.

Until then, there's jam.


LouLou's Garden Preserves
Price: $10/jar
Availability: Ferry Building, Octavia, Chestnut
Notes: Flavors vary by shop & by day! But they're all great!

*A British term for pyjamas, perhaps the best ever. Any other contenders?

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Hooker's Sweet Treats!

From Miette

We've searched far & wide for the perfect chocolate-covered caramel, which sounds like an easy task but it was NOT! But now we've found it! Handmade in tiny batches by David, these perfect little bites are only available at Miette, the gorgeously spooky Perish Trust, and from the adorable boys at Sightglass Coffee. Oh, and you should go to both of those places because they're amazing! Tell them the Miettegirls sent you!

From Miette


Hooker's Sweet Treats
Price: $3.50/single, $10/box of 3
Availability: Ferry Building, Octavia, Chestnut