Treat your honey to local chocolates this Valentine's Day
You know that buying local supports area businesses and keeps transportation costs down, but did you know you could extend that shopping strategy to Valentine's Day chocolates?
A handful of shops in the suburbs hand-craft decadent chocolate treats that will melt your lover's heart and lower your carbon footprint.
Hit the Valentine's trifecta - chocolate, Champagne and diamonds - with the edible diamond collection at Chocolatines in Schaumburg. A sparkling sugar diamond (much larger than the rock on my finger) nests in a ganache-filled chocolate cup.
You can check out the entire line of chocolates made by pastry chef Rieko Wada (a graduate of the acclaimed French Pastry School in Chicago) and even snag a free sample (or three) from noon to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the new boutique, 1101 Tower Road. (224) 653-2700.
No less delicious (though decidedly more casual) are the chocolate-covered potato chips - seriously! - from the Cocoa Cabana Chocolate Shop in West Dundee. A half-pound bag goes for $5.95 and is sure to satisfy both sweet and salty cravings. Or try the heavenly chocolate-covered toffee, the confection that started it all. The shop is at 651 S. Eighth St. (847) 851-8775. Some products can be ordered at thecocoacabana.com.
Shape of a heart: If chocolates aren't your thing but you'd rather bake your valentine a special treat, head to kallashouse.com for a selection of specialty cookie molds.
The intricately carved molds can be used to create tasty cookies or homespun crafts for the loves in your life. The molds are imported from Europe by Bill and Sherry Kallas of Winfield. The heart molds cost $23 to $44 and can hang on the kitchen or bedroom wall when you're not baking. Mention "Daily Herald" in "how did you hear about us?" and receive free shipping.
Getting food on the table: Between work and evening activities, many of us struggle to get dinner on the table each night. If you have food in the refrigerator and cans in the pantry, consider yourself lucky. Some suburban families struggle daily with the question of not what to eat, but whether they will eat.
Simply Homemade, a meal preparation kitchen, aims to help all families with its "Have a Heart" campaign.
Head into the Naperville, Schaumburg or Crystal Lake locations between now and the end of the month and bring in two nonperishable food items when you purchase an 8- or 12-meal package and you'll receive the Pomegranate and Cranberry Pork Medallions, for free.
Check out the current menus and pricing at simply-homemade.com.
Sweet tales: Learn about Australia's culinary history from Aussie natives and Chicago chefs Naomi Levine, of Tipsy Cake Bakery, and Jon-Antony, of Table 52, and Cynthia Clampitt, author of "Waltzing Australia."
The trio will share insight on the continent's cuisine (yes, there is more than Vegemite) from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 7, at Kendall College, School of Culinary Arts, 900 N. North Branch St., Chicago.
Samples of inspired Down Under cuisine will be available.
The program costs $5; free to members of the Culinary Historians of Chicago. Reserve a spot by calling (708) 788-0338 or e-mailing rsvpchc@yahoo.com.
- Deborah Pankey