These very colorful eggs help celebrate Easter in the most old fashion and delicious way.   A real chicken egg shell, in which the egg has been carefully removed through a  small hole on one end, has been filled with chocolate that is flavored delicately with caramelized ground hazelnuts making them taste as good as they look.

The is a sensational deal on a wonderful addition to your Easter table and for children of all ages!

TCHO Chocolate which is colorfully packaged and does mainly four “varietals” of chocolate, or a “fruity,” a “nutty,” a “Citrus” and a “Chocolatey.” Each variety comes from a different geographic location where the cocoa beans are roasted and the cocoa mass is shipped to San Francisco and turned into covertures and then in to bars and smaller tasting bars. Each place the beans come from contribute a different taste profile which is marketed with different color packaging.  We have a gift box assortment that has a Valentine’s graphic.  www.TCHO.com

Poco Dolce – Sea Salt Bittersweet Chocolate Tiles is a line that I have admired for at least a year, choose to hold off because it is pricey but I succumb at the fancy food show this year.  I do like this stuff, interesting combinations of dark chocolate with burnt caramel, or Aztec Chile to name few in simple handsome packaging.  New for them are the tins and bags of Toffee Squares with similar flavors also including a “Popcorn” flavor. Not heart shaped nor red but these products would make a perfect valentine for someone who like great chocolate! They are also based in San Francisco. www.Pocodolce.com

Idaho Candy Co – Makes Owyhee Butter Toffee and has been making since 1925 in downtown Boise! I think partly the stuff is so good that much of it stays in Idaho and they make quite a bit, next to none gets to Manhattan. In any case, this is American all butter nut toffee with and without chocolate and is priced to sell. The bite size box that I brought back lived up to what it says, we bet you can’t eat just one, with my taste testing with family and co-workers.    Idahospud.com

In addition to this we do have a good bit of Valentine’s Day happening and for those less romantic we feature snacks for Super Bowl which will include product from Katchkie Farm in New York State. Included are salsas, green and red, ketchup, pickles, pickled beets and tomato jam.  This product is an out-growth of Great Performances the New York caterer. www.Katchkiefarm.com

While traveling about in China recently hunting for baskets that we buy, it dawned on me, that food whether prepared carefully in large restaurants served family style to large communal groups or late at night on the street, grilled and at times exotic, is prepared fresh and with tremendous variety. It is enjoyed more consciously and socially, than a good bit of the American food that we know, and at times is responsible for unhealthy relationships that our culture has developed with food. In addition, food in the United States, in relation to our standard of living is inexpensive and at times compromised, without getting into the politics of it, spending a bit more on better food is good stimulus. Good food here, than becomes a very affordable luxury, and a little luxury can go along way.

Expense account living maybe off but maybe food that is not on expense accounts can be enjoyed for its intrinsic value, and thereby help to better connect with what we eat. To me there is something therapeutic about appreciating food from where it comes from, how is handled, prepared and consumed that touches our basic human needs yet gives pleasure to and better meaning to our existence. Or another words, a good piece of well made chocolate that has a bit of story behind it, can ease the tension of our times.

I like to think that visiting our Chelsea Market Baskets where we have an array of product that can be appreciated at varying price points, can put you in better touch with food that is made in an inspired way and even thanks to our “slightly past it’s best before date but still tastes good” corner, can be a great bargain. Our friend George Capsis, the publisher of West View is quick to find good deals here and likes the idea of sharing them with the “locals.” We ourselves particularly like the idea of nourishing and creating community around good food!

In my new capacity, helping steer Peters Imports with what is brought back from England and at the same time finding new and wonderful stuff for Chelsea Market Baskets,  I am keen to find product that we can sell that has never been the USA before and with the exchange rate  now working in our favor, providing good value as well to our customers. After the show in London, I will be visiting Scotland for about 5 days, which should be good to dig in a little and see what is new and not discovered yet there.  These trips are good because I can find myself in many shops check out how they look as well as what they are selling and trying to capture the spirit of an older work food shop.   If there is anything that you especially interested in please email me and I will be looking.

This is my first entry in our new blog, which we are excited to share with you for lots of reason.  One that is happening right now is that  we are having a fun sale at great prices at our store to get the place cleaned and ready for Easter.  We have containers – some old inventory and some newer at ridiculous prices along with inspired specialty foods at prices starting at half a buck!

Come by we have many tastes and some great stuff that the staff is eager to purchase and they do not get a coworker discount on the stuff!

Early next week we plan to be looking like spring and filled with Easter fun!