Kakao Chocolate

http://www.kakaochocolate.com/

Two locations:

2301 S. Jefferson Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63104

314-771-2310

7272 Manchester Rd.
Maplewood, MO 63143

314-645-4446

Kakao also offers fantastic wine and chocolate pairing parties...

Chocolate Ginger Cookies

These cookies caught my eye about 10 years ago, as baking tended to be a good way to stave off occasional weekend boredom in college. I still make them sometimes- when I remember them.

They're good, but somewhat unexpected.

At the same time they're familiar, with a warm and comforting flavor... certainly more cold weather than warm weather cookies... if anyone is willing to make cookie differentiations based on meteorologic conditions.

To some, chocolate and spices may be a strange combination, but I can say with certainty, it's not so strange in my family.

We eat very dense but not too sweet Czech torte, made with potatoes, chocolate, walnuts, and spices. It's covered in sweet vanilla buttercream. A little different, yes, and it's admittedly for the most part an acquired taste.

As a child you eat the frosting, or you very quickly learn to eat the cake and save the frosted top for last. Hopefully no one comes along to snatch some of the precious frosting you've so carefully carved the off the so-called cake. Please, don't even think of offering to take anyone's frosting from them.

As adults, some still eat their torte like this, but we now all enjoy it immensely- especially with a cup of coffee.

Perhaps it's because tastes change as we age, perhaps it actually takes the repeated hits of the dish to your system, perhaps it's something genetic/familial/cultural, perhaps something social.

Hmmm, maybe it was something mental- I WILL eat this cake, and I WILL like it. Conquering the cake?

Anyway, in my opinion, the cookies weren't too far off the beaten path.

They have a great chewy texture, initially looking pudding-like between the cracks when you pull them from the oven. The chocolate domes deflate a little and firm up a bit as they cool.

Chewy Chocolate Ginger Cookies

slightly adapted from Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies magazine, December 2001

makes about 2 dozen

1 1/2 c flour

2 T cocoa powder

1 1/2 t ground ginger

1/2 t cinnamon

1/4 t ground cloves

1/4 t ground nutmeg

1 stick (1/4 lb.) butter, room temperature

1 T freshly grated, peeled ginger

1/2 c packed dark brown sugar

1/2 c unsulfured molasses

1 t baking soda

1 1/2 t boiling water

8 oz good quality semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into chunks

1/4 c granulated sugar

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.

In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together flour, cocoa powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter and grated ginger on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add brown sugar, beat until combined. Add molasses, beat until combined.

In a small bowl, dissolve the baking soda into the boiling water. Beat half the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Beat in the baking soda water, and then add the rest of the flour mixture. Stir until combined. Mix in the chopped chocolate until distributed throughout. Turn the dough out onto plastic wrap, press into a 1 inch thick disc, wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Pinch off portions of dough and roll into balls of about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place the balls 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets, and place the sheets in the refrigerator 20 minutes.
Roll the balls in granulated sugar, place them back on the pans, and bake until the surfaces begin to crack, 10-12 minutes (rotate the pans halfway through).

Let the cookies cool 5 minutes on the pans, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Sparking White Wine Fondue

A cool and rainy day is a great day for fondue.

And it's an activity dinner where people have to participate to eat.

This particular fondue recipe piqued my interest.

I like fondues with flavor. Not that the cheese doesn't have it's own flavor, but I like something that's more bold and savory.

Garlic certainly helps this, but a little acid from vinegar or lemon helps cut richness and adds some brightness.

Apparently the acid in both wine and lemon will help keep the fondue from curdling.

Hopefully I can safely assume no one wants a curdled cheese fondue?

One different thing to me was the addition of corn starch. It's supposed to create a stable emulsion so the cheese and wine don't separate easily. However, if there's a little separation, it's ok with me. Garlicky, cheesy wine sauce happens to be great for bread dipping.

I've know some people use a little fresh nutmeg in anything that has cheese in it to enhance the flavor.

I would have never initially thought to grab the nutmeg for a cheese omelette, but some people do, and it's pretty good.

So, in it goes (since I like it).

Of course, a crusty and slightly dry baguette is the classic pair for the cheese sauce, but I like to have something green to go along with it, too.

Quickly blanched and shocked asparagus and broccoli are perfect.

No fondue pot? You'll probably survive. Dinner might have to be stationed near the stove though.

Sparkling White Wine Fondue

Adapted from Saveur, December 2010

2 1/4 c sparkling white wine

1 T cornstarch

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb. Emmental cheese, grated

1 1b. Gruyere cheese, grated

2 T brandy

1/4 t baking soda

1 T fresh lemon juice

1/4 t freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 t freshly grated black pepper

Whisk together 2 T sparkling wine and cornstarch in a small bowl. Set aside.

Pour the rest of the wine in a large pot and add the minced garlic. Bring to a boil over medium heat and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheese in increments, stirring until melted (about 10 minutes). Stir together the brandy and baking soda in a small bowl, add to the cheese mixture, and stir until smooth. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine. Transfer the fondue to a pot set over a lit Sterno cup and serve.