Feb 2011 My South Florida Farms List continued

This Florida small farms list will add to my previous list back in August 2010
1. Terra Verde Farms, Certified Organic, Fort Pierce (CSA)
2. Farriss Farm, Organic growing practices, Palm Beach Gardens (CSA, and sells at PGA Sunday green market)
3. Kai-Kai Farm and Grove (772-597-1717), Organic growing practices, Indiantown, (CSA, and sells at PGA Sunday green market).
4. Farming Systems Research, Inc, organic growing methods, Boynton Beach (CSA)
5. Osceola Organic Farm, Certified Organic, Vero Beach (CSA, sells at Oceanside Farmers Market)

Vegan Vegetarian Dessert Loves in South Florida

The words Vegan dessert and delicious often struggle in the same sentence. But I have found some south Florida shops that do a wonderful job of combining the two.

1. 4th Generation Organic Market, in Boca Raton, has a coconut vegan (and gluten-free) cake to die for. It is so luscious and creamy you'll never miss the cow ingredients. They also have a chocolate brownie (with gluten) that mimics the buttery version so well you'll find yourself repeatedly asking the sales clerk for the ingredients.

2. Christopher's Kitchen, in Palm Beach Gardens, makes their own raw vegan vegetarian chocolate bars and candies. They are a bit pricey from $3.50 to $9 a bar but worth it. They also have a fairly decent chocolate ice cream made with young coconut milk.

3. The Raw Kitchen, in West Palm Beach, has an amazing chocolate sundae with vanilla ice cream. Again you'll not miss the dairy version of the dish.

4.  Cupcake Couture Sweet Boutique, in Delray Beach, makes vegan cupcakes (with 48 hrs notice and Xtr$) in chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet. I have not had them as yet, and it will be a little while before I do because they have a min purchase requirement: Six regulars or 12 minis.

5. Whole Foods Markets make some pretty decent vegan vegetarian cakes. They are best not ordered in advance because they can dry out.

My Top 3 Chocolate Crushes

With Valentine's Day fast approaching my mind drifts to thoughts of all things chocolate. Well at least all things dark chocolate without dairy if I can help it.

Of the bar chocolate varieties I've love, Hachez Dark 77 percent Chocolate with Orange, is my number one crush.  It caress my taste buds it molten chocolate ecstasy everytime I eat it. It is the closest thing in taste to fresh Belgian chocolate that has an expiration time, instead of date, on it.

Next on my list has to be the single origin truffles from Chocolate Gems in Black Mountain, North Carolina. These truffles are crafted using a chocolate made with just type of bean from one region of the world. Most chocolate is made using a combination of regions. The Kumabo is deliciously flavored dark chocolate truffle, at 81 percent cocoa solids, that has wonderful blackberry like flavors.

Monica's Chocolates, in Maine, comes in third on my crush list. Their blueberry wine truffle reinvents the idea of what truffles are supposed to taste like. Chocolate ganache is lovingly combined with wild blueberry wine and dried blueberries into a Northern Maine delight. I never knew blueberries could taste so good.

I hope you get a chance to try some of these chocolates, or ones similar to them, for Valentine's Day.