The Perfect Brownie

Our delicious chocolate brownies from Impromptu Gourmet

When it comes to food, everyone has an opinion. And there's no more polarizing food than the almighty Brownie. There are too many opinions to mention them all, but they include full size or bite size, nuts or no nuts, frosted or not frosted, flavored or purist, and the most hotly debated: cakey versus fudgey. So the Perfect Brownie really has to satisfy all different perspectives, while at the same time not sacrificing the integrity of what it truly is. In this quest over the past 12 years I've tasted brownies from more than 100 different sources.

I had begun to think it impossible to find a brownie that would appeal everyone, in other words "The Perfect Brownie". That is until now...

Here it is, coming from a new kid on the gourmet food scene, Whimsy & Spice. I tried the Espresso with Dulce de Leche brownie yesterday and within one bit decided that this is the best brownie I've ever tasted. It really met each polarizing quality in the middle, the perfect mix of cakey and fudgey, not too big and not too small, with a delicate balance of flavors that did not overpower the important basic chocolate taste.

The best part is that all this comes at a reasonable price, $8.00 for 4 brownies. Other notables were the seasonal Pumpkin Ginger Sandwich Cookie, as well as the biscotti. I don't think you can't go wrong with anything from this company, and their adorable Gift Boxes make an ideal gift at just $22.00.

Homage to Truffles

Truffles hold a special place in my heart. They are one of the great culinary treasures, known to date back to ancient Roman and Greek times. They are also one of the first classic gourmet foods I discovered, and I’ve always treasured any opportunity to savor them.

There are many types of truffles, but the most prized are the black (Périgord) truffles, found in France, and the northern Italian white truffle. The black truffle has an earthy flavor, while the white truffle has a more pungent, peppery flavor. Both are expensive, typically selling for $300-$3,000 a pound. But you won’t go wrong with either one.There are many typical products where truffles are found: truffle oil and truffle paste are two common uses. But there are many more interesting products.

I think of these often even though some I tried many years ago:

Black Truffle Pizza - Imported from Italy, this ultra-thin crust pizza is made with just the right amount of black truffles and whole milk mozzarella. Make sure to order more than 1 as shipping can be pricey, but at $ 13.00 each these are a bargain and get top honors for creativity. I was also impressed with the Porcini/Fontina pizza.

Truffle "Truffles" - These have to be one of the biggest surprises of my entire food tasting career. Were it not for my insatiable hunger on the train home from New York one day, I may have never discovered these chocolate gems dotted with Italian black truffles. Made by the old-world Urbani Truffle Company, they are the ideal gift for the "foodie that has everything".

White Truffle Cream - White truffles, italian cheese, and cream are combined to create an intoxicating condiment. The hard work is done for you, simply to mix into pasta, risotto, or potatoes (or spread on toasted bread) for an unforgettable meal. Several companies offer a product similiar to this, but DiBruno's Truffle Cream is the best value.

In the spirit of Italian dining, Buon appetito!