Since I usually focus on using ingredients that are "thrift," I thought I would write a post about when it is worth investing in luxury ingredients. There are a few foods that I think are really worth their weight and gold, and chocolate is one of them. The key is buying quality ingredients in small quantities and really savoring them. These luxury treats really can make a simple meal into something worthy of a special occasion. Recently I had the opportunity to sample some Amano chocolate from a Blake Makes contest. I was so excited when I got my package in the mail. This single-origin chocolate is handmade in small batches on vintage machinery. The packaging alone is worthy of going on the wall, and unwrapping this chocolate bar was a very special experience. The smell and color of this chocolate already spoke to the quality of the product before I had even tasted it.
My fiance and I both tried this bar from the Jembrana Regency in Bali, and we both agree that it is some of the best chocolate we have ever had. It is incredibly rich with a spicy-sweet-bitter complexity that can only come from chocolate that has been carefully harvested and prepared. After trying this chocolate, I don't even think I could call anything else chocolate. It is just that good.
The moral of the story is that if you're pinching pennies in your kitchen, you can make special meals and holidays a little more special by highlighting a dish with a small portion of something really luxurious. Think about serving artisian chocolate with an array of fresh berries for a special dessert, or shaving some raw milk artisian cheese on top of a homemade risotto. I also think investing in some quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar can make dishes transcend into something really special. Remember that having a thrift kitchen isn't about eating cheap food but about getting the most nutrition and flavor out of what you stock your pantry with. I highly recommend investing in some quality ingredients for those special occasions, it will make everything just a little more spectacular.
