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I Left my (Chocolate) Heart in San Francisco
San Francisco Chocolate Makers

By Betsy Malloy, About.com

xox chocolate truffles

XOX's Chocolate Truffles

© Betsy Malloy 2001
Since the late 1980s, a new generation of San Francisco chocolate makers have been perfecting their craft. The results are enough to put even a mild chocoholic into fits of ecstasy and to give people just one more reason to leave their hearts in San Francisco.

Indulge your sweet tooth or win your sweetheart's undying gratitude with one of these San Francisco chocolate delights:

XOX Truffles is one of the top ten chocolatiers in the United States according to Chocolatier magazine. In a small storefront on San Francisco's Columbus Avenue, former chef Jean-Marc Gorce works his magic with simple ingredients to create traditional hand-shaped chocolate truffles that often elicit exclamations of delight from his customers. Stop by the North Beach shop for chocolate truffles and coffee].

Recchuiti Confections: Chocolate-maker Michael Recchuiti's forte (in our opinion) is unusual flavor pairings such as rose and caramel or chocolate-coated "Key Lime" apples. Their shop is in the Ferry Building Marketplace.

TCHO: One of the newest chocolate-makers on the San Francisco scene, their Beta Factory Store is located at Pier 17 just off Embarcadero between Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.

Ghirardelli: They're not new (the company started during the Gold Rush), but no discussion of San Francisco chocolate would be complete without them. These days, you can find their products all over the place, making them less of a treat to take home than they once were, but a hot fudge sundae from their soda fountain at Ghirardelli Square is still a chocolatey, gooey San Francisco treat.

Chocolate Tours: Gourmet Walks offers a couple of kinds of chocolate tours, including one that pairs chocolate with port wine.

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