Box Chocolate Review

Gâteau et Ganache

Info Details
Country USA   (Palo Alto, CA)
Style Neo-Modern      
lo
med
hi
CQ
Sweetness
Intensity
Complexity
Impact
Bias Alert: the name signals faux-couture bull-roe but denying the obvious is foolhardy once it becomes simply undeniable. Delicate & delectable - don’t interpret that as ‘barely there’ or ‘lacking impact’. Quite the opposite; Gâteau creates mad-mod takes off traditional classical roots from the box to the bon-bombs. The collection strikes with balance, as infusions blend to chocolate, each heightening the other beyond the sum of their products.

Added bonus: conscientious use of fresh, local, seasonal organic ingredients to capture the best in flavor.
Presentation   3.9 / 5
dark chocolate brown box w/ simple labeling; pieces range from straight molded to color-accented swirls, splashes, or floral transfers... all alluding to their respective interior
Aromas   4.5 / 5
redolent
Textures/Melt   9.2 / 10
Shells: thin (except hand-rolled truffle)
Centers: luscious silk; thick yet light cream /soft melt
Flavor   44 / 50
superb equilibrium between deftly handled couverture (of bulwark quality) & some exceptionally ripe infusions; flavors harmonize w/ distinction, rarely overpowering & never offensive
Quality   26.1 / 30
High, & highly consistent hand that’s on-point & hits a lot of the right notes, giving this collection an identifiable signature.
Selections
Couverture: Callebaut
Le Caramel Doux - deep rich choc w mild vanilla- caramel; viscous, not chewy/stick-to-your-teeth but chic all the way to the gum line
La Lavende – lavender balancing chocolate, each hitting the other w/ their perfumes, raising & enhancing both
Passion Fruit – White Chocolate ganache; tart forward, ebbs to a finish
La Canelle – cinnamon in Milk Choc base; all the best of the spice – rich, almost peppery in its linger... chocolate shines thru too; well-orchestrated
Organic Menthe – flashy; starts life chocolate-dominant, grows to fine mint which fades back into blended ganache
La Vervienne Citronelle - White Choc touched-off against organic lemon verbena; judiciously spare
Truffle – the good earth coated in Dark, rolled in powder, & spiked w/ spirits
Palate d’Or – tamper resistant; just plain truth: Dark Choc w/ massive fruit harmonics (ranging from high cherry to even higher tart acids) rooted in earth tones

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