Premium vanilla ice cream gets a much-needed makeover with this find, which we loudly declare “fit for any food lover!” From the creators of A Perfect Pear, this White Chocolate Pear Chardonnay Sauce is made from premium Guittard chocolate, organic agave, chardonnay juice and a hint of (what else?) pear. When heated, this makes an excellent fondue dip. Check out the company’s collection of jellies, jams, syrups, chutneys, dressings and other sweet treats.

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Fruitcake has gotten a negative reputation thanks, in part, to aunties and uncles who pass out enormous brick-like creations packed with candied chunks come December. Cue the sinister sound effects. We’re here to tell you that, when expertly prepared, a fruitcake can actually be one of life’s finer pleasures. Take these Jean-Paul Hevin selections, for instance. They’re made from our favorite fruits like apricot, prune, cherry and raisin.

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Silky and smooth in texture, fruit butter enhances the epicurean’s experience with bland foods (i.e. yogurt, oatmeal, and rice pudding). These colorful selections by June Taylor Jams are made from an assortment of fruits that have been cooked and puréed, then cooked a second time around in order to create a concentrated flavor. These are low in sugar without commercial pectin.

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A light, nutty flavor and high smoke point makes Napa Valley Grapeseed Oil from Rutherford Grove a surefire recipe booster. Delicious and healthy, it has half the saturated fat as olive oil, which makes it ideal for grilling, dipping or dousing your favorite foods. Unlike other grapeseed oils, this one is made using a cold-pressed method.

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Bottle Green’s Simply Sorbet collection adds a fabulous fourth edition: Spiced Berry. This is sure to elicit a collective sigh of “mmmms” among even the most discerning palettes. It’s a tasty take on classic mulled wine recipes, made with only the finest quality blackcurrants and aronia berries, then spiced to perfection.

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White tea is the new green tea – you heard it here first. It’s got some great health qualities, and in this case, a fabulous taste to match. White tea is high in antioxidants, low in caffeine and this one is completely organic. In The Healing Sun’s Organic Ginger Peach White Tea, ginger will rejuvenate both body and mind, while peach adds a fruitful flavor to make the entire experience a fine tea time.

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Experienced home chefs love to experiment with the cuisine of other cultures. Shanti’s Spice Box contains all the wonders of India—that’s 30 native spices packaged into small proportions so you don’t have to buy entire bottles of the stuff. Inside you’ll find exquisite selections you won’t find at the chain markets, like nigella seeds and powdered pomegranate seeds. The spice book is available at Ajanta in Berkeley.

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Karl Zysset was a bicycle mechanic who developed a slew of devices for the D-I-Y set (for those of you who hire your help, the term means “do it yourself”). Years ago, the old school inventor pondered the idea of developing and selling a juicer and garlic press under the brand name Zyliss. Today, we give a mention to some of his noble kitchen appliance ideas. A careful test is made before manufacturing each Zyliss appliance to determine which plastic has the longest possible service life.

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You know how much we love chocolates and how we go the extra mile to find new sorts. You know where this is going, so I’ll spare the words: we found a new favorite - Poco Dolce Chocolate Tiles - the site is well, straight forward, but the products definitely rule and you can buy them online. The combination of wonderful dark chocolate (with a phenomenal sensual mouth feel, slowly melting away, just the right balance between sour and sweet), the most delicious ingredients (caramelized Ginger, burnt toffee - need we say more???) and grey sea salt make for a really wonderful treat for any chocolate lover. Our favorite: Aztec Chile - has a little kick to it… Yummy!

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Chocolate has many exquisite forms, but none as sensual as when it is melted and used for dipping purposes. Amore Chocolate Dipping for Lovers is made for romantics with an experimental side. The array of tastes and textures—“naked” fruit, cherries soaked in amaretto, crunch butter biscuits, premium praline and soft marshmallows provide a thrill for the senses. The set comes with pots of dark chocolate, Swiss white chocolate or milk chocolate. This could get messy in a very good way.

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, Epicurean delight, Sweets