For small batch artisanal ice creams, look no further than Bi Rite Creamery and Bakeshop. Flavors vary depending upon the season, but here are a few of our all-time favorites: Salted caramel, chocolate soy, double ginger, honey lavender, roasted banana, chai spiced milk chocolate and butter pecan. Unusual indeed. Now before you get your one-track mind set on ice cream, we ought to mention the glorious assortment of cakes (also subject to change): Seasonal fruit buttermilk upside-down cake, chocolate mint ice cream cake and bittersweet chocolate soufflé cake. This is the stuff sweet dreams are made of. No exaggeration.

Technorati Tags: cake, Charles & Marie, cookies, Epicurean delight, icecream, Sweets

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At last it’s here! The new Filippa K mug for spring and summer 2007 from Rörstrand. This decorative design is called Diamond and is inspired by the season’s new fashion collection from Filippa K. In a subtle shade of light grey, these mugs are the perfect partner for all the others in this hugely popular series. Diamond goes well with the various different patterns and colours in what has become a real bestselling line and a favourite collectable for many people.
The idea behind the concept is a porcelain mug with a surface that evokes the sensation of textiles, in patterns and colours that would not be out of place in a Filippa K fashion collection. A decorative motif in a classic, graphic style is complemented by functional thinking. The distinctive ridges not only mean that the mug is stackable, but they also make it inviting and easy to hold, and help to make sure that hot drinks won’t burn your hands. All mugs are design by the Swedish designer Filippa.

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, coffee, contraptions, design, Epicurean delight, tableware

Classical Italian plate styled in bone china porcelain with a wide plateau ideal for Italian dishes prepared in the oven. A small spot underlines the centre of the plate and mark the ‘parking spot’ for the innovative pasta spoon. The spoon has 3 blades styled in 18/10 high mirror polished stainless steel and 3 leaves making the side edge fingers grab the spaghetti perfectly. Easy ‘click-off’ technique for smooth cleaning.

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, contraptions, Epicurean delight, hip home, tableware

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We’ve told you about La Farine’s cakes, but now the cookies (oh those glorious cookies) have us in an epicurean tizzy. Allow us to wax poetic about our fave flaves: Lemon-oatmeal, triple ginger, The Jezebel, and lemon shortbread. We love to devour them poolside with a tall glass of milk. The way we see it, the crumbs go well with our patterned bikinis.

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, cookies, Epicurean delight, food, gourmet, Sweets

PlumpJack Café attracts everyone from not-so-serious hipsters to painfully serious foodies. I guess you could say that our intrepid (and dashingly dressed) reporters fall somewhere in between. Ever-changing menus celebrate everything the season has to offer. For now, you’ve got to take advantage of the Japanese Red Sea Bream with spring root and flowering vegetables, verjus broth and young ginger. C’est magnifique!

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, Epicurean delight, gourmet, hotspot, restaurant

Orrefors Jernverk is a brand new yet very old company. Established in 1726 it has been working with Swedish steel products for Centurys. During the last hundred years it has however been resting, without much activity. In 2007 the New Wave group has given it new life by launching a collection of contemporary items under the name of Orrefors Jernverk. In the premier launch we can see several cool pots as well as modern serving pieces. Design Helene Tiedemanns Blobring. Made in stainless steel.

Technorati Tags: accessories, barware, Charles & Marie, contraptions, Epicurean delight, tableware

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Citron restaurant is nestled in the famous Rockridge District of Oakland, where it’s famous for authentic French and Mediterranean dishes. While strolling College Avenue, we snapped up the newest dinner menu which features such delicacies as spring vegetable risotto, creole spiced soft shell crab, Dungeness crab ravioli and grilled hangar steak. For dessert? Select from nectarine sorbet, strawberry ice cream cake with elderflower syrup and Chantilly, or mascarpone panna cotta with peaches. All of these options elicit a little ooh-la-la from Bay Area bon vivants.

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, Epicurean delight, food, gourmet, hotspot, restaurant

We discovered Cosmic Chocolate at the International Chocolate Show in NYC. Each piece is a combination of ecstasy and art, airbrushed with remarkable visual effects. Creator Carly Baumann finds inspiration in Chambord, mojitos and tequila colas. We love the Blushing Geisha, a white truffle shell filled with strawberry liqueur and Tahitian vanilla filling and topped with strawberry sugar.

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, chocolate, Epicurean delight, food, Sweets

Cheese aficionados should snap up this entertaining essential: Hartland cheese dome from Simon Pearce. Made of hand-blown glass, it enables you to contain the aroma of your favorite fromage and bring it to room temperature. This is ideal for outdoor soirees since the cover keeps bugs at bay. And what goes better with cheese than a generous wallop of style and sophistication?

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, cheese, contraptions, Epicurean delight, tableware

When in San Fran, we come down with a seemingly incurable case of wanderlust (must be something in the foggy air), which inevitably leads us on a wild search for the city’s most divine desserts. We never tire of the footwork, but believe it or not there are still bakeries and cafes we have yet to discover. For now, this one never fails to satiate a sweet tooth: Just Desserts. The carrot and lemon cakes make us tiiiiingle with deeeeelight. One taste and you’ll be compelled to emphasize your vowels as well.

Technorati Tags: cake, Charles & Marie, Epicurean delight, Sweets