Pink and red paper hearts dangle from the ceiling at Danville Chocolates, where Jacqui Amayo and her team of turbo-charged candymakers arrived at the shop before the sun came up, fingers flexed and ready to dip strawberries into Guittard milk chocolate.
But these aren’t just any chocolate-dipped strawberries. And this will be no ordinary Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl fans. While this Sunday’s game won’t include our beloved 49ers, we still feel strongly about Super Bowl-ing in style this year. It’s not often that heart day and game day kiss. (Actually, it’s never happened before. The game is normally played in January or early February.)
But back to those strawberries. Amayo and her crew of local high school and college students have the technique down: Dip, shake and twist prepares these berries for their “laces,” a vertical white chocolate line crossed with three shorter lines, which transforms them into adorable mini footballs.
Like their hand-dipped and decorated caramel apples, the strawberry footballs ($4.25 each) are a specialty of the 175 E. Prospect Avenue chocolate shop. Amayo, the shop owner, estimates they’ll make more than 3,000 strawberry footballs between now and Feb. 14.
“We have extra dippers that we pull in when necessary,” says Amayo, who begins transforming the tiny shop into a heart-filled wonderland the day after Christmas. Otherwise, “it’s two (people) on dark, two on milk, somebody making white chocolate and somebody doing decorations.”
The fact that they’re doing the signature Super Bowl treat at the same time as Valentine’s Day is “just crazy,” Amayo says. Every corner of the shop is packed with hand-dipped love candy. Sour gummy hearts. Chocolate-dipped “Be mine” graham crackers. Oreos that say ‘Smooch.’
Of course, one option is to make these little footballs at home. Eight ounces of chopped chocolate or chocolate candy coating and 1/4 cup white chocolate chips are all you need to turn 24 strawberries into sweet footballs. Make sure your strawberries are completely dry before you start dipping. Using tempered chocolate — chocolate that has been melted, cooled and gently rewarmed — or chilling the strawberries for 15 minutes between dipping and serving helps avoid streaking and softening, which happens when chocolate sits at room temperature.
Post dipping and drying, pour melted white chocolate into a paper cone or plastic baggie with a small hole cut in the corner. Carefully draw a white chocolate line around the top and bottom of each strawberry, then add the white “laces” in the middle. Let the white chocolate harden completely before serving.
What about the rest of your Super Valentine menu? We’ve got you covered with chef-inspired recipes from John Currence and his cookbook, “TAILGREAT: How to Crush It at Tailgating” (Ten Speed Press, $28), that are a notch above your usual game-day nachos and blanket-wrapped piggies: A killer Buffalo chicken dip, totally extra gin-based pink cocktail and a grilled portobello slider even meat lovers adore. Plus, we have Amayo’s cell if you need a rush dessert order. Just kidding. You know where to find her.
You’re welcome. Happy Valentine’s Day. And … go Rams?
Looking for a box of Valentine’s chocolates? These 5 Bay Area chocolatiers have some delicious, heart-filled options:
Casa de Chocolates: Mexican-inspired chocolates with an Amour Collection that includes dark chocolate “angelitos” and an 11-piece box of heart truffles in flavors like mole and Mayan espresso ($33). 2629 Ashby Ave., Berkeley; https://casadechocolates.com
Sweet 55: The 6 Hearts For Your Valentine ($22.50) features dark and milk chocolate ganache, mocha ganache and more. Or, say “My Valentine” as a Message In A Box with letters made from dark hazelnut gianduja. 225 Cabrillo Highway, Suite 104C, Half Moon Bay; www.sweet55.com
Michael’s Chocolates: 2022 Good Food Award winner offers stunning, jewel-like Valentine’s Day collection chocolates in passion fruit, hazelnut and a single origin 70 percent cacao truffle. 3352 Grand Ave., Oakland; www.michaelschocolates.com
Deux Cranes: French-trained chocolatier Michiko Marron-Kibbe’s offers boxes of four, eight and 16 artisanal bon bons ($12-$36) for Valentine’s Day, with inventive flavors like Pistachio Rose and Shichimi Togarashi Caramel. www.deuxcranes.com
Leonidas Love + Chocolate: Wide assortment of Leonidas Belgian chocolates, petit fours, fruit jellies and more in red or gold heart-shaped boxes. 1397 N. Main St., Walnut Creek; https://loveandchocolateshop.com
Source: www.mercurynews.com