Best truffle in the world is in Missoula, Montana

by Jamie Rhein on

I was after a cup of coffee. I got that. French press coffee to be exact. But, it was the truffle I ate at Posh Chocolat in Missoula, Montana yesterday afternoon that enticed me to take out my pen and take notes.

Posh Chocolat’s specialty is Artisan chocolates that win awards. The one I savored, Garam Masala Spice–a lovely blend of ground peppercorn, cardamom, cinnamon, and cumin in Ecuadorian dark chocolate, landed the best truffle award last year at the 2008 International Chocolate Salon in Seattle.

The store owners and chocolatiers, Jason and Ana Willenbrock also brought back eight other awards which have helped put Missoula into the forefront of fine chocolate.

This husband and wife team have been turning out lusciousness in downtown Missoula for more than four years. Theirs is a story that crosses continents. She is from Brazil. He is from St. Louis, Missouri. They met as students at the Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York. Then she headed to Spain and he to France for more culinary know-how. Eventually, they came to Missoula after chef gigs at Triple Creek Ranch, a luxury resort in the Bitterroot Mountain Range, also in Montana

Truffles and French press coffee aren’t Jason and Ana’s only offerings. Soups and salads balance out the chocolate fix, and the pastry case contains gorgeous desserts. I was interested in a slice of key lime pie.

You don’t need to be in Missoula to savor the sweetness. Posh Chocolat does ship. Another truffle I had my eye on is the Hemp Seed with Caramelized Banana. It sounds funky and delicious.

Beer travel for Memorial Day: 10 options and more

by Jamie Rhein on

Head to any state and you’ll find a favorite local beer with quite the following. At HalogenLife, Kyle Anderson has come up with a favorite 10 beers in 10 states list to add perfection to a Memorial Day weekend trip. The list doesn’t mean you should drink and drive your way across America. Instead, use it as a guide to the best beers whether you’re beaching it, going on a picnic, or throwing a backyard barbecue.

Read on for Anderson’s suggestions as well as other best beer options.

I’m quite fond of Barley’s Brewing Company in Columbus. You’ll have to go to this microbrewery restaurants to partake, however–unless someone brings you a sealed glass jug of it like a friend of mine once did for her husband. Her main job was figuring out how to keep it cold long enough to make it to Sturbridge, MA. This was back when a glass jug filled with liquid could be a carry-on bag.

My favorite beer and food pairing is Barley’s Pilsner and sauerkraut balls. For a beer lover’s experience, order a sampling of each arranged from the lightest to the darkest. It’s a bit hard to find parking, but here’s a tip. Park at the North Market and head in to buy Jose Madrid salsa and chips. Get your parking ticket stamped, and voila, parking has just become affordable. By the way, this is a family friendly place.

For beer to take on the road, try Great Lakes Brewing Company. Brewed in Cleveland, the beer never disappoints. Burning River is the one we bring home the most. Great Lakes Brewing also has a brew pub in the Ohio City section of Cleveland, but it’s also easy to find at grocery stores and many convenience stores across Ohio.

If you’re driving through Montana, try Bayern Brewing Company, the only German-style microbrewery in the Rockies. The brewery is located in Missoula, but you can find its beer elsewhere. Every summer when we head to Montana, this beer is one thing we look forward to. Not the only thing. One thing. Try Juergen’s Bayern Pilsner.

Karen, the Gadling non-beer drinker vouches for St. Arnold’s Brewing Company in Houston and expressed disappointment it wasn’t on the list. Now it is. St. Arnold’s is touted as Texas’s oldest craft brewery. You don’t have to be at the brewery to partake On Thursday nights from how through the summer, you can quench that beer thirst while listening to a Thursday night concert at Discovery Green. Because this beer is also bottled, you can take it with you when you head out of Texas. Before you go, take in a public brewery tour at 1:00 on Saturday. Tours are $5 and included beer tasting and a souvenir glass.

Here’s Anderson’s list. The article gives a run-down of what makes each beer a standout. Enjoy a beer adventure this Memorial Day. Just don’t drink and drive.