Delectable Dallmann

It's so hard to choose a "favorite" thing to photograph as a culinary photographer. I have had the pleasure of immortalizing all kinds of food, from the elaborately bedecked cookies of Badunkachunk, to the minimally modern French creations of Le Gavroche, to the grand and sophisticated spreads of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia; dripping syrup, oozing cheese, crisp salads, juicy cheeseburgers, seared seafood, silky caviar...

I have to say though, that with my affinity for tiny elaborate details and my life-long love affair with chocolate, I have a very special place in my heart for the perfect morsels that are Dallmann Confections.  In another life, I would have been a chocolatier; maybe, even, like Vianne in Chocolat, I'd find myself in a quaint French town guessing which of my creations would ignite long-forgotten passions in my customers. In this life, I will have to settle for admiring Isabella's art. And art it is. Intricate lavender lace patterns, graceful swirls of color, Pollock splatters against rich reds and royal blues, creamy centers voluminous with the flavors of bananas foster, hibiscus flowers, passion fruit, cardamom; each piece transporting you to a magical heaven as it melts sumptuously in your mouth.

I've now had the fun of two photo shoots with Isabella's creations; the first one creating little chocolate tableaus in various themes - flowers, exotics, savories, chocolates to pair with wines... - and the second one photographing the photographs, now transformed into the covers of beautiful boxed collections, tempting you to peek inside and make your selection.

And, aside from the actual first taste of a truffle, isn't the selection the best part? I remember as a kid being given little sample boxes from Whitman's, See's, Russell Stover... ripping off the shrink wrap, pulling off the gold foil-embellished lid, staring wide-eyed and paralyzed into the depths of my treasure, trying to guess by shape and drizzle pattern which one would be my favorite. The same sense of nostalgic wonder exists in the Dallmann Confections boxes, except instead of your grandmother or the Easter Bunny, this one was given to you by your impossibly elegant and beautifully mysterious European aunt.

Every flavor is impeccable, whether a unique and exciting combination with flowers or spices, or a perfected recipe for a traditional ganache; you run no risk of a nose-crinkling encounter with a chocolate let-down.

Dallmann Confections opens its second location in November, at San Diego's new downtown waterfront retail destination, The Headquarters at Seaport District. The new shop will feature these collections as the perfect gift for everyone. No more "my _____ went to San Diego and all I got was this lousy t-shirt." Instead, a luscious 9-, 16- or 25-piece box of truffles from the San Diego Collection, featuring San Diego's night skyline or one of its beautiful beaches.

Or a selection from the Traditional Collection, an homage to Isabella's grandfather who opened the first of the family's pastry shops in Austria in 1954.

The Exotic Collection for your jet-setters and daydreamers; the Flower Collection for your mom; the Beer & Chocolate Collection for your brother. Oh. Did I mention there are also chocolate bars and hot chocolate mixes? How about just one of everything, please.

With so many to choose from, many visitors will be racking their brains for more people to buy gifts for. I know I've already started my list. And I'm on top!

Shoot! I'm hungry.

(P.S. Go ahead, you know you want to: www.dallmannconfections.com)