Pantry: Gianduja Ganache Bonbon
Photo: ChingImages. © mymilligram. Art direction: Marcia Gagliardi. Styling: Christian Jusinski/Surfacehaus.
When I first spotted the Pantry brand’s line of Italian-inspired confections, my heart skipped a beat. And then I took a bite! At last, someone is taking some of my favorite Italian flavors—like hazelnut and olive oil and tiramisù—and creating a line of infused chocolates with them! And we’re not just talking about anybody here: this is a chef-driven line in partnership with "the Franks” in New York: Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo of Frankies Spuntino Group, known for their Italian-American restaurants (and new F&F Pizzeria), along with chef Michael Magliano (Gusto Green). These chefs know a thing or two about quality ingredients and craft.
The entire line of chocolates (four in all) is molto delicioso, but we’re going to start with my favorite: the gianduja ganache bonbons. Gianduja is not quite a dark chocolate, nor a milk chocolate—it’s somewhere in between, and made with hazelnut paste. Creamy, rich, and elegant. What makes this bonbon extra-classy is the addition of little crunchy flakes of feuilletine. Chef-driven chocolates here, people.
Gianduja is a very sentimental flavor for me: my grandparents used to come visit from Southern Italy every other year at Christmas, and would bring gold-wrapped gianduiotti chocolates in their suitcase. It’s also a favorite gelato flavor, such a magical, creamy combo of chocolate and hazelnut.
Each bonbon contains 5mg of THC (you get five total, in a cute glass jar). I recommend cutting a bonbon in half, and consuming just 2.5mg of THC, especially if you’re a beginner/new to cannabis, or sensitive to THC. Edibles can take from 45 minutes to two hours to show up, so go slow. You can always do more next time.
I love eating half a bonbon in the evening as a treat after dinner, which helps me wind down, relaxes my body, and primes me to sleep well. (If you’re having trouble with staying asleep, you can consume the full 5mg bonbon, but I’d make sure to eat it, brush your teeth, and just go to bed before the high starts to hit.)
These chic bonbons will make marvelous gifts: I love their festive and shiny gold foil, and elegant ridged shape. They would also be fun for holiday parties, dinner parties, and are a perfect turndown chocolate for any house guests.
Visit pantryfoodco.com for more info, and getsava.com/mymilligram to get them delivered.
Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.