Valerie Confections

by Julie Wolfson In an L.A. neighborhood between Koreatown, Silverlake and just west of downtown, you'll find the tiny haven Valerie Confections where chocolatiers make some of the best artisanal chocolates in Southern California. What Valerie Gordon and her partner Stan Weightman Jr. began in 2004 as a few types of hand-crafted toffee since has blossomed into a full service confectioner. In addition to her …

Baking for Good

Started by New Yorker Emily Dubner, the online bakery Baking for Good donates 15% of each purchase to a cause chosen by the customer. By tying charity to a guilty pleasure, Baking for Good allows customers to feel better about gifting or consuming scrumptious snacks and desserts and makes it easy to give back. With a list of nonprofits and community causes almost as extensive …

Brooklyn Brine Pickles

The Brooklyn food renaissance recently welcomed another local producer to its ranks with the addition of Brooklyn Brine, a pickling operation based in the burgeoning neighborhood of Greenpoint. Founded in August by Josh Egnew and Shamus Jones, with the recent addition of vegan blogger Joya Carlton, critics are already singing the new brand's praises for its spirited approach to preserving. From early-spring delectables like ramps …