Let's say you live in one of those incredibly wealthy enclaves on Star Island, or own the penthouse somewhere south of Fifth, or wake up to the pretty water view right outside your Coral Gables mansion. Your kids go to private school, travel all over the world with you and expect nothing short of the best (didn't you buy them the latest iPhone before getting one for yourself?). Peanut butter wrapped in chocolate is "so last year," and thinking outside the candy box requires only a credit card.
Trick or treating for snobs...here's our list of the top five most expensive candy examples, all available locally, so make sure the maid or nanny takes care of it before Monday.
5. $16.99 for 16 pieces is the bargain on our list for Michel Cluizel chocolates imported from Paris and available at Epicure on the beach. This is a family owned and operated business that takes chocolate very seriously, using many different types of chocolate as well as cocoa content variations ranging from 50 percent to 99 percent.
4. So, this is really more of a treat served in-house, although, if those treating trust you enough, I suppose it would be more convenient to have something unwrapped that was easy to walk and eat. The key lime pie at Sweet Pointe Bakery has been miniaturized and has a frosting pumpkin thoughtfully placed on top of a piece of lemon, so as to not disturb the meringue fluff beneath. They are $2.79 each, call to place a large order in advance.
3. Béquet's caramels are truly an example of artisan candy making, "handcrafted in small batches" by a company in Montana. They've won numerous awards at the Fancy Food Show in NYC, and their "Celtic Sea Salt" is approachable to the masses, versus their "Chipolte Caramels," which are amazing, but are less to everyone's taste. A small bag (1.8 ounces) will set you back $3.29 at Epicure.
2. Vosges "Haute Chocolat" comes small-sized as individual bars perfect for handing out on Halloween. At $3.99 each, you'll definitely impress the neighbors. Our favorite? Mo's Milk Bar, which is considered "deep milk chocolate" with a 45% cocoa count, and is studded with pieces of hickory smoked bacon and has "alderwood smoked salt." You can pick these up at Whole Foods and Epicure.
1. The French marrons at Marky's will run you $318.40 for 84 pieces. These glazed chestnuts "have been carefully peeled, candied and crystalized, and meticulously controlled at the various stages of preparation." Considered a delicacy beyond compare, no gastronome can resist. Suppose you could save some for the kids.
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