August 8, 2007

Dream a Little Dream

Dream of Caramels

Your motto: If at first you don’t succeed, pretend you never made a mistake in the first place.

That’s what Kate Amitin did when she burned her first batch of salt caramels. The former special-ed teacher never dreamed she’d be making confections for Miette, her all-time favorite candy shop. But when she heard the job was open, she signed up.

And her skills have improved. The bites of buttery goodness now come in three flavors: fleur de sel, burnt, and coffee. Amitin added the caffeine kick while moonlighting at Blue Bottle. More flavors, like amber liqueur and chocolate, are in the works.

Everything is made with organic ingredients sourced locally (when possible). Even sweeter, she uses wrappers cut by some of her former students through a job-training program for teens with developmental disabilities.

We’d call that a smashing success.

Available at Miette Confiserie, 449 Octavia Street, between Hayes and Fell Streets (415-626-6221). To order online, go to dreamofcaramels.com.