Overheard on the San Francisco Bay Area Board

"My favorite 'gift from California'—See's chocolates. I've taken them to half a dozen countries in three continents, and they've never failed to elicit delight and gratitude. (Maybe I should mention that I only give what I would eat myself, the ones with marshmallows, nuts, and caramels. The creams and truffles are far too sugary for me.)" – pilinut on Bay Area specialties that make great holiday gifts

"[B]ought a cup of coffee made with the Silken Splendor [beans] and fell in love with that immediately. ... The SS is a medium roast, but what's incredible about it is that it has a definite melon aftertaste. Really very interesting, because it starts off as a perfectly respectable cup of joe, but the fresh clean fruity aftertaste goes on and on." – Pei on Philz Coffee’s customized blends

"I've had the [kouign amann] from Starter Bakery [in Oakland] and La Boulange [in Cole Valley] and now [Belinda Leong's pop-up shop]. I think Leong's are the best of the bunch as they have a great balance of caramelization and dough-flakiness. Although I am happy to eat the Starter's KA anytime. The Boulange ones—not very comparable. They are good in their own right, but they are too doughy to be considered a good KA." – I_emily on the best bakeries in the Bay Area to find the Celtic dessert