On Sheex and Truffles

Performance sheets? Passion fruit jellies? We think luxurious bedding and gourmet confections go hand in hand, and are perfect for a romantic summer's night in (or even a very warm night out). We had a nice break here over the holiday weekend- our Fourth included testing out some new and exciting products, including today's pairing.

We admit to being skeptical of Sheex. The marketing materials are full of scientific talk and technology claims like superior moisture wicking and body heat transfer, but the material is basically a microfiber polyester and spandex blend. Founded by two former women's basketball coaches, the focus is on athletics. The connection seems be a bit vague- the sheets feel and work like athletic wear, so they'll help you sleep better, so you'll be a better athlete? But we wanted to try them for ourselves, and have been testing out their mini travel pillow and Sleep Sax. The former is available in a variety of colors, while the latter comes in gray, black and (no joke) "super cute pink".

Now, we're not professional athletes. For some of our writers, a workout consists of a good session of Wii Fit, while other are definitely more active. But everyone agreed that the material in the Sheex felt nice. The pillow was cozy, and at $25, is a pretty good bargain. The fabric seemed to hold up fairly well against sweat and moisture, and did in fact seemed to dry quite fast, but we caution that it isn't as durable against small scrapes and runs it seems- this is better served as an indoor than outdoor pillow, perfect for the plane ride but not really the camping tent. That goes as well for the the Sax, which is too bad, since it's minimal weight and nice texture served as a fun alternative to a sleeping bag on one very warm evening. But a few twigs and rocks seemed to do a number on it. And while we might not have felt better performance with them, they did in fact feel like a cozy and attractive alternative to cotton- perfect for warmer climates. At $80, it's a bit pricey for normal indoor use- think snuggie or microfiber fleece- but also didn't seem ready for outdoor use.

Regardless of which type of sheets you have, there is little sweeter than finding a chocolate on your pillow. Landru Chocolates offers a wide range of treats, available from their online store. We earlier raved about them at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon, where we had gotten the chance to sample some of their wares. But they sent us more, which was a relief for the writers who had not attended the Salon and had been threatening to strike.

As repast and reparations, the Wine Jellies received high marks, but all of the jellies were amazing- they have three different sets, each with their own flavors. Everything both tastes and is natural, and the Pates de Fruits varieties include passion fruit, raspberry, kiwi, blueberry in one; chardonnay, merlot, white zinfandel and cabernet in the vino pack, and another group consisting of mango, marionberry, pineapple and strawberry (the least notable of the three sets). They are also available dipped in chocolate, and run about $15 for 20 pieces- a perfect gift for most any occasion.

No chocolatier would be worth their cacao without some good truffles. And there are tons to choose from- everything from Hazel Praline to Contreau and even a very striking and divisive Citrus Chipotle Truffle. They are available in collections, but also individually- though sadly, you cannot pick and choose to create your own set. Top prize went to something different and familiar at the same time- a Peanut Butter and Jelly Truffle and a Berries - Passion Truffle that both were excellent combinations of juicy sweetness and a little dark chocolate richness. At $18 for a dozen, they are competitive in price with any others, but are superior to most anything we've tried. The packaging might not blow you away, but the treats inside will- we're definite fans of Landru. Oh, and we almost forgot- if caramels are more your speed, the Salt and Pepper Caramels are among the very best we've ever had, with sea salt and chili pepper complimenting a good vanilla caramel wrapped in really good dark chocolate.