By Carol Gore
FoodConnect San Francisco
carol@foodconnect.com

Santos Euan, the owner and operator of Five Star Truffles and Coffee, moved to San Francisco ten years ago from his home in Yucatan, Mexico. He worked in various food establishments, then landed an apprenticeship at XOX, the notable truffle shop in North Beach, where he spent seven years. After learning the ropes he opened Five Star with the help of his partner, Julio Quintanilla.

Euan is a constant presence at Five Star; rolling truffles behind the refrigerated display case, sitting at one of the few tables, taking a break outside. As soon as a customer walks in, he is up and at it, ready to fulfill your chocolate needs. And fulfill he does. The truffles are perfect little mouthfuls. The centers are creamy while the coating has a bit of a crunch.

The flavors include hazelnut, dark chocolate, earl grey, blackberry, cognac, red wine, and more. With certain choices, like the earl grey or the fruits, one might expect the flavoring to overwhelm the chocolate. Not so at Five Star. Euan achieves the perfect balance, allowing just a hint of bergamot to compliment the decadent chocolate. He is truly an artist. A chocolate artist. And God bless him.

Five Star Truffles and Coffee
411 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 552-5128