Biscotti by the Bay

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Until Christmas, I’d never heard of a gourmet treat coming from Redwood City, a town long mocked by its Bay Area neighbors as Deadwood City. (I suppose it was asking for that when it chose the dull city slogan ‘Climate Best by Government Test.’) But thanks to St. Nick, I’ve learned about a Redwood City bakery that makes exceptional biscotti.

La Biscotteria is the name, and biscotti is pretty much its game, though it does sell panettone. It started out making classic anise biscotti, and then, in the ‘90s, introduced versions with lemon peel, orange peel and raisins. The raisin flavor is quite traditional, designed to go with wine rather than coffee. All flavors but raisin are avaiable dipped in chocolate (white chocolate, in the case of the lemon biscotti).

They’re excellent: fresh, crunchy and buttery, not over-sweet and not stingy with the almonds. I’ve just about finished my chocolate-dipped anise biscotti, and lemon is next on the list.

-- Charles Perry