Turns out, if you want sweets that are actually made in San Francisco — not just sold here with a Golden Gate Bridge on the wrapper — your options are more interesting than you'd think, and worth knowing about.

Start at the Embarcadero Center, where a small operation called Cheeky Bits is turning out toffee brittle that punches well above its weight. At $8 for a small bag, it's not exactly penny candy, but this is San Francisco — where a cup of coffee costs $7 and nobody blinks. The toffee is legitimately good, though a half-size option wouldn't hurt.

Then there's Dandelion Chocolate, the city's darling bean-to-bar operation. Artisanal? Absolutely. Cheap? Absolutely not. But they're doing the real thing — manufacturing chocolate right here in the city, which is more than most brands can claim.

Speaking of claims: Ghirardelli still has a production presence in SF, technically, though the bulk of their manufacturing has long since moved elsewhere. It's a bit like saying you live in San Francisco when your apartment is actually in Daly City. We see you.

Over in Hayes Valley, Christopher Elbow Chocolates offers the kind of beautifully crafted bonbons that make you feel like you're buying jewelry. And up in the Haight, there's a candy retailer that one local simply remembers as "Candy" — not a manufacturer, but worth a visit if you want that old-school candy shop experience.

Here's the broader point: small-batch, locally made goods are exactly the kind of businesses San Francisco should be championing. These aren't operations asking for tax breaks or subsidies — they're entrepreneurs making a product people actually want to buy. No bureaucratic middleman, no six-figure "economic development coordinator" required.

In a city that loves to talk about supporting local business, maybe put your money where your mouth is. Literally. Go buy some toffee.