Recently, we had a discussion on AFNG about the merits of chocolate. Naturally, I held forth at length about this divine sustenance, suggesting my favorites as good places to start when learning how to appreciate fine chocolate. To my surprise, the gentleman to whom I was explaining these delights commented that he had visited my page looking for chocolate information, and didn't find any. Oops.
Once upon a time, there was a list of chocolate links when we were still Chocolatefiends...It was our "Under Construction" page, and David and I took it down once we finally made our nifty front page. Maybe we should have put it elsewhere? No matter. For the interested, I present my chocolate guide - a list of links and descriptions of my favorite chocolates (in no particular order), and some related sites. Enjoy!
NOTE: I only link to chocolates I've personally tasted and enjoyed. If I've not tried it, you won't find a link here, and neither will you find a link if I've tried them and found them lacking.
I've lately been receiving requests from Search Engine Optimizers, begging for links to chocolatiers I've never tried. Please don't do this - for a few reasons. One, I don't want samples from you. I don't want to feel obligated to link to the company you're working for just because they sent me a sample. Two, I'm not interested in helping you push your company to the top of the SERPs. You'll get better placement if you design your pages with the USER - not the search engines! - in mind.
Ghirardelli - I don't think I need to explain, do I? For silky, chocolate yumminess at a remarkably affordable price, Ghirardelli is the way to go. It's my A number one favorite.
Godiva - Rich, rather pricy, and quite good, but not as good as the Big G, in my opinion. I'm a bit biased, though.
Perugina - Wonderful Italian chocolates! They don't seem to have a company site, but you can order some of their treats here. They're also relatively easy to find in grocery and department stores.
Bernard Callebaut - Perfectly silky, rich Belgian chocolate, made with the freshest butter and heavy cream available. Always appreciated, always delightful. Occasionally difficult to find for cooking varieties, but eating varieties are easily ordered online.
Lindt - These are also surprisingly easy to find, particularly around the holidays. Of special note: Lindor peanut butter truffles. Oh my.
Fran's Chocolates - The bittersweet truffles, already heavenly, are liberally sprinkled with gold dust! Pricy, but very high quality and worth the cost.
Nirvana Chocolates - The choose your own assortment option is perfect for the fussy chocolate connoisseur and the chocolate newbie alike. Try a pair of everything!
XOX Truffles - Gorgeous hand made truffles in San Francisco's North Beach. Produced with loving care and the finest ingredients, including Callebaut's chocolate, these are a delight. Absolutely fragile, eat them immediately, or within a week at the most.
Rogers' Chocolates of Victoria, BC - Introduced to me by the lovely Thingie Natalie Bee, this Canadian company specializes in enormous and sinful Victoria Creams. The rest of their chocolates are quite yummy as well!
Fudge Fatale - classy, sinfully rich, elegant. No more need be said!
The International Chocolate Company - Specializing in "single bean" chocolates, the International Chocolate Company artfully presents their selections in velvet jewel boxes, treating these rich squares as the treasures they are. These unblended chocolates (meaning each from one specific variety of cocoa bean) are perfect for the developing chocolate fiend trying to learn the differences between varieties of chocolate, and for the already established addict whith a fondness for one specific variety.
Piron - If you're ever in the Chicago area, take the time to hop the El into Evanston to visit this shop. He does offer telephone ordering, but my
personal preference is to stand in the shop and inhale deeply.
Valrhona - Valrhona is especially known for high quality dark chocolate and baking chocolate. I love using this in my holiday truffles, because it tempers so well.
Toblerone - A Swiss company known for its creamy milk chocolate, honey and almond candy bars with a rather distinctive shape. The company also offers dark and white chocolate bars, and a variation on truffles, but the milk chocolate seems to be the most popular. Very easy to find, very affordable, and quite popular for high school German Club fundraisers all over.
Joseph Schmidt Confections - One of San Francisco's finest! Sought after for his award winning chocolate sculptures and gorgeously huge truffles, you can find his award winning chocolates at upscale department stores nationwide, or visit him online.
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker - Scharffen Berger's highly acclaimed dark chocolate is absolutely incredible for baking! I was introduced to this by a poster to RASFWRJ about 5 years ago, and have been a fan ever since.
DeBrand Chocolates - Ridiculously scrumptious. The chocolate covered toffee triangles are utterly to die for.
Vermont Nut Free - imagine my surprise when a Valentine's heart showed up, and there wasn't a single nut candy in it! Vermont Nut Free makes creative and delicious use of raisins instead of nuts, making for an interesting and yummy treat.
Teuscher Swiss - Silky smooth and delightful.
Hachez of Bremen - This company understand the meaning of dark chocolate. Of particular interest are the 70% (very dark) chocolate leaves, flavored with orange.
Guylian - An accessible and affordable luxury, Guylian Seashells and their Opus collection are found in grocery stores nationwide. Don't let the easy accessibility fool you; these chocolates are top notch.
Wilbur Chocolate - Nestled in the adorable little town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, Wilbur Chocolate produces exquisite chocolates for every occasion, from baking, to every day eating, to holidays. I had the pleasure of visiting the factory in February, 2003, and was thorougly impressed by the little old ladies tucked into a back corner, hand crafting chocolate suckers and other goodies.
Reber - Every year at Christmas, I ask for (and get!) Mozarter und Konstanze Kugeln - Mozart and Constance balls! Reber's online shop isn't functional yet, but you can find these lovely marzipan and brandy filled chocolate delights nearly everywhere all winter long.
The Best Chocolate In Town - The first time this company's confections showed up in a Chocolate of the Month Club shipment, I thought they were just a little too big for their britches. "The Best"? Is that some kind of pretentious, or what? But...they may very well BE the best chocolate in Franklin, Indiana! Their truffles certainly impressed me!
Fenton & Lee - Two words: French Buttercreams. 'nuff said.
The South Bend Chocolate Company - Another Midwestern favorite, I insist on stopping for some of their heavenly chocolate raspberry truffles on the way through to Chicago.
Speaking of Chicago, did you know you can buy Leonidas there? You can, at a cute little shop on LaSalle, near Quincy. Or, if you're lazy (like me) and don't feel like dragging halfway across the country for Leonidas - even though it would be well worth the trip! - you can always just order online.
Etienne Guittard - Some of the best chocolate, lovingly crafted in the French traditon, that I've ever had the pleasure of laying my lips upon.
The next time I get to San Francisco, I'm paying a visit to Grand Avenue Chocolates in nearby Concord, CA. Grand Avenue is responsible for "The Perfect Peppermint Cookie", a tempting chocolate cookie, infused with peppermint, and enrobed in thick, rich, dark chocolate. Just 12 to a pretty little tin, these disappeared within minutes of delivery. I had help.
Boehm's of Seattle - A typical Spring offering from the Chocolate of the Month Club, Boehm's offers not only wonderful chocolates, but some incredible fondants as well! Refreshingly different.
Ethel M - Classy is the best word to describe the beautiful presentation of Ethel M's Rich Deluxe Assortment. And once the pretty box is opened? Pure heaven. These aren't just chocolates. These are sex in a box. Swoonworthy.
Other Chocolate Stuff
Missy's Quick & Dirty Guide to the Care and Feeding of Chocolate - reproduced from my journal.
Chocolate: The Exhibition, a fabulous exhibit developed by the Field Museum in Chicago. SuperWarder and I visited in the summerof 2002, and found it positively drool worthy.
How Chocolate Works at HowStuffWorks.com. Yum. Yum. Yum.
The Sweet Science of Chocolate, at San Francisco's Exploratorium. Includes a tour of the Scharffen Berger factory (a mistake, if you ask me, what with Ghirardelli being right there!), the history of chocolate and more.
The Chocolate FAQ, companion to the Usenet newsgroup rec.food.chocolate
Chocolate.org - I think the name is sufficient, don't you?
Virtual Chocolate - Chocolate postcards, history, quotes and links to some super chocolate companies.
Chocoholic.com - Chocolate of the month club for the picky chocolatefiend. Excellent selections every month, delivered straight to your door. YUM!
Seattle's Chocolate Man - Tools, supplies and classes from a chocolate master. I've ordered from his catalog, he offers fine products, timely delivery and super service. The place to go if you like to play with your chocolate!
All Info About Chocolate is a comprehensive index of recipes and chocolate fun. Very useful!
Find Chocolate - Oh, go on. You know you want to.
More chocolatey-type things coming soon!
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