chocolate review
Charley’s Chocolates Revisited
April 4, 2011
Last week I reviewed a delicious hand-rolled cinnamon truffle from Charley’s Chocolates of Madison, Wisconsin. I thought I had found a new favorite, until I had one of their White Chocolate covered ganache truffles.
Oh yes! - velvety smooth melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate ganache center enrobed in a creamy, white chocolate coating. Pardon me while I wipe away the drool.
The chocolate ganache was nutty, a little earthy, and intensely chocolate. There’s a l-o-n-g finish with a bit of spice at the very end.
Nothing beats a freshly made truffle. Really.
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Charley’s Chocolate Cinnamon Truffle
March 28, 2011
Madison, Wisconsin is home to many great chocolate shops. I recently had the pleasure of eating a delicious hand rolled Chocolate Cinnamon Truffle from Charley’s Chocolates.
This downtown Madison shop is full of hand made chocolates from truffles to fudge.
The cinnamon truffle was not just good, it was melt in your mouth and walk away smiling good. The ganache was smooth and intensely chocolatey. The cinnamon coating blended perfectly without covering the nuances of the chocolate.
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Dark Chocolate; Want Coffee With That?
March 21, 2011
Chocolate Crafters of Yuma, Arizona makes wonderful chocolate. I have recently reviewed their candied orange peel and “Sea Turtle.”
They also make a wonderful dark chocolate coffee bean bark. The roasted espresso beans add crunch and real coffee flavor without bitterness or the aftertaste that some of the flavored syrups can leave behind.
Chocolate Covered “Sea Turtle”
March 14, 2011
Last Monday I reviewed a Yuma Arizona chocolates shop called Chocolate Crafters. I reported on their chocolate covered candied orange peel. Oh - yummy memory.
Of course, I didn’t try just one item. The Sea Turtle, a dark chocolate-covered salty caramel and pecan cluster, captured my attention, too. It was all I expected and more. The pecans were crunchy, the salty caramel was smooth, buttery and, yes, salty, and the chocolate, although mild, blended perfectly into all the flavors with ease.
Chocolate Crafters of Yuma, AZ
March 7, 2011
No matter where I travel or visit, I must keep with the tradition of seeking out (and sampling!) the local chocolate shops. During my recent mid-winter retreat to Yuma, AZ to visit my in-laws, I discovered Chocolate Crafters. They opened last fall so they are brand new to the Yuma chocolate scene.
Right after walking in the door Lorena, one of the owners, asked if I was a first time visitor of the shop...
Ritter Sport White Chocolate
March 4, 2011
I love chocolate—milk, dark, even white. Now I know many consider white chocolate to not be REAL chocolate. However, if it is labeled white chocolate, it must contain at least 20% cocoa butter and that makes it REAL and GOOD. My favorite to date had been Ghirardelli’s Vanilla Dream but now I have a new favorite and it is delicious...
Aldi, Lidl Brand Chocolate Bars
February 28, 2011
This is the last review in my consecutive series of store brand chocolate. Aldi stores in the US, and the equivalent in the UK called Lidl, have a few store brand chocolates to choose from.
Lidl's own brand offers a selection of single-origin tasting squares that I think are really good. Right now, as a matter of fact, I am eating a dark chocolate with cocoa from Peru at 72%. The snap is crisp, the intense chocolate is rich, the texture smooth, and the fruity notes are outstanding.
The Aldi near me carries a luxury line of in-house brand chocolate called Choceur. They carry single origin bars, truffles, and nut clusters in milk, white and dark chocolate.
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World Market Brand Chocolate Bars
February 21, 2011
During the 1950s, a San Francisco businessman and importer began selling goods from one of the city’s piers. Crates were unloaded and locals lined up to buy.
Eventually, he opened a store and called it Cost Plus World Market. Unique and handmade items were sold at cost, plus ten percent – hence, the origin of the name.
Today, there are over 260 Cost Plus World Market physical stores and online shopping at www.worldmarket.com.
I have tried two World Market store brand chocolates; 72% Dark Chocolate and Ecuador Dark. Both bars were a disappointment.
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Tesco Value Plain Chocolate
February 7, 2011
Tesco stores are located all over London, England. When I visited my sister living there, we did a lot of chocolate shopping. Almost every store I shopped in offered a label of chocolate all their own. These chocolates were priced lower than the name brands sitting next to them on the shelf.
As promised in last Monday’s blog (I reviewed store brand Roundy’s Milk Chocolate), I am going to continue to review store brand chocolates.
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