Chocoholics Unite: 2006
magine if all the chocoholics could share their best fixes. Are any chocolate factories still giving tours? In your travels, what sinful treat best satisfies that urge for something chocolaty?
Read the Distillation: Chocoholics Unite, 2005
Hilarie- Post below this one
What country are you talking about?
I'd like to find that hot chocolate!
Italy?
USA Sat 12/09/2006
The best hot chocolate in the world!
At the truffle festival in san Miniato, we found a lucious choclate booth: Brotini. I think they have shops in San Miniato and San Donato.
They had huge hot stirring vessels of 3 or 4 flavors of hot chocolate - thick, rich and really hot. We drank as much as we could and brought home the semi-liquid "preparato per cioccolata calda - bitter" mix. But we only brought three. I'm already worried about finishing it.
Hilarie
Larkspur, CA USA Sun 12/03/2006
chocolate
has anyone tried chocolats olivier chocolate chocolate bars yet. I bought a Madagascar bar recently and I think its the best chocolate I ever tried. It beats the standards by a long shot.
fran thompson
worcester, ma USA Fri 12/01/2006
Chocolate!
Green and Blacks, yum! I love shopping at Sainsburys, Waitrose, Champion, Monoprix, Ed - there are so many wonderful chocolates all over Europe, and so many grocery stores that carry them! :)
Denise
Lake Mary, FL USA Mon 11/20/2006
Sees Candies
I totally love See's Candies too!
Lots of variety. Love the dark chocolate.
Not to sweet! Not easy to find in the east...think it's just a west coast company - based out of CA.
Bet you can order online!!
USA Wed 11/08/2006
Chocolate Sculpture
Great chocolate sculpture of Titanic,Reicchstag,Brandenburg Gate etc atFassbender & Rausch in Gendarmenmarket area of Berlin
R S Abney <email>
Meridian, MS USA Sat 10/28/2006
See's candies
How can you eat those icky sweet things after tasting real chocolate!
Try Poulain.
Fiona
NYC, Sat 10/28/2006
See's candies vivals them all!
See's candies right here in the US...can't be beat! Just back from Switzerland, and I bought a bunch of different brands of DARK chocolate to try.
See's beats them all! Creamy, wonderful choices of centers.
Lindt is good, but for pieces of candy. See's is wonderful!
USA Tue 10/24/2006
Lindt Madagascar
Bought one bar of Lindt Excellence Origins Madagascar while in Germany, wish I had bought more. Am told they'll be available in the US in a few weeks. Dark, smooth, fruity overtones. Hope you find some, too!
Laura
USA Sun 10/15/2006
Belgium Chocolate candy bar
There is a new Belgium chocolate candy bar called "Virtue" which comes in a purple wrapper. I don't know who the manufacteurer is? I bought one at a 7-11, and have never been able to find it again. It was very good, and I have been craving it ever since. Anyone fimiliar with this product or know where it can be purchased? Thanks. Terri
Terri <email>
Vero Beach, FL USA Wed 10/04/2006
Chocolate heaven!
For anyone who has been to the renowned Angelina's in paris, or tasted any confections in belgium, france, spain, or switzerland---look no further than "bon bon" chocolates in Chicago. They are family based and handmake gorgeous and delectable european style confections daily.
Massimo
chicago, il USA Fri 09/15/2006
CHOCOLATE
TESCO has great prices on snack and of course chocolate bars! They carry a great variety, including GALAXY,
Cadbury, ETC.
AUNDREA
CANADA Fri 09/15/2006
Harrods Food Hall: Hall of Chocolate
Obviously we are talking London here. Yes Harrods has caviar & sushi, high priced handbags & shoes. They also have a food hall that is mostly chocolate. Lots of counters selling different types of chocolates & pastries.
It's all good eats:)
Susan <email>
Port Orchard, WA USA Thu 09/14/2006
Lindt - Tarte Citrone with Merengue
Just when you think Lindt has run out of ideas they come up with another "far out" but yummy chocolage experience.
I was so focused on getting my hands on the Creme Brulee bars that I only bought one of the Tarte Citrone bars.
What a mistake! I need to go back to Europe AGAIN!
The Tarte Citrone with Merengue has a "merengue like" filling that tastes lightly of orange....I think it's orange.
Anyway, I thought it was BETTER than the Creme Brulee bar. Is that possible? Judge for yourself.
Susan <email>
Port Orchard, WA USA Thu 09/14/2006
Sacher Torte
Sacher Torte ... sinfully delicious specialty chocolate cake from Austria. I had them when I was in Salzburg and in Vienna.
Mary t.
Cleveland, Ohio USA Wed 09/06/2006
Chocolate
I have to say after eating chocolate all over the world, my absolute favorite is the Cailleurs(Nestle)product "Eclats du Noir" which is literally "Bolts of Black" It is a very dark chocolate with little bits of cocoa bean in it-not COFFEE bean. Not for the faint-hearted, and so far, not available in the US. My second favorite is the American Scharfenburger dark, but I'll take a Ghirardelli Baking chocolate, or a Lindt dark with candided orange peel and pistacios...
Laurel
Canandaigua, NY USA Wed 08/30/2006
Lindt Creme Brulee
Susan in ort Orchard, WA wrote that she couldn't find the Lindt Creme Brulee in the US. Well, I only recently came across that bar for the first time and also thought it was 'to die for' I bought it at a Lindt store in Baltimore.
Lisa
Tucson, AZ USA Thu 08/24/2006
Best chocolate truffles and bars ever...but in Seattle
Travelled all the way to Europe to find my favorite chocolate in ... Seattle! If you happen to be here look for Fiori Chocolatiers. The chocolatier studied in Perugia Italy (what a place!) and makes truffles and bars locally. They are out of this world, and just as good if not better then ones that we had while we travelled in Europe. A great find!
Tom Bernette
Renton, WA USA Tue 08/15/2006
Chocolate Line over Dumon
I was in Brugges last month and was overwhelmed by the quantity of chocolate shops. Dumon (the one nearest the town square) was increadibly friendly and helpful but the chocolate was a bit too mild and fruit filled for a chocolate purist. The Chocolate Line however, was above and beyond my expectations, increadible selection and deep rich chocolate, highly recommended.
Andriana
Sonoma, CA USA Thu 08/10/2006
Amedei was a Dissapointment
I have read a lot this year about the Tuscan chocolate makers, Amedei, who many candymakers call the best in the world. Suposedly they have bought up the rights to some of the best cacao in Venezuela and have forced Valrohna to look elsewhere for their supply.
My wife and I finally tried their milk chocolate bar and the famous Chuao bar (for 6 euro a pop) and were deeply dissapointed. We both love dark chocolate and appreciate the nuance of a great handmade bar, but the Chuao was essentially average. The milk bar was overloaded with dairy and the cocoa flavor was lost.
Do not believe the hype.
John S. <email>
San Francisco, CA USA Thu 08/03/2006
Gefle Chocolatier and Jacque Torres
The best chocolates I have had are from a Chocolatier in Gavle, Sweden (where Gevalia coffee is from). They have amazing chocolates like liqorice ganache filled dark chocolate with sea salt or chipolte-dusted dark chocolate truffles. They are miniature masterpieces!
The best hot chocolate I have EVER had is from Jacque Torres' Chocolate Shop (www.mrchocolate.com) in New York City. I had his plain hot chocolate and it was so creamy, it was almost like a soup...to die for. My husband had his chipolte hot chocolate and he loved it.
Kara
Sandviken, Sweden Mon 07/10/2006
Lindt Creme Brulee Bar and ...
My newest favorite is the latest Lindt chocolate with PEAR bar. Heaven in a paper wrapper. Made the best souvenirs for my chocolate loving friends!
CA, FL USA Fri 07/07/2006
Lindt Creme Brulee Bar
In Switzerland we bought a Lindt bar that had a creme brulee center. It was "TO DIE FOR" good!
We cannot find it in the US. I have tried searching the internet & asked some friends who own a candy shop to see if they could get it. Sadly, my friend told me that Lindt doesn't sell that particular bar in the US.
We are going to England in August and I am going to try and find that bar there.
Susan <email>
Port Orchard, WA USA Wed 07/05/2006
Melted chocolate in Spain
Pleasant surprise in Segovia, Spain. Tucked away beside the old Roman Aqueduct is a Valor Chocolateria. Ask for their 70% melted chocolate, eat with spoon or dip into with churros... Awesome.
Laura
California USA Wed 06/28/2006
Bruges Belgium
Hello,
I recently visited Bruges in Belgium. I went to, as recommended at this and other sites, to 5 different chocolatiers in Brugge, and bought a lot.
Here are my remarks:
Depla (Deplas?): friendly, not special, overpriced (a lot!)!!!
Chocolate Lines: good, but to special. After some chocolates you had to eat another one real fast to get rid of the bad taste. Overpriced for Bruges!
Dumon: Very rude people in the shop near the Market place! Bad quality... Here you're just a number.
Moeder Babelute: friendly people, but no comment... Jesus, not even woth the name chocolatier!
Choc-Arte: friendly girl, nice quality, very small shop near Market place. But small is beautifull they say...
Jennifer
Glasgow, Schotland Wed 06/28/2006
Mozartkugeln
Before I went to Salzburg, I had heard all about Mozart inspired "Mozartkugeln". They are chocolate balls with several layers on the inside. The core is marzipan mixed with pistachio. The next layer is nougat and then is finished with a bit of bitter chocolate on the outside! I was in heaven!! MMMMM!!!!
Natalie <email>
Mt. Juliet, TN USA Tue 06/27/2006
Chocolate Museum in Cologne
Has anyone else been to the Chocolate Museum in Cologne, Germany?? It was great. It ought to satisfy anyone's chocolate cravings.
Karen
NY USA Sun 06/11/2006
Ritter chocolate
If you like this chocolate, it's readily available at World Market, and I'm also finding it at local grocery stores. The stuff we used to find only in Europe has invaided our shores. It's a bummer, but a blessing too!
You can find Milka and Toblerone everywhere...it's like Hersey's candy bars....Baci is in Target - we don't need to wonderful adventure of finding wonderful tastes in Europe anymore.
USA Tue 05/30/2006
Dumon Chocolates in Brugges, Belgium
We experienced the same rudeness from the lady shopkeeper in Dumon. She rushed us out even though we were the only customers in the store and didn't let us sample anything before our hurried purchase. After I was insulted by her rude comment "oh, these the single chocolates are very expensive you know", I was ready to write up a very negative posting blasting the place.
A few hours later, we found another Dumon store. This is the original store, with Madame Dumon manning the front. She was a sweet little lady and apologized profusely for the bad treatment we received from the satellite store. Turned out that her son Stefan, wholesaled the chocolates to another shopkeeper, but still selling under the Dumon name. Do not go to the store on Walstraat 6. The original Dumon is on Eiermarkt 6, near the town squre. The correct address is listed in the Rick Steves Amsterdam/Brussels/Bruges book.
Gidge
Vancouver, BC Canada Mon 05/29/2006
Disappointing Chocolate
In Vienna, I ate at the Restaurant Piaristenkeller. They can't fool me. The "rich Austrian chocolate" on my dessert was Hershey's syrup.
Carol
Jersey City, NJ USA Fri 05/26/2006
A good chocolate you should try...
If you visit Germany you should try "Ritter Sport" chocolate. It's a great alternative to the Switzerland Milka chocolate!
Dieter
Stuttgart, Germany Tue 05/23/2006
Moelleux a Chocolat - Paris
We've eaten chocolate all around Europe. For the best real treat try Moelleux au Chocolate on a Paris menu or Paris Bakery. We had one on Rue Cler. It is 'French Fallen Cake" and looks like an upside down cupcake. Served warm it has a creamy, almost runny chocolate center. Room temp is also wonderful. Good with ice cream. Best treat in Paris
Sara Triplett <email>
Redwood Falls, MN USA Tue 05/23/2006
Hot Chocolate in Palo Alto,CA
Heads up to anyone living near Palo Alto, CA.....Cafe del Doge on University Ave has Hot Chocolate & Hot Chocolate with 2 shots of expresso to die for! It is so thick you have to eat it with a spoon!!! Its just like the stuff you get in Spain & Italy. They are a Venice based company. All kinds of great coffee drinks there too. Fantastico!!!!
D Floyd
CA USA Thu 05/18/2006
Baci
I am a sucker for Perugina's Baci line of chocolates from Italy. You can find them anywhere from street vendors to groceries to malls. Although, you can also find them stateside in many shops here - to my great appreciation!
Bonnie Boglioli Randall
Seattle, USA Fri 05/12/2006
Amazing!
The best chocolate in Europe is found at Fetidement's in Paris. It is strangely enough imported from Italy. I can't get enough! Rich, creamy, AMAZING! Don't leave Paris without visiting this quaint little shop on Rue Colitis.
Lacey
Santa Clara, CA USA Sun 05/07/2006
english chocolate
THE BEST CHOCOLATE IN ENGLAND IS
THE GALAXY BAR , PURE MILK CHOCOLATE.
ALSO NICE ARE THE CADBURY BARS, ANY KIND, KIT KATS ARE GREAT TOO. THEY ALL
MELT ON YOUR TONGUE.
CANADA, B.C. USA Sat 05/06/2006
No second time with Dumon, Bruges
My friends and I have read a recommendation on chocolate at Dumon in Bruges so we followed it. It's good I've to admit that but the shop owners had an attitude and that they were too rude and snobbish. One of them refused to let me choose the chocolate I wanted but forced me to take what's already in the boxes, also even made fun and laughed at us with the Belgians waiting in line. I'd never set foot in Dumon again. After that I tried some other shops and they're all great.
Bantz
BKK, Thailand Thu 04/20/2006
HOT COCOA BEST 2005- Szentendre, Hungary
Eden-Sentendre, Hungary across from the famous marzipan (blech!)place. Seriously, I've hunted high and low and the BEST and I mean the thickest, creamiest, slightly spicy hot chocolate in the world (& I've been around the block a few times) is in Szentendre Hungary. Part of Rick's excursions from Budapest... don't miss it!
Wendy
Mt Shasta, CA USA Sun 04/09/2006
Chocolate tours
Has anyone ever noticed that the "best" chocolate is consumed while on holiday? I think there's something to that.......btw, tours are still given at Cailler, in Switzerland and at Perugina, in Italy. The chocolate flows freely. Go forth and consume!!!
Jane
Divonne les Bains, France Thu 04/06/2006
Dublin, Ireland
When in Ireland this February, my husband and I became addicted to Butler's Chocolates. There was a store on many corners and a last chance in Dublin's airport. The Jameson's truffle and orange truffle were our favorites. Yum....best we've ever had.
Rachel McConnell
New Berlin, WI USA Sun 03/12/2006
Belgian chocolate
Was in Belgium for a medical conference in Ostende last month. We've spent 3 nights in La Reserve in Knokke. Went to Chocolatier M. The bonbons are from heaven! Thanks for the tip... Simply belgians finest.
Eye&Ear
Madrid, Spain Wed 02/22/2006
chocoholics unite
The best chocolates I had were Irish Butler's in Dublin-the Old Bailey and irish whisky truffles are something else.
We now have Vosges made in Chicago-they make curry flavor, pepper, etc. type chocolates a la way the Aztecs intended. Very interesting flavors.
Minnie
Chicago, IL USA Sun 02/12/2006
Our Favorite Chocolate
We tried several shops in Belgium, and by far, our favorite was Arti-Choc in Bruges. Dumon's was third on our list. Arti-Choc was pricey, but worth every Euro! Map available on its website - just Google or Yahoo it!
Rebecca <email>
Columbus, OH USA Wed 02/08/2006
choco heaven
Rite,as i have a pleasure of living in Germany,take for granted loads of access to choco--Lind is my fav no,used to loved Milka,find it kind of two sweet now?Leonidas are great,Thorntons too,allthough find it a bit too sweet,guess taste changes over the years?Lindt´s 70 choco bitter one is a thriller.T
he other night was watching this docu about shop in Vienna making hand made pralinas,real little miracles,some 16 various ones,stored in original 1925 design boxes.The biggest one,shape of a travel suuitcase costs around 324€....what a treat i´d say..and they DO look yummi... where to find a name of the shop tho i wonder,hm...
vesna <email>
Oldenburg, germany USA Fri 02/03/2006
Fair Trade Chocolate
Not that these are the best chocolates, but Divine chocolates in the UK produce good quality and are Fair Trade Certified. What is fair trade?
The Fair Trade Certified label guarantees:
A fair price The Fair Trade Certified label guarantees that farmers and workers received a fair price for their product. The Fair Trade price means that farmers can feed their families and that their children can go to school instead of working in the fields.
Quality products By receiving a fair price, Fair Trade producers can avoid cost-cutting practices that sacrifice quality. The Fair Trade producers' traditional artisanal farming methods result in exceptional products.
Care for the environment
Most Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea and chocolate in the US is certified organic and shade grown. This means that the products you buy maintain biodiversity, provide shelter for migratory birds and help reduce global warming.
JR
Weston, FL USA Tue 01/24/2006
Un Gran Bacio
I just returned from Italy and would like to give a shout out for Baci chocolates (Perugina) They are delicious - dark chocolate with a hazelnut cream filling - and come with a cute love note in 5 languages. Ferrero chocolates are also good.
Katie <email>
SD USA Sun 01/15/2006
Belgium
I have to visit Brussels 2 or 3 times a year for my job. And I know one thing for sure, Marcolini: 1. His chocolates are tooooo small 2. 50% of the chocolates are so so.... 3. After a few times it's like 'been there don that, pffff' Why because his chocolates are OK for degustation, ones or twice, not to enyoy 4. Expensive doesn't mean good!! For half the price you can buy T-O-P-quality!!! in Belgium... One advise: search, and you'll find lots of real chocolatiers who are not over priced.... (Just my opinion)
Van Cleef
NYC, USA Tue 01/03/2006
Belgium and Irish Chocolates
We spent Christmas in Brussels and I tried several chocolatiers...and here are my preferences.
#1 Pierre Marcolini--Unbelievable good little morsels of heaven. Worth every penny! #2 Galler (has a useful little booklet with pictures of all the chocolates and what is in them) #3 Leonidas #4 Neuhaus (My least favorite. The snooty sales staff least helpful in explaining what is in the chocolates) Unfortunately didn't get to try Mary's.
Was also in Dublin lately, and have to agree that Butler's chocolate cafe was my favorite experience in Dublin. Truffles were so good, and when I had the white hot chocolate, I though that I had died and gone to heaven! The cafe mocha and regular hot chocolate was very good too. I had 2 hot chocolate drinks every day for the 4 days I was there :)
Iris
Birmingham, AL USA Sun 01/01/2006