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Boozy Chocolate!

The two Blog Chocolate babes co-editors will be taking turns reviewing our favourite chocolatey creations and philosophizing about how to change the world one chocolate bar at a time.  But once in a while, it completely unfair to have just one of us test drive the latest chocolate craze.

Especially when it involves booze.  Chocolate booze.

Our friends from Independent Distillers Canada (IDC) have created two delicious alcoholic beverages based on Cadbury’s Caramilk bar — Caramilk Cream Liquor and Caramilk Cream Coolers.  And they invited us to try them. Seriously.  

Here is what Alyssa had to say about the Caramilk Cream Coolers ...

 

I came by my love of Caramilk at a very young age. My grandparents lived out West and we didn't get to see them very often. Whenever they came to visit though, you could be sure that my grandpa had a couple of Caramilk bars hidden in his luggage just waiting to be found by this budding chocoholic's hands. I have very fond memories of sitting in the guest room of our house sharing the chocolate bar with my grandpa, square by square.

So you might understand why I was a little hesitant when we were sent Caramilk Cream Coolers - a creamy vodka beverage based on one of my most treasured chocolate memories. For me, sweet drinks are best enjoyed piping hot: moccachinos, caramel lattés and, of course, hot chocolate. Honestly, I thought it would be obnoxiously sweet. I thought I would have one sip and then be done. I was wrong. The Caramilk cooler is smooth and milky, a luscious velvety treat that I had a hard time putting down. It's the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon spent decorating the Christmas tree, or curling up by the fire with a good book, or simply as a reward for spending an hour every Saturday morning at an outdoor rink teaching your 5-year old to skate. (Whose idea with that? My hair will never recover from the helmet head.) 

Any way I end up enjoying it, it looks like Caramilk and I are going to be making some new memories. Cheers, Grandpa.

 

 

Here is what Sandra had to say about the Caramilk Cream Liquor ...

It's no secret that I like to drink my chocolate with enthusiasm.  In fact, some of my favourite chocolate loves are in a beverage format. So making the sacrifice to test the Caramilk Cream Liquor (avec 17% alcohol - oh my) was not an entirely selfless act.  

I like a nip of Baileys over ice by the fire on a blustery day, and so I first tried this the same way - straight up. It was a bit boozy tasting for me (okay, a lot boozy tasting). I also was a bit disappointed that, despite having an aroma of a melted chocolate bar, I was not able to pick up the chocolate taste more - caramel is the hero here.

That is where my criticisms end though. Because this little gem (made with real cream, vodka and brandy) is really meant for much nobler purposes than to be sipped solo.  It is spectacular added to your favourite hot chocolate. In fact, I think it should be mandatory for all hot chocolate lovers of the adult persuasion to include it.  AND it pretty much makes your week when poured over ice cream. I am not much of a chef but I can imagine there are a million ways you can cook with it - it's incredibly versatile.

I hate the winter. No, I loathe the winter.  But this new discovery is sure to make our frosty looooong season a little more delightful.

Bottoms up!

European Designer Hot Chocolate

When I hear "European Designer" I think handbags, shoes, fragrance ... I wouldn't immediately leap to hot chocolate.  But my new friends at Intemperantia from California are specialists in European Designer Chocolates and they sent me some of their amazing hot chocolate to try.

Full disclosure and associated apology to "In tem pe ran tia" - I was supposed to review this amazing hot chocolate ages and ages ago.  But I am lazy.  Never too lazy to drink a great cuppa chocolate - but the amount of work necessary to perfect this was a bit intimidating.  It involve a blender, vanilla and two different stages of using a sauce pan and some actual culinary skills.

But here's the thing, if you want hot chocolate that tastes like powder stirred hastily into water, then that is what you should drink. If you want mind-blowing hot chocolate then you have to work for it.  And I was really glad I got off my lazy butt and finally did!

They suggested that you can even turn the left over hot chocolate into ice cream. Ice cream. I was dying to try that ... but who has left overs with hot chocolate this great??

Seriously gorgeous drinking chocolate. 

 

Going All the Way With Missionary Chocolates

I am a vegetarian.  A committed vegetarian. I have often thought of going "all the way" and embracing vegan-ism.  One of the only things that has held me back is that I hadn't ever found a vegan chocolate that I truly loved.  Not one.  Sure, there were some that were not bad but who wants a chocolate that's not bad?  I want spectacular.   It seemed to me that excellent chocolate and living vegan were wholly incompatible. 

That was until I received a box of Missionary Chocolates to sample.

Their truffles are incredible ... as in ridiculously (are you sure these are vegan??) incredible.  Perfect mouth feel, gorgeous presentation and deeeeeelicious.  My favourite was the vanilla salted caramel but all of their flavour combinations are inspired.

Missionary Chocolates is operated by a dynamic duo of two sisters and every chocolate is hand-crafted.  Not only are they vegan, but the truffles are gluten-free too!  The first email I read from them had me smitten: "Truffles without heavy cream? Is this possible? Do we even want it to be possible?"  Exactly!  But not only is it possible - they are quite possibly one of the best truffles I have ever tasted ... not just vegan truffles ... any truffles.

Maybe that's because they've found the perfect way to use organic coconut cream as their base and then pair that with 55% fair-trade Guittard chocolate. 

Their mom is a vegan, gluten-intolerant chocoholic so they started making the truffles for her.  And now for us too.  I kind of feel like I owe their mama a gift for mother's day out of appreciation for being the muse behind these spectacular chocolates.

Missionary's truffles can be bought at many stores throughout the USA and you can also order them online. 

And this is what a happy chocoholic (who has finally gone all the way) looks like.

Sneak Peek at Duets

The PR folks from The Madelaine Chocolate Company are preparing for the big launch of their new Duets product and sent me some to preview.

 

(I love me some chocolate samples that arrive wrapped in pretty ribbon)

I'd never tried any of Madelaine's chocolates before as I don't think they are widely available in Canada - though you can buy them on-line.   

The Madelaine Chocolate Company, based in Queen's NY, is the quintessential all-American chocolate maker.  They recently celebrated their 60th birthday. (I love the archival photos on their site of the early days of chocolate making - reminiscent of that awesome "I Love Lucy" chocolate factory episode.)

But what about the chocolate? 

Available beginning April 12th, Duets are "the first double-filled chocolate truffle". Essentially each truffle ball is filled with two flavours.

 

 

I expected a different texture for a "truffle" so at first I wasn't sure if these were for me. I'll admit that after tasting the Milk Truffle/White Truffle version I wasn't in love.

That was until I tried Raspberry/Peanut Butter. 

Oh. My. God.  Close your eyes and pretend you're 6-years-old and eating a peanut butter and jam sandwich. Now wrap it in chocolate.  

It was the perfect gooey, nostalgic combination of flavours.  I could have eaten a dozen of them. My son chose the same favourite - so it's not just nostalgia - it's gooooood.

Duets is not gourmet chocolate - and I don't think they are trying to be.  They are a chocolate company that makes simple, good quality, delicious confectionery. (And now have me craving more since I've devoured all that they sent me - New York here I come!).

You can follow the Duets launch on twitter @duetsny or @madchocny. Thanks for including Blog Chocolate in the sneak peek.

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**Edited to Add:  The folks at Duets want to offer Blog Chocolate readers a special discount. Use the code DUETS10 for 10% off your purchase. **

Roger Brought Me Back

Once upon a time there was a small corner of the internet carved out just to tell tales of chocolatey goodness.  A corner that was lovingly nurtured with great sacrifices of copious amounts of chocolate consumption.

Then it went silent. Disappeared. 

So many excuses ... life got busy, was drowning in chocolate, dog ate my homework ...

But the truth is there are still like 100 people a day that stop by to visit little 'ol Blog Chocolate despite not being updated in more than a year.

Time to fix that.  Partly because I feel terribly guilty about the neglect but also because I made a chocolate discovery that was worth sharing while on vacation last week.

My new boyfriend's name is Roger.

 

 

My son and I spent a week in the ever charming Victoria, British Columbia and a few steps from our hotel was Roger's Chocolates.  Lovingly prepared chocolate with the sweetest staff on the planet, we visited it every day.  We tried all of the truffles and the creams and ... well we tried everything.  

My favs? The salted carmel chocolate and the winter apple caramel truffle.  They apparently rock the caramel.

Completely worth coming out of hibernation for.  Thanks Roger!

Winter's Silver Lining

Despite being a Canadian, I loathe winter.  Hate everything about it.  The cold, the snow, the freezing rain, the nerve-wracking driving, the practical boots, the layers, the slush ... I could go on and on.

Not being a lover of winter sports or anything else about the season, I am hard pressed to get through the deep freeze with a smile.

But I will concede that there is one silver lining.  A fabulous, chocolaty silver lining:  Hot Chocolate.

We already know I like my hot chocolate with a kick because nothing beats warm Bailey's. And I started thinking I've not yet shared with you my very favourite hot chocolate picks for this chilly time of year.

I can assert this with a great degree of confidence as I've tried every hot chocolate out there.  Every. Single. One. It's a mighty tough job but someone has to do it.

If you are snowed in and can't get thee to your nearest barista to satisfy winter cravings, then your best bet for an at home mug of sweet, smooth warmth comes compliments of Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

It's pure chocolate shavings that you can whisk with warm milk into one of the most delicious hot chocolates you'll ever taste.  But, then again, it should be because it comes with a price tag that is anything but modest.  It's the old adage "you get what you pay for" and it's a fair indulgence because those powdery imitations don't begin to compare.

However, the hot chocolate I now drink 99.9% of the time is not one you can make on your stove top.  I first discovered Starbucks Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate  while visiting a dear friend in the US this fall.  I was hooked at the first sip.  So hooked that I couldn't get it out of my head until we landed back in TO and I promptly went straight to a nearby Starbucks to see if was just an American phenomenon.  I squealed, actually squealed, to learn that it was readily available here.

The salty name puts some folks off at first blush but once you try it, there is no turning back. I defy you to find a comparable, quality, savoury, hot chocolate anywhere.  There just isn't one.  And they haven't given me a single free cup encouraging me to say that to you.  Although they really, really, really should since I've spent all my spare cash there weathering the winter storm.

So bottom's up my friends.  Wrap both hands tightly around your mug and enjoy.

Kohler Chocolates, Marry Me

Dear Kohler Chocolates,

Marry Me.

Love, Sandra

I am a chocolate Enthusiast (with a capital E) and I've been known to gush and rave unapologetically about the world's most perfect food. 

But it is not often that you'll hear me use this collection of words:  "These chocolates are one of the best chocolates I've ever seen or tasted."

  

 

Best.  It's a pretty big word that shouldn't be thrown about lightly - and, believe me, I am not.  Because Kohler Chocolates deserves to wear that crown.

I was recently sent a box of their Garden Ganache that is presently featured on Oprah's February 2009 O-List.  Mrs. Winfrey absolutely knew what she was talking about this month ... they are nothing short of spectacular and now sit atop the "S-list" for sure. 

To begin with, they are stunning to look at.  Really, they are beautiful perfect round domes each artfully hand-painted with a burst of lovely colour like they were a canvas.  I almost didn't want to bite into them because they were so pretty. Almost.

These original-recipe, hand-made chocolates were brilliant.  Not too sweet, not too rich, and you could taste the artistry with each bite. The mouth feel was smooth and the flavours distinct, bold and elegant.  I am beyond smitten with Kohler's delicious gems.

 

In the Garden Ganache box there were a host of lovely and creative flavours each with special hand-painted colours: Coconut, Pear, Asian Spice, Hazelnut Coffee, Macadamia, Chai Tea, Raspberry ... plus my favourites: Passion Fruit, Creme Fraiche and Earl Grey.

And in case you are wondering about the company behind these delectable creations, yes, it is that "KOHLER".  The one that makes covetous sinks as well as a host of other seemingly unrelated international businesses.  I was prepared not to like them just because of their strange brand heritage that didn't seem to fit.

But the truth is it fits perfectly with their reputation of bringing superior products to market.  Kohler Original Recipe Handmade Chocolates were first developed at their five diamond resort in Wisconsin after their incredible chefs were charged by Mr. Kohler with trying to create the best chocolates in the world.

And as far as I can tell, they have succeeded.

Gorgeous to look at and with flavours that satisfy your palette and leave you craving more.  I'm having daydreams of buying one of everything they create to savour ... especially the Terrapins (in a word: heavenly).

The only complaint I have (and it is a big one) ... they currently only retail and ship to the US. When they are available internationally I've asked that they let me know so I can share with my readers who live beyond the red, white and blue border.  

Thanks Kohler for making chocolate so perfectly.  

Butterfinger Buzz

It was with genuine interest that I recently opened a parcel of fantastic new samples sent to me by Nestle's PR firm.  They are launching their new limited edition Butterfinger Buzz with a frenzy.

The bar purports to have as much caffeine as the leading energy drink. They planned all sorts of outrageous stunts to generate "buzz" for their launch including having fans buzz-cut their hair with the Butterfinger Buzz logo in order to have the chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.

So, what is Blog Chocolate's verdict on this new Butterfinger Buzz?  

Let's just say there is no way I'd even think of shaving my head for it. Or even getting a trim.

The chocolate bar, for the most part, tasted a lot like the original Butterfinger of which I've always been a big fan.  But the off-putting difference is the shocking orange colour of the inside.  It was almost toxic looking. I brought some to my office to get other reactions and literally had a few people refuse even a taste when they saw the colour.

If I closed my eyes it tasted fine but it's a challenging hurdle to surmount.

Suffice it to say, I am likely not in their target market. If I were still an undergraduate student looking for all-night study aid then this would be a reasonable alternative.  One of my younger co-workers said on a night she was going out clubbing she'd be happy to eat one of these in lieu of an energy drink before. 

So if you are 20-something, in the market for a caffeine buzz and eat it with your eyes closed then I think this is the bar for you.  

Which is to say, this is not the bar for me.

Great Mexican Chocolate

I am terrific at going on vacation.  Really. It's a skill that has taken years to master. 

But returning from vacation? Well, that I am not so good at.

So before the post-holiday blues take hold with too menacing a grip, I'll reminisce about my recent 2-week-long sojourn to the Mayan Riviera.  The weather was glorious, the pace was restful and restorative and the reprieve from snow for two blissful weeks was absolutely appreciated.

As we explored the Yucatan Peninsula, there were healthy doses of reading on the beach, shopping for things we didn't need, visiting Mayan ruins, discovering quaint little towns, snorkeling in the sea and swimming with the dolphins. 

We've visited Mexico many times before and seen several different regions because we have family that live there.  Through our travels over the years, I've always been on the quest for great Mexican chocolate. After all, the Mayans and Aztecs claim to have been the first chocolatiers.  The birth place of chocolate must have the best. 

But, I've not yet been blown away.

Other than Mexican hot chocolate, of course.  The wonderful combination of the bitter dark chocolate with the biting spices leaves that warm feeling in my chest just thinking about it.  It's a drink to sip, to savour and it's not for everyone. But I am a fan.

So I couldn't have been more thrilled than to stumble on a brilliant little chocolate cafe in Playa Del Carmen

It had the most delicious Mexican hot chocolate and quickly became my daily haunt.

On our many trips there we tasted their ice cream and brownies and chocolate bars and chocolate nibs and drinking chocolate and, my personal favourite, the chocolate frio ...

I say this (and completely unsolicited and unbiased), Ah Cacao was indeed my happy place.  Everything they made was incredible.  And the wait staff and atmosphere was as charming as the chocolate was tasty.  

The funniest thing was the prominence of this enormous poster in several locations of the cafe with the headline "Chocolate Makes Happier Babies" quoting the British studies that say eating chocolate during pregnancy produces happier infants.  Now, why didn't someone tell me that when I was expecting on my uber-organic, all-healthy pregzilla mission?

Their website says it all though: "According to Aztec legend, chocolate was a gift from Quetzalcoatl, the God, and formed a bridge between heaven and earth. One taste of Ah Cacao Real Chocolate and you will understand why!"

And as I pack away my flip flops and return to reality, I can say that my quest to find great Mexican chocolate was finally realized.

Emily Come Away With Me

So I am bidding you a fond farewell as I pack up the family for 2 glorious weeks in Mexico.  Mojitos and sunshine here we come!

I should admit that when I travel, I am a bit of an over-planner. Okay, I am a serious over-planner.  I have a packing fetish and an enthusiasm for lists that I can check off twice.  

Everyone knows one of the most important thing to plan for are the snacks for the journey.  So, what wonderful timing that some fine folks at Emily's Chocolates sent me four cute boxes of chocolate to sample as I was knee-deep in vacation organization mode.

My intention was to bring them along on the fight.  But as you might have guessed, I have less will power than Telly Sevalis has hair, and I already ate them. All.

First there was the box of cherry hazelnuts which I expected to be a cherry infused hazelnut covered in dark chocolate.  Instead, it was a nice mixture of some chocolate covered cherries and chocolate covered hazelnuts.  And it was lovely and tasted exactly as you'd imagine it to.

Then there was the Cranberry Almonds which, similarly, was a 50/50 split of dark chocolate covered cranberries and dark chocolate covered almonds.  Sweet and satisfying and, again, exactly as you'd expect.

I had a feeling the chocolate covered graham crackers would be a favourite. Because, I mean, chocolate covered graham crackers?!?!  And they didn't disappoint.  I could eat them daily they were that good.

But the unexpected and undeniable best of the bunch were the milk chocolate cocoa dusted pecan halves.  I have to confess that when food writers and restaurant menus use the term "dusted" to describe any sort of culinary creation it doesn't do it for me.  Call me literal (which usually I am not), but all I can think of is dusty food. Ick. So at first I was sure I wouldn't be into these because of my peculiar semantic hang-up, but I am a lover of pecans so I gave it a shot anyway.  And wow. Seriously. W-O-W. The other chocolates they sent were not even in the same league.  They shouldn't have even been shipped in the same box.  These dusty morsels were spectacular. They were not too sweet and the texture was brilliant and they tasted elegant and fabulous and every other excessive descriptor you can think of.  They were perfect.  Thank you Emily.

So the moral of the story is that: a) I should just buy my travel treats at the airport so they are not consumed before I've even left the house and b) dusty food isn't so bad. In fact, it's un-freaking-believable if you are a cocoa dusted pecan half. 

Be back in 2 weeks with tales of Mexican chocolate.  Adios!

Like A Good Red Wine

For some, dark chocolate can be an acquired taste. It isn't the sweet, creamy comfort food that we enjoyed as kids with milk chocolate.  It has some substance.  A bite.  

I often liken it to drinking red wine.  The more you try it, the more you like it and the more you are able to discern the subtle differences in taste.

Amano Artisan Chocolate (with the help of their PR firm) recently launched the latest in their line of one-of-a-kind, single-origin chocolate.  They were kind enough to sent me this one to savour:  

The Jembrana bar is made from beans grown only in Bali.  While not "fair trade" certified, Amano claims to pay even more than fair-trade regulations to their farmers.  The package is pretty and sophisticated like a great vintage wine bottle.

It's a 70% cocoa bar, which in my world means "health food" (also known as guilt-free-eat-as-much-as-you-want-chocolate).  It has a really lovely taste.  They describe it as having a "rich chocolate flavor with nice fruit notes that are also a little nutty."  I would agree.  It's subtle.  I liked it.

But what I liked even more than the chocolate was a fantastic post I discovered on their blog.  It is one of the best "How to Taste Chocolate" articles I've read.  Take a peek if you are interested in a more high-brow approach to chocolate tasting ... which should not be confused with chocolate eating. It's serious, serious business my friends.  I, personally, am more partial to eating rather than tasting chocolate. It's the same way I love my wine.  But this chocolate is worth savoring slowly and with all the palate pleasing sophistication you can muster.

 

Santa Fe, Here I Come!

I have recently become a fan of the lovely state of New Mexico when two of the most fabulous women I know moved there.  They had given me a peek inside their local chocolate industry with a gift of the most incredible drinking chocolate elixir.  It was like a spiritual experience.  Ommmmmm.

So I wasn't the least bit surprised to fall head-over heels with another chocolatier that hailed from Santa Fe.

The artisans from The ChocolateSmith sent me some of their incredibly unique and delicious selections to try last week.  

First, there was the "Petite Melange Assorted Miniatures" which is a bit of a misnomer because there was nothing miniature about them:  

They were generous sized morsels of sweet and savory and salty surprises bathed in really high quality dark chocolate.  I brought this one to my office to share and it was met with reactions reminiscent to that scene in "When Harry Met Sally".  That good.

But what I really enjoyed was the chocolate ganache covered in cheese wax. They are so unusual and colourful. When the hand-dipped chocolate pate's wax is unraveled, you find a soft, fresh and decadent dark bit of heaven.  The festive holiday tree was a creamy dark chocolate that rivaled the texture of newly made fudge.  But better.  Even my husband, who is not a chocolate fan (shocking I know), was all over this.

But despite my enthusiasm for their other creations, the clear winner for me was the wax-wrapped Chili-Pate.  They describe it as: "Dark Chocolate Orange Ganache infused with Smokey Chipotle Chili & Cool Tones of Cinnamon. This Mildly Spicy Treat will surely suggest Southwest."   It was the most mouth pleasing experience imaginable.  It might be because flavours of chili and cinnamon are tastes I love ... but combining with dark chocolate ... now that was brilliant.  

 

The ChocolateSmith  claims to produce "honest" chocolate which isn't a term I'd heard before but it appeals to me.  They make their chocolates in full view of their patrons and support local and organic traditions and the living wage principle. That get's my vote.

I had only one problem with the chocolates they sent me to review: they are now gone. 

Santa Fe, here I come!

See This

So, I have been apparently living under a rock for my entire life because I've not once tasted a See's Chocolate.  Well, actually, I've been living in Canada and although See's is in lots of groovy international locations, the great white north is not one of them.  

Lucky for me the nice folks at this California-based candyland sent me the cutest little Poinsettia Box of chocolates to sample.  

I have to admit that at first I was a little apprehensive because I was flying blind with the absence of one of those handy "which chocolate has which filling" guides.  I love those guides as I plot my way through a box of chocolatey goodness.  But it turned out that was half the fun because the first one I tasted was insane. Insane. In a good way.  I was hooked and sat and devoured the entire package in one sitting.  Not a single miss in the box.

I know you've been worried about what to get me for a stocking stuffer or hostess gift this season.  Fret no more ... problem solved my friends ... a few dozen of these and I'll be smilin.

I poked around their website and they have a terrific selection of business gifts and (my personal favourite given I run a national charity when I am not busy devouring free chocolate for the laborious work of this blog) is their fantabulous fund-raising program.

Two chocolate-covered thumbs up for sure.