TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Amano Artisan Chocolate

It takes passion, skill and guts to open a bean-to-bar chocolate factory with the goal of nationwide distribution. In this country, aside from large industrial producers, only three artisan companies have done so. The first two were Scharffen Berger, spearheaded by an entrepreneur who had launched and sold a successful Napa Valley winery to the…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: John & Kira’s Chocolate Fig Confections

Little figs filled, with clove ganache and enrobed in chocolate.   Halloween is just days away. While there may be some who hanker for the miniature candy bars of youth, we have a much better recommendation. One of the delights we look forward to each fall is a box of chocolate-covered figs from John &…
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NEWS: Cocoa Butter Substitution

This year: made with cocoa butter. Next year: made with vegetable oil?   Will this be the last Halloween with “real” chocolate? If many of the big commercial chocolate makers have their wish, it will be. They filed a petition with the FDA earlier this year, to amend the standards for chocolate production. The proposed…
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PRODUCT WATCH: Chocolate-Dipped Altoids

Since they debuted last year, we’ve been gaga for Altoids Dark Chocolate Dipped Mints. When we heard through the food grapevine a few months ago that there was a recommendation in to discontinue them (because they were not on in sync with the “curiously strong” branding), we stockpiled them. From the TV spots that are…
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FREEBIE: Chocolate From Green & Black’s

Most people don’t like the fact that the days are shorter (not to mention, colder). But Green & Black’s, which makes organic chocolate bars, wants you to appreciate the darkness (specifically, their dark chocolate). The company is offering free chocolate as the clock turns back and we lose another hour of light (or to put…
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