Droga Chocolates was launched in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founder Michelle Crochet grew up addicted to her mother’s homemade rocky road candy, which replaced walnuts with roasted, salted peanuts long before salt and chocolate became the rage.

Michelle became a food buyer for Williams-Sonoma, and subsequently decided to join the ranks of Bay Area food-preneurs, ultimately pairing with a business partner, Lisa Albani. They consider themselves “the perfect ingredients for a sweet and successful business.”

We tasted their holiday wares, and have a few requests for Santa:

GINGERBREAD MEN

We could eat an army of these gingerbread men. Photo courtesy Droga Chocolates.

The Jolly Gingerbread Cookie really hit the spot. As soon as we finished one, we wanted another (our gift set from Droga, while generous, included only one of the ginger guys).

In a coat of milk or dark chocolate, the artisan gingerbread, a cookie 6 inches long and 6.5 ounces, is $12.50 in a cellophane bag and ribbon. There are also smaller “gingerbread boys” for $6.95.

We taste a lot of salt caramels, and not that many turn our heads. Droga’s East vs. West Salt Caramel Set hit the spot, and made us sad that there were only four caramels in each box. We could have eaten dozens of:

 
A four-piece box of each flavor, $13.95.

Any of these would make a more-than-welcome stocking stuffer or party favor.

MORE GOODIES

Larger portions, gaily boxed, include:

 
Get yours at DrogaChocolates.com.

Fair Trade ensures that farmers are paid fair value for their crops. This affords a minimum standard of living, money for adult (instead of child) labor and the ability to farm with sound (sustainable) agricultural practices.

Fair Trade is the trademarked term of nonprofit organization that audits transactions between U.S. companies offering Fair Trade Certified products and the international suppliers from whom they source. It is one of several organizations working all over the world to certify fairly traded goods. Here’s more on Fair Trade.

In the case of the the world’s greatest chocolatiers, an elite group, Fair Trade is a moot point. The chocolatiers are already paying top dollar to secure the limited supply of the world’s ultra-finest cacao beans.

But there’s a lot of chocolate, even in the premium category (not the mass marketed bars), that comes from farmers who sometimes have to sell their crops for less than it costs to grow it.

Special holiday flavor bars and foil-wrapped dark and milk chocolate coins. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

The cooperative works at improving the social, economic and political well-being of its members. Women cacao farmers play significant roles at all levels of the organization, and the co-op encourages environmentally sustainable production.

DIVINE CHOCOLATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This very reasonably priced line, beautifully packaged, offers a nice choice stocking stuffers, teacher gifts or office gifts. Each purchase supports these farmers and their excellent mission.

If you like, you can use the gift to teach your family, friends and colleagues about supporting Fair Trade, and. They’ll feel good about every bite.

There’s something for every chocolate-lover in Divine Chocolate’s collection:

There are savings with the purchase of multiple pieces of the same item, as well a gift baskets with an assortment of products.
 

See all the holiday specials and the entire product line at Divine Chocolate.com.

—Steven Gans

To keep from getting bored after your second turkey sandwich, plan ahead.

A “Thanksgiving hero.” Photo courtesy Earl Of Sandwich.

 
What do you put on your turkey sandwich?

RECIPE: ORANGE PEEL AÏOLI

Blend together:

 
Do you have a favorite twist on a turkey sandwich? Let us know!