Sponsored by the Letter C, For Chocolate
photo by ulterior epicure
The box o’ chocolates is from Kee’s
I have a thing for chocolate. Let’s just say if you gave me a choice between never having dinner again and never having chocolate, I wouldn’t bat an eye before I grabbed a brownie and said, “I’ll never leave you.” It’s borderline sick.
I’ve dined at the chain restaurant Chili’s before and passed on a main course so I could fit more molten chocolate cake in my belly. (To be honest, it wasn’t a hard decision. If you’ve ever eaten at Chili’s you know their meals are usually too rubbery, too salty, too processed, or too stale—or all of the above.) But that microwaved mound of chocolatey sponge? The gooey chocolate insides? The giant scoop of vanilla ice cream to cool the warm cake? Heaven.
It reminds me of a Hallmark card I once read. The front had an illustration of a Cheesecake Factory-sized hunk of chocolate cake, and it said, “I ate a dessert called Death by Chocolate.” Flip to the inside, where the card continued: “But it didn’t kill me. It only made me stronger.”
That, friends, is how I feel.
Here’s where I insert news of a recent study that found an association between eating dark chocolate and having a lower risk of stroke and death after stroke. This is also the point where I tell you that the researchers only analyzed three studies, so the findings aren’t conclusive. Right here is the point where I wonder whether the researchers did this small study just so it would be published in time for Valentine’s Day?. No matter! Chocolate won’t kill you—I’ll make you stronger. And stroke-resistant. Just keep telling yourself that. I do.
Speaking of V-Day, I should let you know … I don’t particularly enjoy it even though it usually means The Man gets me chocolate. I like that part. And I like the whole going to a special dinner part. What I don’t like is that there’s nothing on the level of flowers or chocolates that I can get The Man. (Much to his disappointment, a new MacBook Pro does not a great Valentines Day gift make.)
Still, in the spirit of this phony, Hallmark-created holiday, and with chocolate (healthy or not) on my mind, I give you a chocolate craving. Enjoy.
My kinda chocolate bar: Vosges Mini Exotic Candy Bar Library—nine small bars in a pretty purple box.
Endangered Species Chocolate makes an espresso dark chocolate with 72 percent cacao. The bar even features an adorable tiger. And when I say adorable, I mean completely menacing and ready to bite your finger off.
Poco Dolce’s chocolate tiles—cracker-thin squares of chocolate in left- and righthand photos—are for those of us without self-control I suppose. Check out the Burnt Caramel Toffee variety.
Dagoba’s organic dark chocolate bar is made with 59 percent cacao.
Bon Bon Bar makes a Scotch Candy Bar that’s made with single malt scotch, ganache, and caramel, covered in dark chocolate, and sprinkled with sea salt. This looks a-maz-ing.
Green & Black’s adds mint to its organic dark chocolate bar.
Eclat Chocolate sells Shiraz truffles. ’Nuff said.
Terra Nostra’s dark chocolate bar has 73 percent cacao, goji berries, and pink Himalayan mineral salt. How’s that for original? (And, yeah, that’s a pretty tall bar.)
Salazon Chocolate Co. makes an organic dark chocolate bar with natural sea salt.
What’s your favorite chocolate bar or brand? (I’m still in love with the Cadburys Buttons
14 comments
I am a HUGE chocolate lover. I have to stop myself from living off of it. My favorite is Lindt chocolate..and I’m also a dark fan over milk, and milk over white.
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I love dark chocolate. For me the more bitter the better! SO GOOD!!!
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The scotch candy bar sounds delish!
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I love TJ’s 72% Dark Chocolate Pound Plus Bar. I eat a square or two almost every day. I seriously haven’t found anything better, despite trying chocolates from all over the world! But I am definitely going to check out some of the one’s you’ve suggested.
And I agree about Chili’s…no reason to eat anything there except for dessert!
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going to eat a piece of chocolate RIGHT NOW after reading this!!
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Yummy! I like Lindt chocolate, but most any kind of chocolate will make me a happy girl
The boyfriend and I aren’t celebrating Valentine’s day (it’s such an AWKWARD holiday, isn’t it?!), but no doubt my mother dear will buy some chocolate/heart-shaped cookies which I will dutifully partake in, hehe.
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I have learned to love dark chocolate but still love, love milk chocolate! My favorite right now is Dove.
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Molten chocolate cakes are to die for! Really, I rarely have them, but if I do or one is put in front of me…I indulge
So Yummy! Love all the chocolate you posted! Particularly, Dagoba–so good! My fav chocolatey item is TJ’s milk chocolate covered raisins–I have a lil almost every day, must allow yourself a little treat every now and then….never want to feel deprived:) Happy Valentines!
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You have such a way with words Tracy. Great post. A lot of those I actually would like to try. I will now thanks your reviews. You cannot go wrong with chocolate
Love the quote you gave.
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Chocolate is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!
(Happy Valentine’s Day!!!)
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I agree with Joanna! My favs would have to be a toss up between Green & Black and Endangered Species.
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You know, I’ve never been a huge fan of chocolate. And it’s made me feel like less of a woman, haha! But I have realized that I LOVE dark chocolate. I’m talking…85%. Milk chocolate just doesn’t do it for me! Although, I will take any form of chocolate if it’s in combination with peanut butter or coconut
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Oh wow – you weren’t kidding about giving us a craving! I love the Green & Black’s chocolate. But my new fave is the Lindt 90% dark bar!! It’s the darkest I’ve been able to find without going straight to Baker’s chocolate!
Also, this: “Let’s just say if you gave me a choice between never having dinner again and never having chocolate, I wouldn’t bat an eye before I grabbed a brownie and said, “I’ll never leave you.”” made me laugh out loud!
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Long live dark chocolate! Does it have a Facebook page that I can “Fan” ??
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