I once went to Niagara wine country for a day of wine tasting at the vineyards with a raging cold virus. In the end every vintage tasted like menthol.  Tasting good chocolate in that state is even worse.

So when the lovely folks at L’Amourette Chocolat invited us to try their incredible dark chocolate for Valentine’s Day, I was devastated that I couldn’t truly enjoy it while my taste buds were numbed with herbal cold drops.  I always say “better late than never” – and I am so glad that I waited to savour every last bite of the two stunning dark bars they sent us. So so glad.

L’Amourette Chocolate is an extraordinary San Francisco based artisan chocolatier who handcrafts chocolate that will transport you across the globe in one bite.  I always like to learn a little something about the chocolatier’s we are introduced to and the story behind L’Amourette’s inspiration is one of my very favourites …

As a young chocolatier, I’d been joyless for a long time; the woman of my dreams did not pay any attention to me, so I decided to travel the world to forget her. One day, while walking through Montmartre, I went to a used-book store and noticed the dusty spine of one of Papus’ works: Practical Magic. Something told me to buy the book, and I reluctantly went along with my urge. I read it from cover to cover in one evening, looking for aphrodisiac elixirs and magic rituals. For the next week I experimented with different recipes for chocolate, finally settling on the most intriguing. I brought a bouquet and a small bar of my chocolate to meet my heart throb, asking for her hand in marriage. She ate just one piece, and exclaimed in agreement to my proposal. Since then we’ve spent years together and always remember this recipe, keeping it in strictest confidentiality.

Every great love story should include chocolate as divine as L’Amourette. And their chocolate is, indeed, epic-love-story-worthy.

First, I tasted the Careno Superior bar with its romantic packaging and promise of an intricate flavour experience. It really is a special bar that speaks to the quality of the beans and the care with which it was made.  I enjoyed it with a fabulous full-bodied red wine (no menthol cough medicine!) and it was a perfect combination.  Best eaten slowly one square at a time, this was the perfect post-Valentine’s pick me up.  Andre V poured his heart into crafting such a lovely dark bar.

Next, I tried the 75% Cacao Rio Caribe Superior and it was my favourite. This bar has such a smooth, luxurious texture that I had to close my eyes to eat it. It has a balanced flavour that is both subtle and complex at the same time.  If you are not a dark chocolate lover, this will even appeal to you. It’s the kind of chocolate you want to leave to melt on your tongue so to enjoy every last delicious moment of it.  The beans for the Rio Caribe Superior bar are imported from Venezuela. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

L’Amourette Chocolat can be purchased online or throughout stores in California. Be sure to check it out because everyday should absolutely be Valentine’s Day with chocolate so romantically conceived and completely captivating.

Thank you L’Amourette for salvaging my Valentine’s week this year. xo

~ Sandra

Whether your kissing a cod, taking in the stunning vistas or enjoying some unparalleled Newfoundland hospitality, I guarantee it’s a place that you will never forget.  You’ll leave a little piece of your heart behind and add some well earned laugh lines in the process.

So I must say, that it was with great delight that I recently discovered the Newfoundland Chocolate Company.

This gem of a chocolate company is made up of a group of dedicated local chocolatiers who hand craft every chocolate.  And each  one of those chocolates is as unique as  the breathtakingly beautiful shorelines, bluffs, mountains and meadows that make Newfoundland so incomparable.

The special thing about the Newfoundland Chocolate company is that their chocolates are as charming as the land from which they hail.

I had the great pleasure of tasting two special boxes of gourmet chocolate.  The “Jigs n’ Reels Series” is inspired by the music that is inextricably linked to experiencing Newfoundland and features chocolates with fun song names like “I’se the B’y” and “Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor”.  I especially loved savouring the “Cliffs of Baccalieu” which was smooth milk chocolate with Newfoundland berries and “I Had a Hat” – one of the best creamy caramel chocolates you’ll find from coast to coast to coast.

Their “Smiling Land Series” box is equally as charming and doubly good.   Each chocolate creation, named for a spectacular Newfoundland destination, features dark, milk or white chocolate combined with Newfoundland wild berries.  This is a chocolatier who proudly knows their roots and expertly combines the local bounty for something truly spectacular and different.  There were many delicious options among this mix, but nothing came even close to the perfection of the chocolates that featured partridgeberries – most notably the “Gros Morne” and the “Lake Melville”.  I’d never tasted partridgeberry with chocolate before today and I leaves me wanting stomp a jig and raise a glass!

If it’s ever been a dream of yours to visit Newfoundland (and if it hasn’t – it should be!) – please be sure to drop by one of the many spots throughout Newfoundland and Labrador that are proudly selling goodies from the Newfoundland Chocolate Company - you can find them in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Fort McMurray too!

~ Sandra

What better place to start our Valentine chocolate count down than with the artisan chocolate from Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut originating in beautiful Calgary, Alberta.

Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut creates gorgeous handcrafted chocolates using only natural, preservative-free ingredients. They are creative and passionate about their chocolate creations and have developed chocolate so extraordinary that will make Canadians from coast to coast to coast proud.

Filled with either 12, 20 or 45 individual chocolates for sharing. Or not

I had the great pleasure of trying two of their most popular Valentine’s Day chocolate treats. The Chocolate Heart is not only the prettiest v-day gift you could ever possibly receive, but it is loaded full of unbelievable individual chocolates that rival any chocolate variety mix you’ve tasted.

Each chocolate is more interesting than the next. I especially love the La Flamme, which is a delicate and smooth combination of orange and soft caramel. I could eat an entire box of the Honey chocolate, which is light and perfect. But the most special of all is the Cinnamon Ginger chocolate filled with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and bittersweet ganache. Wow.

Even the exterior dark chocolate shell was deeeeelicious. The heart shell is also available in milk chocolate for those who haven’t come to realize that dark chocolate is always the best choice. (She says with a coy grin)

The second Valentine’s Day chocolate tasted is a box of  ”12 Reasons I Love You”  chocolates that was recently developed by their Maitre Chocolatier Derrick Tu Tan Pho.  It included 12 really unexpected and ingenious flavours that looked like miniature art pieces. I was almost afraid to take a bite because they were so stunning. But even I am not that reverent – because take a bite is exactly what I did. In a word: phenomenal.  The Almond Baileys flavour is subtle and fabulous.  The Mango Peppercorn has the most beautiful presentation of all and the flavour combination explode in your mouth – amazing. Really amazing. The Black Currant chocolate blends black currant with Creme de cassis and wraps it in milk chocolate for a taste that is beyond perfection.  All 12 were unbelievable – there wasn’t a single one I disliked.  I can sincerely say that I have not enjoyed a box of chocolate this much in a long time.  What a fantastic discovery. I am smitten.

Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut is apparently a veritable institution in Calgary and I can see why. But you don’t have to be an Albertan to enjoy their beautiful chocolate because they have 30 stores across Canada, 2 in the US and even distribute to Japan. And you can always shop on their website (which I will – again and again).

This Valentines Day I am declaring my chocolatey crush on Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut.  I fell in love them even more when I learned they are big charitable supporters in their community donating especially towards charities that support children and women’s health and educational programs. It’s just like an amazing Canadian chocolatier to have a heart too…

~ Sandra

But in the eagerness to share exciting chocolaty discoveries, we sometimes neglect our old favourites. I’ve never taken the time to really think about what is my tried-and-true chocolate companion.

When I sat down to consider the options for my number one favourite chocolate it was an impossible task. If I am thinking of handcrafted, artisan chocolate then I sincerely could never narrow it down. I’d have a list long enough to make the Oscars a 14 day long broadcast. But if I take more of a “People’s Choice Awards” approach to  picking my go-to-every-day-easy-accessible-affordable-standby and, if I am really honest, then it’s no contest at all.

My secret guilty pleasure is Lindt’s Sea Salt Dark Chocolate bar.

While the Swiss are known best for their mass-produced milk chocolate – their dark chocolate is definitely worth writing home about too.

Before salted chocolate became trendy and was being added to every confectioner’s line up, years ago Lindt introduced their incredible Sea Salt bar.

It’s the perfect combination of bitter and salt and sweet. It is smooth – but not too smooth and has an unexpected finish.

I have been responsible for getting more than one friend addicted to this bar. I am a bit of a sea salt pusher it would seem. What I love most is that it’s the perfect impulse purchase because I can spot it in nearly every grocery store or drug store in Canada.

It’s also the kind of chocolate you can take your time eating while still feeling like you’ve had an indulgent fix.  I’ll nibble on a square and then tuck away the rest for later. It’s a bit strong for my 10-year-old so I never need to share. I don’t think it gets any more perfect than that.

It’s not my only impulse chocolate but it has admittedly been my consistent choice for a long time.  In fact, I think I’ll run out and get one now ….

What is your fav everyday chocolate?

~ Sandra 

But we also know that we have a responsibility shine a light on some of the less “fun” sides of chocolate. Like many industries, chocolate production can be plagued with complex issues and practices that we shouldn’t ignore.

At Blog Chocolate we’ve not yet spoken at length about one of the most important, ugly, hidden truths about the chocolate industry – child slavery. We wanted to change that and share with you that CNN has produced what looks like a stirring documentary that premiers tonight (Friday, January 20th, 2012). It will make us all think carefully about our chocolate consumption and consider how we can be part of the solution.

Check out a short clip from this thought- provoking documentary about 10-year-old Abdul (who is the same age as my son) … Chocolate’s Child Slaves

I plan to tune in tonight. And I hope you will too.

~Sandra

To that end, let me share with you my super chocolate-filled weekend. It was my eldest son’s 7th birthday and we held a party for him with his closest friends. Now, he’s not your average sport-o type boy child. He didn’t want to play laser tag, hockey or go sledding. He’s not old enough for video games and too scared to watch most movies. He’d much rather have something like a cooking party, but we’ve “done that before” and we can’t do that again (God forbid).

Well, all I can say is thank goodness for Google. I did a search on kids cooking parties and came across Chocolate Tales – a company that does chocolate making parties. A party where you get to make – and eat – chocolate? My sweet-toothed kid was all over it. (What can I say? The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.)

The owner, David Levy, worked with me to adapt his regular birthday party program to the shorter attention-span and higher energy levels of a group of boys made up of 6 and 7 year olds. They got a short history of chocolate, made chocolate shavings, chocolate lollipops in fun animal shapes, and “tie-dyed” marshmallows. They had a truffle making contest, and learned how to shape chocolate cups with balloons. They even made chocolate lava cakes. The kids, naturally, got to “test” all the chocolate as they went. (I tested it too – afterwards – and everything was ridiculously good. High quality Belgium Chocolate. Nut-free. I *may* have eaten an embarrassing amount of leftover lava cakes all by myself…)

Sound fun, but kind of like a recipe for disaster? Nothing could have been easier. Our chocolatier arrived 45 minutes prior to the party to set up. She put down tarps and several layers of plastic tablecloths. The kids all had disposable aprons and gloves. Not a drop of chocolate got anywhere that it wasn’t supposed to (other than a few unfortunate kids’ sleeves) – and I own a couple of cream armchairs that were perilously close to the party. And at the end of it all, she cleaned up and took everything away. Easy peasy.

My experience with Chocolate Tales was seamless. They were courteous, prompt, professional and engaging. And they didn’t have the easiest crowd to please in terms of age. I would recommend them without hesitation. My son had the Chocolate Party of his dreams. And I had a lot of chocolate left over.

Really. Good. Chocolate. WIN!

~ Alyssa

Once you get into running, it’s kind of impossible not to do a race. If you’re currently running, and have never done a race, I highly recommend it. Races give your training focus and motivation. And the excitement on race day is undeniable. Races are hard, but they’re fun. The hard is what makes them good. So, you might be able to imagine my excitement when I found out there was an event that married my two favourite things: running and chocolate.

Yes, chocolate.

The Chocolate Race is held in Port Dalhousie every year at the end of August. You can do a 5K, 10K or 16.1K (10miles) run. And the aid stations provide chocolate, of course! The 5K station has a Fruit & Marshmallow Dipping Station. The 10 mile station has soft-serve ice cream. The post-race station has chocolate milk*, butter croissants with chocolate chunks, truffles and salty chocolate caramels – because “bagels are for non-believers”.

On top of the (chocolate) prizes for the winners, they have prizes for the people who finish last too. All racers get swag – this year it’s armies with the “i run 4 chocolate” logo. I’ve never tried them personally, but I think they’d be great as an extra layer in the winter, and they have a small pocket for carrying media. Plus, they have draws at the end of the race! And man, the stuff is sweet: a chocolate and white diamond heart necklace, a stainless steel heart pendant, and a year’s membership in the chocolate-a-month club.

This is my kind of race.

The only drawback to this event, is that it conflicts with my yearly “girls’ weekend”. If it wasn’t for that, I’d be signing up for this race in a heartbeat. But nothing (NOTHING!) gets in the way of the awesomest weekend with the bestest gal pals a chocolate-lovin’ gal could ever wish for. I look forward to it all year. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

So, if you’re planning on sitting on the couch this weekend eating bonbons (Um, isn’t that what everyone else does on the weekend? It’s just me?…uh..), why not get your butt to Port Dalhousie for The Chocolate Race? And while you’re at it, eat a chocolate for me, will ya? I’ll be sitting this one out. Because the only thing better than running and chocolate, are good friends.

*Pro Tip: Post race or run, forget the expensive protein drinks from the sports stores. Chocolate milk has a carb-to-protein ratio that makes it the ideal recovery drink to help rebuild and repair muscles.

~Alyssa

But I promise you that there is no one on the planet who loves chocolate more than Chloe of Chloe Chocolat in Paris. In fact, I guarantee it.  If chocolate were a city, she’d be the mayor.

My recent chocolate journey through France was extraordinary but there was one chocolate encounter that outshone all others.  It happened on our second last day in Paris when we, quite by accident, stumbled upon the this charming store front and met Chloe.

I thought this would be “just” another exquisite chocolate shoppe – I had no idea I was about to meet the most passionate, enthusiastic chocoholic of them all.  Chloe is not a chocolate maker. She is a chocolate ambassador, a chocolate champion, a chocolate connoisseur.

She very well may have the most coveted job in the world as she has gone from being a chocolate buyer for a prestigious department store in the UK to being one of the most sought-after chocolate experts who consults with chocolatiers on how to perfect their chocolate, speaks all over the world about her passion for chocolate and in her quaint shop in Paris she is a focused chocolate educator. Basically, all day every day she thinks about chocolate, talks about chocolate and tastes chocolate. I wish I’d discovered her earlier in our trip to participate in one of her chocolate classes and join her on a tour of Paris’ very best chocolate.

This is a woman who has a contagious excitement for chocolate that is unparalleled. And she’s generous, oh so generous, with her vast knowledge of her beloved subject.  We spent so much time with her where she coached us through a tasting of all of her favourites. Some might call Chloe a chocolate snob – but it would be accused with the greatest of affection.

One of the first things she said was “white chocolate is not real chocolate” and at that moment it was that all I could do to not to kiss her at the recognition of a kindred spirit.  She believes that real chocolate lovers enjoy chocolate in a pure bar form – not filled chocolates or truffles. Those are candy chocolate – often amazing candy but not for the purist.  She told us she tastes chocolate every morning at 6am while her palette is the cleanest.  And she talked at length about where in the world the very best beans worthy of the very best chocolate are found.  She shared the chocolate is best paired with tea and never with coffee (something I’ve always loved but thought I was alone on) because the coffee flavour overpowers the chocolate.

Chloe Chocolate puts her name on only one milk and one dark chocolate (the smoothest dark chocolate you can imagine) and she sells them along side the perfect tea pairings.  It will ruin you for all other chocolate. I bought so much that we went over the weight limit on our suitcases at the airport.

But she does make one exception and carries a special line of dark chocolate from Bolivia which she helped them develop and perfect. She takes none of the profit from the bars and sends everything back to Bolivia.  My favourite was the Fine Dark which may be the most incredible chocolate I have ever put in my mouth.  She helped them with a really special coffee infused chocolate – to help those who insist on pairing coffee with this instead.

So it’s glaringly obvious I am smitten with Chloe’s chocolate-centric life and absolutely enjoyed meeting her.  It was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  I even bought her book. And while it’s not a literary masterpiece and reviews on it are on both ends of the spectrum, what I love about it is her unabashed charming approach that reads exactly like she speaks.  Take the very first page of the Acknowledgements for example …

“I want to thank my dear friend chocolate, who has been my best friend (sometimes a she, sometimes a he), my companion for more than 25 years and the source of much of my joy. As with people there are the good and the bad chocolates, the elegant and the vulgar, the honest and the cheats, and the jewels you keep as close to you as possible for the rest of your life. My best friend chocolate is always there for me, supporting me even when things go wrong.”

And there is no question that chocolate is Chloe’s best friend. And I was grateful that she introduced me to that friend and for the brief time I spent with her as she illuminated her vision of a world of artisanal fine chocolate.

If you are ever in Paris you must meet the larger-than-life Chloe Chocolat.

~ Sandra

Enroute to our favourite pâtisserie in Cannes for chocolate croissants.

Recently, I was lucky enough to enjoy two glorious weeks touring throughout France with my family.  We ate chocolate croissants for breakfast. Every. Single. Day.

And in each city and town we visited, I made it a priority to seek out a local chocolatier.

I savoured some wonderful chocolate, befriended interesting chocolate enthusiasts and enjoyed every delicious moment of the trip.

Eating chocolate in a park overlooking the French Riviera = bliss.

 We spent our first week in Cannes and discovered more than one special chocolate shoppe.  The very best, without hesitation, was Jean Luc Pele.  You are first drawn in by the colourful macaroons (my favs were flavoured with champagne - of course).  Once inside, you can’t help but stay for an array of mouth-watering milk and dark chocolate.  The staff were so lovely and when we returned a few days later, they remembered us and we were treated like family.

Their perfumed meringue candy was his favourite.

Also in Cannes was Shies.  They clearly cater to a more upscale clientele and were anything but hospitable.  The chocolate was extraordinarily expensive (a small box for more than 100 euros!) and the service was absent.  In fact, the staff were brisk, cold and noticeably irritated that I dare bring a child into their shop.  The dark chocolate wafers that we purchased (one of the few budget friendly chocolates) were, admittedly, delicious. But they were not nearly as good as any of the other chocolate I tasted throughout France.  Someone should write a memo to the jet-set crowd that this is one instance when you are most definitely not getting what you pay for.

Ahhh Monaco....

We also spent a spectacular day meandering through Monaco and Monte Carlo and were delighted to stumble upon the Chocolaterie de Monaco.  Since 1920 they’ve been dazzling locals and tourists with their phenomenal chocolate. The location is charming and the store’s aroma captivating. Although they did have some verrrry expensive selections, unlike Shies, the price was warranted and there were also a host of options for every budget.  We chose some amazing milk chocolate squares that had a hint of cayenne to tease the palette.  Perfection.

Paris = the city of love and chocolate.

In Paris there was no shortage of chocolatey options.  The first we visited was the famous La Maison du Chocolat. It was impossible to miss it with locations all over the city and I am glad we stopped by. We chose a gorgeous box of filled chocolates – each more awe-inspiring than the next.  These were the kind of chocolates you must devour in one sitting. A fabulous treat after a long day of walking the streets of one of the world’s most stunning cities.

All the chocolate we tasted was incredible and I positively enjoyed being a chocolate-tourist on a quest to discover the best chocolate each locale had to offer.  And I did, indeed, find the best.  In fact, I spent an hour in chocolate heaven at the fifth and final chocolate destination of our travels.  There, I met the quintessential chocolate connoisseur and had a chocolate tasting like no other.  It almost defied words.  This experience deserves a whole post in itself so I shall leave you waiting just a bit longer to hear all about it.

For now I bid you au revoir.  Stay tuned for the chocolate discovery that very well may have changed my life…

Vive la France!

~Sandra

Now, I don’t know where y’all live, but sufferin’ succotash, it’s been hot as Hades ’round these parts for the past couple of weeks. The kind of hot where you get out of the shower and immediately start sweating. It’s been nasty. And in that kind of heat, even a die hard chocoholic like myself tends to lay off the regular chocolately fare a bit. I find myself downing mocha frappucinos and chocolate popsicles instead. But when The East India Company sent us their sea salt and milk chocolate bar to try…well…a girl’s gotta eat, right?

The bar looks very elegant, as is befitting the image of a company with such a rich history. The milk chocolate is lovely and smooth, with just a hint of sea salt. It’s a quality bar, but to be perfectly honest, I prefer my sea salt paired with dark chocolate, not milk. I am loathe to admit that because I am the Champion of Milk Chocolate. I almost always prefer it to it’s darker companion. To me, though, this pairing falls short.

I am, however, VERY curious to try some of the other products that the company has on offer, so if you have a moment, do check out their website. Milk chocolate enrobed latte beans? Milk chocolate enrobed raspberries? Those are right up my alley. They also have some very intriguing looking chocolate boxes.

All right, lovelies. I’m going to try to peel myself of my chair now and find some ice to pour down my shirt. (Isn’t that a lovely picture to leave you with…?) As you were.

~Alyssa