All right, with deepest regrets, I have come to the conclusion that Dove chocolate is no longer acceptable. It was my de facto pretty good chocolate, but sometime in the last six months or so (I think), they've changed their recipe so that it is no longer as silky smooth. Also, the dark chocolate is slightly more bitter. So now I no longer know what to do. I'm pretty sure there is no acceptable chocolate available at a regular grocery store. Where do you go to get good chocolate in the continental United States?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Really? What a pain. What I like is Trader Joe's Belgium chocolate bars which are cheap, but yummy. You get three of them too. I'm going to get some sometime this week I think. Plus they have other brands that are good too. Whole foods might have some good stuff as well, but it will charge a ton of money
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I second the Trader Joe's chocolate recommendation, but I'm a milk chocolate fan so I can't speak for the quality of the dark. I also like Lindt chocolate bars, which you can get at the grocery store.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Their dark is good. Smooth. Creamy. Just a hint of bitter, not too sour like some Dark chocolates can be. Good texture.
I really want some now.
Posted by C3PO the Dragon Slayer (Member # 10416) on :
I second (third?) the Lindt brand.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Behind British Cadbury's (most definately not to be confused with Canadian or American Cadbury's-- the latter of which can be Hershey's in disguise!), Lindt is my favourite grocery store available brand.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Lindt truffles are creamy goodness.... Dark chocolate ones.
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Christine: All right, with deepest regrets, I have come to the conclusion that Dove chocolate is no longer acceptable. It was my de facto pretty good chocolate, but sometime in the last six months or so (I think), they've changed their recipe so that it is no longer as silky smooth. Also, the dark chocolate is slightly more bitter. So now I no longer know what to do. I'm pretty sure there is no acceptable chocolate available at a regular grocery store. Where do you go to get good chocolate in the continental United States?
Hershey bars.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
I'd noticed a problem with Dove recently too. There also used to be a Choxie bar I really liked at Target and it's gone.
Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
I quite like the Nestle Treasures Renew bar. Not silky smooth, though; it's got these tiny crunchy cocoa bits that give it texture... (Sorry, Lisa and Rivka; it's not certified kosher.)
Otherwise, how about Ghirardelli?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shmuel: I quite like the Nestle Treasures Renew bar. Not silky smooth, though; it's got these tiny crunchy cocoa bits that give it texture... (Sorry, Lisa and Rivka; it's not certified kosher.)
Their cocoa powder is the only thing I used for my special cocoa. Unless I don't have enough money for it. Then I have to use the cheap stuff. But it's really good. It has this nice kind of high taste about it. Plus the chocolate chips are the best. I won't use anything else for my cookies.
There are also School Boy Biscuits to consider.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
All right, I'm going to the grocery store today and will check out the ones you mentioned. (Well, except Hershey's -- EWWWWWWW!!!)
quote:Originally posted by Shmuel: Otherwise, how about Ghirardelli?
I use their chocolate chips but was under the impression that they were better at baking chocolate than candy.
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Do you get Green and Black's over there? That's good chocolate, but I don't know if you can get it Stateside. Someone sent me a bar of Vosges chilli and cinnamon chocolate from the States and that was yummy, I think they do a whole range - and you can't get it here in the UK.
I'm off chocolate at the moment because it's a vertigo trigger, so this thread is probably not a good place to linger lol!
Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
quote:Originally posted by Christine: I use their chocolate chips but was under the impression that they were better at baking chocolate than candy.
I used to love their orange-creme-filled chocolate squares. Then they stopped making that variety. [sigh]
When I visited Ghirardelli Square a few years ago, I complained about that. They said I wasn't the first to do so, but that they just hadn't been popular enough in general. Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
All right, I found the Lihdt chocolate and the Giradelli. That's about all our store had in the premium chocolate section -- everything else was Russell Stovers, Hersheys, or Nestle. So we got a couple of bars and sampled them at lunchtime.
The Lindt dark chocolate was not good. It was bitter and harsh, everything I used to think defined dark chocolate until I sampled good dark chocolate.
The Lindt double milk chocolate gave me a sugar headache, though it was yummy.
The Giradelli milk chocolate was decent. We apparently missed their dark chocolate so I don't know about that one.
I'm going to have to keep looking, I think.
Posted by Jamio (Member # 12053) on :
Did you try Lindt dark chocolate bars, or the truffles? Because if you want creamy, then you want the truffles.
Posted by Traceria (Member # 11820) on :
quote:Originally posted by amira tharani: Do you get Green and Black's over there? That's good chocolate, but I don't know if you can get it Stateside. Someone sent me a bar of Vosges chilli and cinnamon chocolate from the States and that was yummy, I think they do a whole range - and you can't get it here in the UK.
I have had Vosges and have been slowly nibbling away at the one remaining bar I have of their Black Pearl for going on two years. Yes, two years. First, they're expensive. Second, as far as I know, you can only get them in Chicago or by ordering and having them shipped out in a package containing dry ice. I kid you not. Are they worth it? Yeah, under the right circumstances. Would I buy them all the time through such means? Nope, as is evidenced by the almost two-year-old bar in my refrigerator. They're certainly not easily acquired.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
I second the Green and Black's. So smooth. Most of my favorite chocolates are local though.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Traceria, I'm not sure what part of the country you live in, but you can get Vosges bars in both Minneapolis, MN and in Cincinnati, OH. I imagine that they're available in a number of other cities as well, but those are the only two in which I've purchased them.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Is there a See's near you? I don't even know if they make solid chocolates, but they're a good assortment option.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
They make bars but I don't think they make "solid chocolate" other than the balls and shapes and other variety things sold for various holidays. I like them but a lot of people complain they're "too sweet."
I love Trader Joe's (they have a Belgian truffle bar that is TO DIE FOR), Lindt (I like Lindor) and, well, I'm not a chocolate snob. I eat whatever. I like Cadbury's Fruit and Nut, for instance...
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
Tootsie rolls.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
It's possible to get Green and Black here, but I must admit, I wasn't overly fond of it. The milk chocolate was waxy and the dark was just so-so. It didn't POP! with flavor like I'd hoped it would, especially at that price. But hey, that's just me. :]
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Aiua, you missed a trick if you didn't try the Maya Gold. That's their signature bar and by far their best. I've had better milk chocolate, I agree with you, but I like their dark a lot.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
You're right, I haven't. But I'm not one to pass up a chocolate recommendation, so I'll look for it next time I'm at the store!
Posted by Traceria (Member # 11820) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: Traceria, I'm not sure what part of the country you live in, but you can get Vosges bars in both Minneapolis, MN and in Cincinnati, OH. I imagine that they're available in a number of other cities as well, but those are the only two in which I've purchased them.
I'm in Maryland, and I could only take a guess at Chicago simply because I have friends who have been to that particular location. The find a vendor search on their site didn't bring up any results when I put in my own zipcode. It simply wasn't worth trying other zips around the country to investigate further. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
If I recall correctly, entering my own zip didn't turn anything up when I was exploring their site a while back, despite the fact that I knew of at least one retailer who carried their stuff. There's still hope!
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Once in a while, I find it in some retail stores here in the Detroit area, but it is a specialty item, a German import. It is not common, or cheap. I believe they add crushed hazelnut to the chocolate, but it is creamy smoothe, truly melt-in-your-mouth. That means they don't put any carnauba wax in it, like Hersheys, Nestles, etc., all put in their chocolate products. On carnauba wax as an ingredient in chocolate, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissables
Here is a list of ingredients in the Moritz Ice Cubes I found:
I wonder what "natural flavor" means. Maybe vanilla bean?
[ June 03, 2009, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Ron Lambert ]
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I'm put off by the partially hydrogenated soy bean oil I have a recipe for truffles that if I could remember would knock people's socks right off. Only it looks gross.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Synesthesia, if you're referring to the Moritz Ice Cubes, that's coconut oil, not soy bean oil.
Lindt's chocolate truffles are also very good, for a heavier chocolate taste.
Maybe what some of us really want but won't admit it is chocolate cake icing. Lindt's truffles are a little like that encased in a shell of regular chocolate candy.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I know, but it's still hydrogenated oils. Now, my truffle recipe though, that's super bad for everyone. Heavy cream. Chocolate. Butter. It's heavenly though. I love the smoothness of Lindt dark chocolate truffles.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Synesthesia, are you saying you want something healthful? We are talking about chocolate, right?
At least Moritz Ice Cubes have soy flour in them. That makes them a little healthful, doesn't it?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Well... Chocolate is kind of healthy. Antioxidants and all of that, but the Chocolate Industry could have made that up. Like I need incentive to eat more chocolate.
But, yeah, my truffles I haven't made in ages are a bucket of unhealthy. But less unhealthy than transfat?!
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Fat isn't necessarily unhealthy. Certainly if you have a weight problem or a high cholesterol problem, fats are likely to make them worse. But if you have those things undercontrol, there is no reason to think fats are unhealthy.
Posted by Jamio (Member # 12053) on :
quote:Originally posted by Synesthesia: I know, but it's still hydrogenated oils. Now, my truffle recipe though, that's super bad for everyone. Heavy cream. Chocolate. Butter. It's heavenly though.
We wants it.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Yes, Smeagal. But don't let Gollum have it. He'll eat it all! (It's not Hobbit food.)
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
My sister brought me some chocolate from Belgium (where she lives) and I had no idea chocolate could be that good. It was awesome and nothing here will ever taste the same again to me.
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I like Cadbury's Fruit and Nut, for instance...
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