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Chocolate

Chocolate for Baking - by America's Test Kitchen

America's Test Kitchen just recently tested chocolates in preparation for our holiday baking.   Here are their Test Kitchen winners--

• Unsweetened Chocolate - Scharffen Berger Unsweetened Chocolate
• Cocoa Powder - Callebaut Cocoa Powder
• Bittersweet/Semisweet Chocolate - Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate
• Chocolate Chips - Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Chips & Nestle Semisweet Chocolate Chunks

via Cook's Illustrated

Give a Cook's Illustrated Gift Subscription this holiday season.

Gourmet Chocolate Bars with Classic Creme Fillings

Chocolate Bar NYC introduces Retro Chocolate Bars made with their finest gourmet chocolate and filled with flavors inspired by "broadwalk candy stores".  Creme flavors include Salted Pretzel, Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Caramel, Coconut Cream Pie, Malted Milk, Caramel Apple, and Raspberry Jam.  Available individually or in a chocolate gift box.

Purchase Retro Chocolate Bars directly from their website at ChocolateBarNYC.com.

via Wallpaper.com

Homemade Pumpkin Creme Marshmallows from Pete's Gourmet

Pete's Gourmet Marshmallows, called by Bon Appetit "a modern miracle", adds a seasonal twist to their marshmallows.  Give a box of pumpkin creme marshmallows covered with white and dark chocolate this Halloween.

Pumpkin Creme Marshmallows  |  $19 at Pete's Gourmet

Chocolate Fondue Fountain for Holiday Parties

Wow your guests with your own chocolate fondue fountain!  Perfect for holiday celebrations, birthdays, weddings, and turning any party into a memorable one.  Be careful - your friends might want to borrow it for their parties too.

Chocolate Fondue Fountain
$69 at Chef's Depot

Sephra Chocolate Fountain
$249 at Chef's Depot

Halloween Brownies by Fat Witch

Just in time for Halloween, give the Fat Witch Brownie Gift Tin made in NY.  Fat Witch brownies were chosen by Oprah in 2002 as one of her Favorite Things.  This chocolate gift tin includes 27 brownies in dark bittersweet, chocolate walnut, and blonde chocolate chip.

Brownie Gift Tin  |  $39 direct from Fat Witch Bakery  |  888-41-WITCH

Gourmet Chocolate Market Growing

The gourmet chocolate market has mostly been the realm of smaller chocolate  makers who have mushroomed from just 250 manufacturers to over 1000 today.  With such a demand, the market has become big enough to attract the attention of the big boys.  Watch out here comes Hershey, Mars, and Godiva with recent moves to get their piece of the gourmet chocolate pie.

Read "Chocolate makers target consumers' sweet spot" via USAToday

Read More:  Chocolate  |  All Things Wine

Dark Chocolate--Good for the Heart Says Researchers

FOOD SCIENCE: Some research suggests that the flavonoids found in dark chocolate may produce beneficial cardiovascular effects, much like those found in green and red fruits and vegetables, red wine and green tea.

Move over milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is commandeering real estate in the candy aisle, quite pleased with its deep, dark self.

It's not just pricey imported chocolate bars taking up shelf space and boasting how dark they are. Take a look at the dark chocolate M&M's and dark Hershey's Kisses.

There's method to this darkness. It just so happens that researchers recently have focused on the potential health benefits of dark chocolate, which ultimately could translate into ... cha-ching. In fact, candymakers are reporting an increased demand for the biting taste of dark chocolate.

So far, candy packaging doesn't claim such benefits, but some labels now billboard the candy's "percent cocoa" content -- 50, 60, 70 percent. That's because the higher the cocoa content, nutrition researchers say, the better.

Read "Heart-healthier Dark Chocolate Gains Shelf Space in Stores" (via DuluthNewsTribune.com)
More "Sweet! Study says dark chocolate has benefits" (via CNN)

Related article:  Chocolate Lovers' Websites 2005

 

Chocolate Lover's Websites - Best of Web 2005

From praline truffles to white raspberry ganaches, you'll find lots of luscious artisanal chocolate to ogle over on the Web. Sophisticated French and British sites boast white-glove service and mahogany boxes, while U.S. master chocolatiers like Scharffen Berger round out its scrumptious offerings with things like chocolate lip balm and in-depth white papers on the art of chocolate-making. Aficionados should bookmark Chocophile.com, a news, review and discussion site whose stated mission is to elevate the awareness and appreciation of chocolate on a par with that of wine. --Constance Gustke

• zChocolat.com
• Chocolate Trading Company
• Chocosphere.com
• Godiva
• Hotel Chocolat
• Scharffen Berger.com
• Chocoholic.com
• Gourmet Chocolate Club of the Month

Via:  Forbes.com Best of Web

Holiday Gift: Richart Chocolate Introduces a Chocolate Vault

French chocolate maker, Richart, introduced a burlwood chocolate vault with temperature and humidity gauges for the perfect storage of their chocolates.  "Chocolate is very absorbent.  The same air will be circulating around onions!," says John Scharffenberger of Richart.  Makes sense to us.  Coming with 112 pieces of chocolate at $750, is this decadence at its best?

Visit RICHART Chocolate online.

MarieBelle Chocolates - Food as Art

Tucked in a small shop in New York's Soho District, MarieBelle has developed a loyal following who probably buy their chocolates as much for how they look and packaged as how the chocolate tastes.  A great gift idea for the holiday season, MarieBelle offers beautifully packaged hot chocolate gift tins and boxed chocolate sets.  Shop at the MarieBelle website.

Delicious Chocolate Recipes from France

One of foodie readers' favorite blogs might be ChocolateandZucchini.com, and we love their Chocolate is My Friend archives. These aren't your usual chocolate dessert recipes, but ones that remind us of eating great desserts on our trip to France last year. If you're looking for a cultural twist on a chocolate recipe, then pick one here. Our favorite is the Apricot & Ginger Chocolate Cake. Even if you're not in the mood to cook, blog writer, Chotilde, is a joy to read.

K Sensual Chocolates for Valentines

K Sensual Chocolate Bonbons are filled with a blend of Chinese herbs specially mixed to stir the passions in women. Perfect for your special Valentine's loved one.

Available thru their website.

Foodie Gift Idea: Chocolate Candies with a Spicy Kick

Cowgirl Chocolates features handmade chocolates with a unique spicy kick. These award winning chocolates are the creation of founder Marilyn Lysohir, and come in a selection of truffles and truffle bars with flavors like Spicy Lime Tequila, Spicy Peanut Butter, Spicy Mild Chocolate Mint, and Spicy Orange Espresso. Packed in unique gift bags, boxes, tins, and baskets, this could make an ideal gift choice for the adventurous chocolate lover.