Monday's Question of the Day - February 13, 2017

[MoochNNoodles]

 
If I weren't diabetic and overweight, I'd snatch up a sale box tomorrow or the next day. I like the cream centers and truffles the best. We have two specialty chocolate stores in my little town - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Le Chocolat. Rocky Mountain chocolates are made, guess where, in Colorado and are delicious. Le Chocolat makes its own chocolates, and they are out of the world - both in taste and in price. One or two pieces are all I can buy, but each piece is three times the size of a Whitman's.

We had a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory not too far from here. I'd go down that way to shop and bring home a few truffles.  The rum truffle was my favorite.  It closed a couple years ago I think. 

  I don't think we have any other specialty chocolate shops in the area or within driving distance.  Man; if DH could go there for a box of truffles I'd be in heeeeavvvveeennnn!  

 

 
Yes, Guylain and I approve  

I love those seashells! 

I need to keep an eye out for those in stores.  If I find some I'll have to get them to check to be really really sure they are the chocolates I remember.  I won't make my poor family participate in my taste test quest.  I'm sure I can manage it alone. 

 

 

[Norachan]

I'm not really a big chocolate fan. I like very dark, very bitter 75% or higher cacao chocolate, but even that is only very occasionally.

 

[Kat0121]

 
Happy Valentine's Day Eve.  Discount chocolate is only 2 days away! 

Do you enjoy the boxed assorted chocolates?  There are various brands but around here Russel Stover still seems to be the most popular.  Whitmans, Hershey's and other companies have their versions.  

I enjoy them to an extent.  I don't care for like the orange or cherry cream kinds. But truffles and butter creams are good.  Whenever we get a box DH and I just eat it in order from least to most favorite. 

  This year instead I got DH 2 bags of Reeces Peanut Butter Cups.  He often gets me Lindt Lindor Truffles or Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates for my birthday or mother's day.  But Valentine's day he might still get a nice boxed heart.  I don't mind either way.  I've been avoiding caffeine; including whats found in chocolate.  So I'm not sure if he's thought of something different or if I'll just have to savor whatever he found.  Whatever it was; it fit in his coat as he walked out the opposite door from me at Walmart yesterday.  

 I just told him what bag he wasn't allowed to look in! 

When I was a kid, we always got my maternal Grandma Russel Stover nuts and chewies for pretty much everything. She adored them. 

I am a chocolate snob. I HATE mass produced American chocolate like Hersheys, Nestles and Mars. I'd rather have nothing. They changed their products over the years using cheaper ingredients and you can taste it. It's not worth the calories anymore.  Cadbury's is even worse IMO but that may be just what they sell here. 

I like high quality imported dark chocolate. 

I remember Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory from when we lived in Colorado. I used to get DH their white chocolate. He loved it.  If I remember correctly, they had a shop in the Aurora Mall. I have no idea if it's still there as we left in 2002. 

There was a Russell Stover outlet store in Denver near where I worked before we moved. We would often go at lunch time after a holiday to see what they had on sale. I don't think it's there anymore either

So to get back to the original question, no I do not buy those boxes. What do I have at home right now though? THESE! They are decadent. I can only eat one at a time. 

 

[di and bob]

I enjoy a box of chocolates way too much, but especially when they are ALL caramel. Pot Of Gold has them, those are my favorites, otherwise I take all the 'square' ones out of assorted, because those are my favorite caramels!

 

[denice]

Of the national brands I prefer Russell Stover assortment.  There are some centers that I prefer but I like all of theirs.  I haven't had Whitman's in a long time but they used to have a jelly center that I didn't like.  There is a chain in this part of Ohio called Ester Price that is actually my preference.  I love all of the centers in that assortment.  They also have the choice of all milk, half and half or all dark.  They also have stores where they will make a custom assortment.  The closest stores are in Dayton or Cincinnati though.  I used to live in Dayton but since moving to Columbus I haven't been to a store.

 

[Primula]

Cadbury's is even worse IMO but that may be just what they sell here. 

https://www.amazon.com/Sanders-Chocolate-Caramels-Ounce-Container/dp/B008VU0CZE/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487071902&sr=8-2&keywords=dark+chocolate+caramel+sea+salt

Kate, I agree. Cadbury's is better in the U.K. Much smoother & creamier. If you buy it, best to have it imported from the U.K. So tempted to put those Sanders in my wish list. Just my cup of tea.

I enjoy a box of chocolates way too much, but especially when they are ALL caramel. Pot Of Gold has them, those are my favorites, otherwise I take all the 'square' ones out of assorted, because those are my favorite caramels!

Di, you & me would fight over the ones with corners. Totally my faves.

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

i don't do chocolate, or anything with caffeine in it. so, no boxed chocolates here.

however, i love carob. i have carob chips as well as carob powder -- both bought in bulk, at great prices. i've never thought about making carob 'chocolates' or bars until now. 

  i'm sure there are recipes online for making them.

way, waaaaayyyy back many years ago, there was (and may still be) a great handmade candies and nuts shop just below the New York State capital building, in Albany. i used to stop in there now and then as a young adult, and found out that my dad had stopped in there on a semi regular basis when he worked in Albany, near the shop. small world......

 

[AbbysMom]

I admit to being a chocolate snob. I dislike the lower end brands. They taste overly sugary to me.  Plus I prefer dark chocolate anyway and most of the boxes are heavy on the milk chocolate.  Dislike all the mentioned brands - I can easily pass them up.  Last time there was boxed chocolate at home it lasted eons.

Caveat - I am not too proud for Halloween candy now and then, although the leftovers last a long time too. It can take months to finish off what the kids didn't grab.

Another

We were just away for a week and the Inn we were at left a box of truffles from this place in our room for Valentine's Day.

https://www.blackdinahchocolatiers.com/

They were really good.

I also discovered this place when in Napa and the chocolate was amazing -

http://www.kollarchocolates.com/

 

[sivyaleah]

Another

We were just away for a week and the Inn we were at left a box of truffles from this place in our room for Valentine's Day.

https://www.blackdinahchocolatiers.com/

They were really good.

I also discovered this place when in Napa and the chocolate was amazing -

http://www.kollarchocolates.com/

Those look yummy!

A couple of my favs - one local and the other nationwide

http://www.li-lacchocolates.com/

https://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

FYI Vosges is remarkable. Many are not for everyone, but I can attest that even the most odd combinations are fantastic. I think I've tried most of them by now.  

Also as far as easily found very good chocolate this is our go-to.  It can be easily found in supermarkets and is very high quality:

http://www.lindtusa.com/shop/a-touch-of-sea-salt-excellence-bar

Last - we shared a small box of Godiva assortments on Valentine's Day.  Also extremely good easy to find treat.

 

[AbbysMom]

Those look yummy!

A couple of my favs - one local and the other nationwide

http://www.li-lacchocolates.com/

https://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

FYI Vosges is remarkable. Many are not for everyone, but I can attest that even the most odd combinations are fantastic. I think I've tried most of them by now.  

Also as far as easily found very good chocolate this is our go-to.  It can be easily found in supermarkets and is very high quality:

http://www.lindtusa.com/shop/a-touch-of-sea-salt-excellence-bar

Last - we shared a small box of Godiva assortments on Valentine's Day.  Also extremely good easy to find treat.

I've definitely had the Lindt before, but I'' have to check out the others. :nod: