January 15, 2008
Sweets for your sweetie
Yesterday, I received a press package from Choclatique gourmet chocolates. Included was a box of four chocolates, but when I lifted the lid, there remained only one.
I don't know who broke into the box and left three brown, crinkly papers where three lovely chocolates should have been. But that someone certainly satisfied a sweet tooth.
I finished off the last chocolate, which was stuffed with peanut butter and jelly, then looked through the informational pamphlet. Inside was an image of each of their 75 signature chocolates, and I was struck by their beauty.
Every flavor, from All-American Apple Pie to Grand Marnier Truffle to Minty Julep Heart, is unique in appearance. The Hot Fudge Sundae looks like a little white truffle topped with chocolate and a cherry and the Colombian Coffee Caramel is shaped like a coffee bean.
According to the Choclatique Web site, you can order a pre-chosen assortment, such as the Love Assortment (which includes all of their heart-chaped chocolates) or you can custom-design your own box. Prices range from $16 for a box of 8 to $45 for a box of 30. Not cheap, I know, but not like any other Valentine's Day gift you can find for your sweetie around these parts, either.
I would like to say that I know all the Choclatique flavors are exquisite, but thanks to some unknown person, I can only vouch for the peanut butter and jelly flavor.
To see all of the lovely designs for yourself and to play around with the custom ordering tool, check out the Choclatique site by clicking the link above.
Do you have a favorite brand of chocolates?
Photo: http://www.choclatique.com/
Comments
[January 15, 2008 2:40 PM]
AmandaI really like NewTree chocolate bars in hte Blackcurrant Cassis with dark chocolate! YUM. You can get these and lots of other YUMMY truffles and chocolates at chocolatepaper.
[January 15, 2008 2:46 PM]
Beachocolatepaper right here in Roanoke has many of the same flavors and many other very cool ones!! Well worth the trip down the street and they have great gift wrapping and cards so it is one stop shopping!!!
www.chocolatepaperroanoke.com
3260-505 Electric Road (The Shops at Springwood)
[January 15, 2008 3:13 PM]
KimAny chocolate from Holland or Belgium! The quality, texture and flavor of those chocolates is extraordinary!!
[January 15, 2008 3:48 PM]
DylanThe Chocolate Paper store on Electric Road has some unique chocolates if you're looking for something locally. I've bought a couple gifts there before. And they have amazingly over priced chocolate(see,$2 apiece)as well as some more inexpensive ones.
[January 15, 2008 4:49 PM]
Nona : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/thehappywag/I swear it wasn't me. I would have been in a much better mood yesterday if I had found some gourmet chocolates in the mail.
The Columbian Coffee Carmel sounds like heaven.
[January 15, 2008 5:10 PM]
Lindsey : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/Looks like we all need to head over to ChocolatePaper before Valentine's Day! Kim, speaking of those Belgian and Dutch chocolates, when am I gonna get some more? I think I've about worked my way through the Christmas ones ;-)
[January 15, 2008 5:57 PM]
MattI saw chocolatepaper has heart-shaped truffles in for Valentine's Day! Hand painted in several flavors for $1 and change or the giant ones from Joseph Schmidt at $2 and a quarter. Well worth it! They look like art!
[January 15, 2008 8:01 PM]
kimI'll add you to the list of those requesting another delivery and see what I can do. Somehow, I think there may be more Dutch chocolate in your future if you're good!!!
[January 16, 2008 10:32 AM]
Lindsey : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/Kim, I'm always good. I liked the ones that tasted like they had honey inside. Those were fan-tabulous!
[January 16, 2008 3:12 PM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comI have fallen in love with Norman Love chocolates. He does a line through Godiva every Valentine's Day titled the "G Collection."
Here's the website for Godiva: http://www.godiva.com/catalog/collections.aspx?id=104&WT.ad=AM_G
and here is the website for Norman Love: http://www.normanloveconfections.com/
Ever since indulging in these chocolates, I cannot go back to the Hersheys brand (even Special Dark). It just isn't the same!
[January 16, 2008 6:42 PM]
Julie PuuriYou cannot go wrong with the Joseph Schmidt truffles at chocloate Paper. I've been a fan of JS truffles for about 20 years. They are expensive, but worth the price. While usually a dark chocolate purist, I do fancy the white chocolate mushroom with dark chocolate ganache fillling. I'd much rather spend 2.25 on a good chocolate than an over-priced cup of Starbuck's; but put the 2 together and you have absolute heaven.
[January 22, 2008 2:21 PM]
AnnieOK, ok. After a substantial amount of peer pressure and some pretty incriminating evidence, I will step forward as the one who enjoyed these fantastic chocolates. Not all of them, though. And not alone.
You might be wondering if it was worth it. Well, Choclatique, you know your stuff.
[January 31, 2008 7:48 PM]
Rebecca Dillon : →http://blog.roanokefarmersmarket.comI meant to post this earlier, but the site was stalling on me that day. Better late than never I guess. Anyhow, I LOVE liquid filled chocolates. Even better, I love liquor, liquid filled chocolates. The best ones come from Quintessential Chocolates Co. in Fredericksburg, TX. Online at: http://www.chocolat-tx.us My favorites are the Sam Houston ™ Bourbon - which burns going down - and the Blackberry Wine. They have this great sugar shell between the liquid center and the chocolate that gives it a truly unique texture and flavor.
[March 21, 2008 3:29 PM]
Ed Engoron : →http://www.choclatique.comYou nearly drove us crazy! At Choclatique we take our chocolate seriously! After reading your review of our chocolate and the missing 3 pieces I turned into Captain Queeg of the Cane Mutiny Court Marshall or rather the Chocolate Mutiny at Charlie’s (or Ed’s) chocolate factory. Yes, I interrogated everyone from our front office to our chocolate studio personnel to our shipping department, with Zero results. I subjected all that would consent to a polygraph and yet no culprits were found. Next, I dragged in our unsuspecting UPS driver who turned out to be cleaner than a whistle this time. As the captain, Humphrey Bogart was obsessively looking for the missing strawberries in that famous film. I too was search for the missing 3 pieces of chocolate. Could we have accidently left them out? Could Wayne have taken his chocolate break (at Choclatique we don’t take coffee breaks) a little early? Had Natalie, an addicted chocoholic, fallen off the wagon—back to Chocoholics Anonymous? Had my partner, Joan, been eating up the profits once again? I was going mad and taking the staff with me until I saw the video tape on your blog. Annie, I understand… everyone is tempted to steal a little chocolate now and then, especially great chocolate. I myself was almost caught at the drug store one adolescent summer afternoon with a purloined Snickers Bar. But, it is so unnecessary. All one has to do is visit www.Choclatique.com and we can overnight our wonderful chocolate confections to anyone within sight and sound of this blog. So, please next time, don’t put us (and our chocolate artisans) through this. We’ll be happy to fill your order.
Ed Engoron, Co-Founder of Choclatique
[March 21, 2008 3:46 PM]
Lindsey : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/If Joan ever decides to quit her job, you know where to find me, Ed. Ha! Thanks for the amusing comment. Sorry we (Annie, actually. I will blame her again, especially since she went to work at another publication) nearly drove you batty!