<p>I am not allowed to eat it, but I do gift it often. And I do love it, even just the smell… ummmmmmm
They say the part of the brain that identifies and remembers smells is a powerful elicitor of memory and emotion.</p>
<p>My region is home to a good range of artisan brands, plus some new storefront boutique lines, one of the most popular middle quality brands, and one of the best known upper middle lines.</p>
<p>Do you like Swiss? English? Belgian? How dark? How sweet? Milk? Organic?
Do you like to eat it plain? Or…? </p>
<p>Which are your favorite brands? </p>
<p>Do you remember the time you had the best tasting chocolate in your life?</p>
<p>It is a stressful time for many here, so I guess I am trying to provide a happy distraction which raises opiates (and not insulin, blood sugar or other nasty things) vicariously. So join me!</p>
<p>Nice, zoosermom. I may order a gift I am currently planning from Wilbur- yummy! Too bad the websites do not have a little ODOR bar to push for a whiff…
Also good for those who celebrate Easter.</p>
<p>I don’t know that I have a favorite brand, but I do prefer milk chocolate. European chocolate has always tasted best to me, but I’m always open to being persuaded otherwise. ;)</p>
<p>I have to send my D something for Easter since she won’t be home. The Popcorn Factory has a bunny with several spare sets of ears for the people who bite off the ears first! I got a huge kick out of that.</p>
<p>For all you Trader Joe’s fans, listen to this one:</p>
<p>At Easter time (now), tj’s has 3 chocolate peanutbutter easter eggs in one box for $1.99 which is inexpensive enough, however they go on sale after Easter for $.99 per box! They are so yummy! Oh boy, I just told my secret…I hope when I go to buy them after Easter, they won’t all be gone! :D</p>
<p>I usually like milk chocolate hazelnut truffles. My H adores dark chocolate nonpariels, also from tj’s. And I love chocchipcookie’s too! :D</p>
<p>The first time I had one of those chocolate lava cakes was in Hawaii @5 1/2 years ago, at Roy’s restaurants, oh boy it was incredible. Also chocolate bread pudding in New Orleans to die for made at Commander’s Palace Restaurant where Emeril got his start.</p>
<p>I prefer dark chocolate. And I’d much rather have 1 piece of high quality chocolate than a Hershey bar. There is a local chocolatier in Nashville called the Cocoa Tree that I enjoy: [The</a> Cocoa Tree](<a href=“http://www.thecocoatree.com/]The”>http://www.thecocoatree.com/) I expect some of those for holidays ;)</p>
<p>Another specialty chocolate “boutique” I enjoy is Schakolad: [Schakolad</a> Chocolate Factory - Chocolates To Live By.](<a href="http://www.schakolad.com/They’re]Schakolad">http://www.schakolad.com/They’re) less expensive and the chocolates are smaller than Cocoa Tree, but I really like their raspberry truffles. </p>
<p>Raspberry truffles & champagne truffles are my two favorite kind.</p>
<p>See’s is my favorite fancy one. At our malls you can get a sample at the See’s store, and we hand select boxes-- so many great kinds. I also like our local Moonstruck brand. For readily available candy I really like Hershey’s milk chocolate with almonds. Giradelli’s also has bags of squares with fillings (available at Costco) that are great… sooo many choices.</p>
<p>BUT if you want to try an awesome candy bar…go to Aldi…it’s a generic brand small grocery store. They sell larger candy bars there and they are DELICIOUS. The one I like the best is a Chili Chocolate bar…has a little zip to it. VERY tasty and very reasonably priced.</p>
<p>There are a couple of local candy companies in this state and they have very good candies too. I’m a semisweet chocolate fan!</p>
<p>I like the Lindt chili too. My H and I did an impromptu taste test of a few dark chili chocolates, and the Lindt won hands down. Lindt is always creamy, even the darkest varieties - some dark chocolates are brittle and dry, which I don’t like. I’ve got to try the Aldi chili, thumper, we just had an Aldi’s open nearby.</p>
<p>A real indulgence is Vosges chocolate (anyone from Chicago?). Their salted caramel or bacon chocolate bars are unbelievable. I send my far away relatives boxes from Vosges at Christmas and I know that they look forward to the deliciousness. I just received their Easter mailing and it looks somewhat like a Van Cleef & Arpels catalog, except with chocolates in the mysterious enchanted forest.</p>
<p>See’s dark chocolate is excellent; I love the nuts & chews. My favorite chocolate confection is Niederegger marzipan from Germany coated in dark chocolate.</p>
<p>Chicago area here. Fannie May for me. Son even begged us to (and we capitulated) bring several varieties to his wedding last year in Spain. D brings them to TX for all her friends and co-workers who can’t get enough of them.</p>
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