Remember when we covered the funny Cadbury ad featuring the drumming gorilla (Cadbury gets a gorilla for its spokesperson)? If not check it out, but there is a new installment as well, this time, no gorilla, and no candy actually, but airport vehicles racing. Doesn't that scream "CANDY!" to you???
The word 'piedras' means stones in Spanish. Spanish Largueta almonds are toasted and covered in dark chocolate, then rolled in cocoa. They come in a 3.5 oz. package, holding about 12 pieces.
We're going to coin a new term here at Candy Snob - "mousse-y" - because that's the only way to accurately describe the Chocolate Mousse truffle we just ate from Ethel's Chocolate Lounge.
Its a darker mousse than what you might see in a normal chocolate mousse desert. Nor is it fluffy like typical mousse, its really more like ganache (we're not complaining!).Take the fantastic filling, and couple it with Ethel's dark chocolate coating, and you have an extremely rich piece of deliciousness.
While driving to pick up a pizza this evening, I'm listening to the Dennis Miller Radio Show, and Dennis is interviewing Tony Snow, the former White House Press Secretary and anchor at Fox News. The conversation turns to Tony's departure from his post at the White House, to which he mentioned that while he loved the job, White House staffers don't have the highest salaries, so one of the reasons he left was to make more money.
Being the good Pittsburgh boy that he is, Dennis Miller adds, "Yeah, the wife doesn't like it when you have to pay for groceries with Mallo Cup Money..."
I may not have the quote 100% correct, but that's pretty much it. Very cool, I couldn't wait to get home to tell my family.
There are few fruits, in our opinion, that make for better candy filling than figs (see our thoughts on Figamajigs here). Which is why we're enamored with these Spanish chocolate-stuff fig bonbons. They are made in the Spanish vilage of Extremadura, where they mix the figs with a blend of dark chocolate and brandy liqueur; then they hand-dipp the pieces in more dark chocolate. These juicy morsels won the Best Confection Award 2006 in the New York Fancy Food Show, BTW.
Today we're looking at the Peanut Better truffle from Ethel's "American Pop" collection. No, it is not a typo in the title, it is supposed to be "Peanut Better" not "Butter." Why? easy, because it really is better. You'll be struck by the difference in the taste - this is the real stuff, not typical processed candy peanut butter.
I remember my grandmother bringing home tubs of actual peanut butter from the Boyer Brothers factory to use in our PB&J sandwiches, and this truffle brought me back. Its a slightly gritty texture, and very gooey and sticky. And we love the milk chocolate. This might be the best peanut butter/chocolate candy we've ever had.
No, not that kind of "peep show," get your mind out of the gutter...
We mean marshmallow Peeps. More than 800 entries were submitted to the Washington Post's Sunday Source's inbox for their second annual Peeps Diorama Contest. We didn't know there was a first annual contest, but we'll be surely keeping an eye on it in the the future. Check it out.
Review: Chocolove Ginger Crystalized in Dark Chocolate
Oh how love Chocolove's Ginger Crystallized in Dark Chocolate, let me count the ways...
1. The crystalized ginger is in small, almost granular pieces. In many ginger/chocolate pieces I've had, the pieces are larger and sometimes a little chewy, which throws off the whole texture. I'm more of a "melt in your mouth" rather than a "bite and chew" chocolate eater. But with this bar, I'm compelled to chew, I think its the way to go to release the full textural and flavor experience.
2. Those same large pieces sometimes make the ginger flavor too much, it makes it unbalanced. Not so with the Chocolove bar, its pieces, because they are smaller and are crumbly, give you the nice bite on the sides of your tongue, without detracting from the chocolate.
3. Ingredients that span the globe - Australian ginger and Belgian chocolate.
4. 65% cocoa content, just the right amount to mix with another strong flavor.
5. The love poem (this comes with every Chocolove bar, but we like it anyway).
6. Two simple ingredients - dark chocolate, crystalized ginger.
7. A big bar, so you don't run out easily - it measures 6" x 3"
We love Figamajigs. So we're excited to say we've learned of the company's latest offering, an all natural, dark chocolate-covered bar with natural raspberry flavor. They've added the raspberry bars to their variety packs, and as you can see on the image above, you can get a free bag of Figamajig chocolates when you purchase the new bars by 3/31/08.
BTW - Figamajig's founder, Mel, says these raspberry fig bars are sensational frozen. We can't wait to try them.
I never thought I would be falling in love with a woman named "Ethel," but indeed it is happening. Her Gingerbread Spice Truffle comes from the "American Pop" collection and is just terrific. Its a milk chocolate truffle, and it is super-creamy. I wasn't sure about the chocolate/gingerbread combo, but both my wife and I agree that they worked unexpectedly well together. Delicious.
The day has finally arrived, one of the biggest days of the year for candy lovers...Easter! Chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, Peeps, chocolate eggs, Cadbury Creme Eggs...no matter what your favorites might be, we hope you have a glorious and candy-rific day!
New Candy Bar, Carlos V by Nestle...well...sort of...
So we were buying some office supplies at our neighborhood big box retailer, and at the checkout I saw a "Nuevo" candy bar called "Carlos V" by Nestle. "El Rey de los Chocolates" it claims (that means The King of Chocolates if you didn't figure it out). Reading the label closer, it says "Milk Chocolate Style Bar" which gave me pause, but also sealed the deal for me trying it out. I just have to know what a chocolate "style" bar is!
What's interesting is that this must just be a new bar in my market (Arizona), no doubt tapping into the Hispanic community, because the Carlos V bar is not new. In fact, it looks like its been around a long time. The one change I see is in the packaging. The wrapper I got has the weird King drawing on the opposite side of the wrapper, and it looks to be a lighter shade of red. Candy Blog reviewed this bar back in 2005, and correctly assessed the bar - sticky sweet with a hint of powdered milk (I couldn't put my finger on the taste, but that's it). Where we don't see completely eye to eye is in the graininess and true to the American Nestle bar. To me, it was quite grainy. Plus, the sweetness took over and almost made it sour - if I had blind tasted this I would have said it was a Hershey product, not Nestle.
Anyway, I don't quite get what's special about it, I'm a little freaked out about why its "chocolate style" not just "chocolate," and I can tell you it is NOT authentic Mexican chocolate.
It used to just be a Christmas tradition, now fortunately for me, I think my mother-in-law has expanded the Lindt Lindor Truffle gifts to most gift-giving occasions. Yep, I just received my Easter gift and inside were two bags of some of my favorites. The first bag is an assortment of milk, dark and white chocolate truffles, the second holds the 60% extra dark versions. No matter the flavor, these perfectly spherical treats have a chocolate shell that melts very smoothly, eventually giving way to a creamy, cool rush of truffle filling. Thank you!
Blanxart dark chocolate, arguably the best Spanish chocolate out there, in two forms. One, pure dark chocolate for the purists. Two, with equally delicious Marcona almonds, if you prefer a little crunch with your chocolate.
Some interesting historical tidbits...the logo comes from woodcuts in the Barcelona History Museum. Spain introduced chocolate to Europe in the 16th Century. In the 1500s, Barcelona became one of the earliest producers on artisan chocolate in the world. Blanxart's history starts about half a century later in Les Corts, in Barcelona.
We continue to make our way through the 12-pack of Ethel's chocolates we bought. This time, we're looking at a member of Ethel's "Cocktail" collection, the Classic Cabernet Truffle. Of all the truffles we've tried, this is probably our least favorite. Granted, its not bad, but you barely tasted the wine flavor, which we attribute to the filling being too small. It had, in fact, shrunk inside the shell and separated. However the dark chocolate was delicious, and the painting on the outside of the truffle was beautiful.
Mallo Cup fans of the world, Boyer Candy has yet another new set of leaders, this time those from a drawn out legal battle.
To give you a little history, my grandfather and uncle sold the company in the 70s to their corn syrup supplier, American Maize. They sold it to Anthony Forgione in 1984. Forgione's time at Boyer was marked with near bankruptcies, quality downturns, labor disputes, and a colossal failure trying to build a theme park. Forgione died a few years ago and a big legal brouhaha has been taking place between Forgione's ex-wife and his kids, whom the company was left to. The trust put Ray Mollomo in charge and he's been running the company for a few years until recently. I can't comment on whether the plant is or is not running well, or whether the company is or is not thriving/surviving. What I can say since Mollomo took over, the quality of the candy, specifically Mallo Cups, went up. Best of luck to the new leadership, I'm sure a vending machine exec will get it all fixed...
But, on the upside, it looks like one of the sons is engaging, which I suppose is a good thing. "Forgione vows that the company's business will become a lasting legacy to his father." I can only say this...if you love Mallo Cups, if you love Smoothies, if you love Peanut Butter Cups...the legacy that is a positive one is that of Boyer, not Forgione. No offense. But how soon people forget back in Altoona, PA.
In fact, you'll note at the top of the article the following:
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story posted on the Web and published in Wednesday's Mirror incorrectly said Anthony Forgione was the founder of Boyer Candy Co. He was a previous owner. The company was founded in the 1930s by William E. and Robert Boyer, who started making fudge in the kitchen of their mother, Emily A. Boyer, according to Mirror files. The mistake was an editing error.
We first covered sweetriot's natural, socially conscious cacao back in March. Fun, irreverent and tasty. They're running a last minute Easter deal - order by 3/19 (that's tonight) by midnight and get 10% off. Just enter promo code BunnyRiot08 at checkout.
Review: Chocolove Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate Bar
This would have been a great Valentine's post (they actually have a love poem inside the wrapper), but we should feel "Chocolove" all year round. We love the Chocolove line in general, but this bar is exceptional. When something is really good, my dad likes to say "That'll make you want to throw your hat in the lake." Truer words were never said about this bar.
The dried Michigan cherries aren't overly sweet, and they are unquestionably natural tasting - no cherry flavoring here. And the chunks are nice and chewy. The California almond nibs are dry-roasted and add a little crunch and a subtle saltiness. And of course the smooth, complex 55% dark chocolate. The chewy, crunchy combination of cherries and almonds provides a delicious flavor contrast initially, then gradually blends with the rich, complex flavor of dark chocolate. The bar measures 6" x 3".
Review: Snickers Marathon Energy - When candy brands go healthy
Last week we looked at the PayDay Pro energy bar, and concluded that while it starts out like the PayDay's we know and love, it ends up tasting like a typical energy bar, which is to say it has a chemical/artificial taste. This week we looked at another energy bar from one of our favorite brands, this time it was the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar. Specifically, we tried the Peanut Butter version. The bar's made up of chewy peanut butter on the outside and peanuts, caramel, and chocolate flavored crisps inside. And it has the obligatory protein (14g of soy, peanut, casein and whey) and undisclosed carbohydrates for energy, and 16 vitamins and minerals.
From the get-go, this is an entirely different experience than the PayDay. First, it is a wide, flat bar, the shape you expect from a typical energy bar. Second, it tastes pretty darn good for an energy bar. It does NOT remind you of a Snickers bar, which is the key point. It is an energy bar that happens to be branded Snickers, not a candy bar that has been made healthy, like the PayDay Pro. It makes all the difference. If it looks like a PayDay, initially tastes like a PayDay, but ends up tasting like an energy bar, that's bad for the PayDay brand. But if you have an energy bar that tastes good and happens to be branded Snickers and shares some of the ingredients, its an entirely better eating experience, one that doesn't hurt the Snickers brand. We'd definitely eat this bar again for a pick-me-up. Although we'd just as soon chomp on a real Snickers...
Petits Noirs boutique helps pair chocolate with wine
We were alerted to this boutique chocolate company via Cheap Fun Wines. Petits Noir is a based on Oregon, and takes their cues from the local produce and also from the complexity of the flavors found in their "terroir" (to use a wine term). It makes sense being headquartered in Oregon, with its Pinot Noirs and other wines. The end result are chocolates that are not your run-of-the-mill, with flavors lik thyme, lavender, clove, and cassis. Naturally, their chocolates are natural pairings with wines - designed to complement certain notes in wines. They recommend trying their cardamom or toasted anise seed with a luscious red wine, such as a Syrah or a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Last minute Easter gifts - Milk Chocolate Easter Egg filled with ganache & praline Easter eggs
40% Milk Chocolate Engraved Easter Egg
Half a pound of chocolaty goodness! And surprisingly enough, it has less sugar more cocoa than typical milk chocolate.
Even though we recommended Peeps for our Easter Guide, we admit they aren't our absolute favorite. We like them when they're a little stale, and we can eat a couple, but believe it or not we find them too sugary (blasphemy, I know). We included them because we know we're not in the majority when it comes to our opinions.
But, we're intrigued by the idea of Orange Creme Peeps, which we learned about through CandyAddict.com. We do love most all things orange-y and cream-y - from candy to soda to dreamsicles. So we're interested in checking these out this Easter season.
Here are some candy picks that we hope will bring you some luck!
Large Shamrock Lollipops
These come in two greens/flavors - Crystal Green (Cherry) and Opaque Green (Green Apple)
St. Patrick's Day Potatoes
Hand shaped and enrobed in milk chocolate, then rolled in cinnamon and cocoa powder, then pine nuts are applied for the 'eyes.'
Oh Ryans Irish Potatoes
In memory of the Great Potatoe famine, these are made from coconut cream fondant and rolled in cinnamon.
Chocolate Kennedy Half Dollar Gold Coins
Every pot of gold needs coins, but its even more appropriate for the coins to be those of Boston's favorite Irish son, JFK.
St. Patrick's Beer Mug Filled With Guinness Truffles
What's more Irish than Guinness? And what do you need more for St. Patty's Day than a beer mug? Nothing, that's what. But if you don't need the mug, you can still get Guinness Truffles here.
Last minute Easter gifts - the Eggsibitionist Easter Egg
The Eggsibitionist Easter Egg
Eggs within an egg...brilliant! A 40% milk chocolate egg holds 12 more chocolate eggs with praline and ganache fillings.
Looks like for Easter the brand extension beat goes on at M&M/Mars. This time its 3 Musketeers Minis with Dark Chocolate on the outside and raspberry flavored nougat on the inside. They are a "limited edition," which I always figure is another way to say "we're seeing how these sell before making them permanent." But we must say we're intrigued and look forward to trying them out, but imagine they are pretty darn sweet.
I have a feeling I'm incredibly late to this game, but I just came across a Munch bar today at the convenience store, so I picked one up. Besides the bold name on the label, the first thing you notice is that it touts only having 6 simple ingredients. Hey, any candy with only 6 ingredients, made by Snickers, has got to have something going for it no? The ingredients, for those interested, are: peanuts, sugar, butter, corn syrup, salt, and soy lecithin. And with its all natural contents, it qualifies as a low glycemic index snack.
So on to the eating. I read the ingredients to my wife before opening the package, and she said, "Hmmm...its peanut brittle." And guess what, she was absolutely right, it is peanut brittle. It is pretty decent peanut brittle though, especially considering its mass produced - I tend to like my peanut brittle made in small batches. The color is lighter than most brittles, not the richer brown you would expect. It bites pretty well, its a little crumbly and "dusty" for lack of a better term. But not bad at all. Although all brittles are full of butter, the Munch bar had more of a distinct butter flavor, almost popcorn buttery.
Overall, it wasn't bad at all. I don't know why but I was a little taken back by the non-brittle branding and packaging of such a classic candy - maybe its the traditionalist in me. I wouldn't get it if you're a brittle snob, but it'll do the trick if you're looking for a sweet peanut fix.
Serious Dark Fix Egg Easter Egg
A 72% dark chocolate shell, and inside...single estate dark chocolates and deliciously dark pralines. Presented in a beautiful embossed box.
Cadbury Ad: Airport Vehicles Replace Gorilla
and get $10 off. 
