Dark Chocolate "Hiballs" Filled with Scotch and Vodka

K HIBALLS from K Chocolatier and Diane Krön are filled with Blue Label Scotch and Ketel One Vodka. OK...let's face it...those are good combos. And from the looks of the picture, they didn't skimp on the booze.

K Chocolatier is a family run business based in Malibu, CA. They've been around for a long time and still make daily batches of their chocolates themselves in their own factory. The recipe is a variation of those of chocolate once exclusive to Emperor Franz Josef of Austro-Hungary. In order to have the shopping experience first hand, you'll have to go to Cali. But they are also now selling online.

A little more background:

"In 1973, Diane and Tom Krön established Krön Chocolatier in New York City based on recipes from Tom's great grandfather, chocolate-maker to Emperor Franz Josef of Austro-Hungary. They soon became very famous for the quality and novelty of their chocolates (Tom invented the chocolate-covered strawberry) and opened many Krön stores across the U.S. Diane and Tom Krön sold Krön Chocolatier in 1983 and retired from the chocolate business to travel and raise their family. New management took over and the company went in other directions. Now Diane Krön is back ! Lured by the excitement of Beverly Hills, Diane decided to develop a new company, and in 2000, created a new brand of luxury chocolates with new combinations and more sophisticated recipes. K CHOCOLATIER is based on those secret Krön family formulations of cocoa powder ratio and viscosity, but with a difference: using as little sugar as possible."

Check out K Chocolatier

Via NOTCOT

Review: Starbucks Signature Dark Chocolate Bar

Where to begin? There is just no kind way to say this. Eating this bar is like ingesting a mouthful of chocolate flavored body butter. It is almost like they melted the chocolate and added it to a melted tin of Crisco and stirred it up. Too soft and creamy for dark chocolate yet not milky or caramel-ly enough to be milk chocolate. Too soft. Too sweet. Not enough dark chocolate love. Very disappointing.

Added Note (11:44 AM PST, 6/5/08) - The review above was posted by the fetching Mrs Candy Snob - I'm not sure I know what body butter is, nor do I have any idea what it might taste like. However, I concur with her general assessment of the Starbucks Signature Dark Chocolate Bar.

Chatham Fine Chocolates

As I was perusing an issue of an Arizona lifestyle magazine recently in a waiting room, I came across a local candy maker that I can't wait to check out in person - Chatham Fine Chocolates.
Chatham's features artisan chocolatiers and sports a broad variety of truly interesting treats, including: truffles infused with cognac and rose petals, and molded butterflies. The piece is an interview with founder Chatham Kitz, where they discuss the ins and outs of gourmet, artisan chocolates and how his career has upped the ante for Valentine's gifts for his wife (chocolate doesn't cut it anymore).

Check out the Chatham's Fine Chocolates website

Review: Rabitos Royale - Fig Bonbons

Truffle stuffed figs...the very thought give me hear palpitations (the good kind). Which is why we were so excited to try out the Rabitos Royale Fig Bonbons from Valeros.

Each of the 16 pieces is sealed in gold foil. Inside is a small fig that's been infused with dark chocolate truffle, and then covered in dark chocolate. When you break open one of the wrappers, you actually catch a waft of the strong dark chocolate and also the brandy. Again, simple ingredients making the best candy - dried fig, liquid cream, glucose syrup, brandy liquor, chocolate.

We tried to take a picture of the cross-section of one of these candies, but opted to show you the illustration on the back of the box instead. The photo didn't do these beautiful candies justice, and chocolate and fig butchered by yours truly doesn't make for a great close-up photo.

A little background, these candies originate from Southwestern Spain, where the makers pick local, young figs and fill them with a dark chocolate brandy mousse. These candies have also won acclaim at the Chocolate festival in Williamsburg VA.

What struck me the most with these candies is the contrasts. Contrasts in flavor and contrasts in texture - all packed into one little bite. The smooth dark chocolate, quickly giving way to the chewy, grainy (from the seeds) texture of the fig. But by the time you've taken note of that, you're hit by the pure decadence of the brandy-infused truffle mousse. We found the brandy to be a little strong. Not overwhelming, but strongly present in the candy.

These bonbons pack a wallop, give them a try if you're looking for something off the beaten path. Available at La Tienda

German Milk Chocolate Ice Cubes Melt in Your Mouth - NEWS FLASH!

We're not sure why these "melt in your mouth" any more than any other chocolate...but we thought it was a fun idea anyway...

German Chocolate Ice Cubes at Vermont Country Store

Free Sweetriot Sweatshirt for Mother's Day

If you order a $100 gift certificate from Sweet Riot by May 6th (Mother's Day is May 11th by the way), and you type RiotMommyat checkout, Sweet Riot will throw in a free t-shirt.

Sweetriot's website

Candy Snob Celebrates Earth Day All Week - Saturday's Pick

Decorative Tower Jar from YummyEarth. 70 assorted, organic lollipops in all sorts of fun flavors: Pomegranate Pucker, Mango Tango
Wet-Face Watermelon and Cheeky Lemon.

Image from YummyEarth

Review: Ethel's Chocolates Honey Truffle (Dark)

I thought about simply writing "mmm....mmm...mmm...." for my review of Ethel's Honey Truffle chocolate, but I thought better of it, although that's a completely accurate review. Imagine a churro wrapped inside creamy dark chocolate...add in the flavor of high-end honey...and give it a smidge of cinnamon flavor...and you have the Honey Truffle. This chocolate is really delicious and stands out as one of our favorites from Ethel's.

Read more about Ethel's Chocolates on Candy Snob:
Review: Ethel's Chocolate - Peanut Better truffle
Review: Ethel's Chocolate - Gingerbread Spice Truffle
Review: Ethel's Chocolate - Classic Cabernet Truffle
Review: Ethel's Chocolate - Chewy Caramel with Dark Chocolate
Easter Selections from Ethel's Chocolate
Review: Ethel's Chocolates Espresso Truffle (Dark)
Review: Ethel's Chocolates Creme Brulee (Milk)

Candy Snob Celebrates Earth Day All Week - Friday's Pick

Candy Snob's week-long celebration of Earth Day is nearing the end of the road. Our next to last pick is a super cool chocolate maker, Taza. Taza is based near Boston, and is a true bean-to-bar chocolate maker. In addition, its the only maker of 100% stone ground chocolate in the United States.

Taza sources organically grown cacao beans directly from small farmer cooperatives ensuring those farmers receive more than fair trade prices for their high quality cacao. Taza is uniquely positioned as one of the only independently owned, socially and environmentally responsible chocolate makers in the country. Taza's chocolate making process is designed to capture the true flavor of the cacao bean by minimally processing the chocolate every step of the way.

The folks at Taza have recently been kind enough to send us some samples, so be on the lookout for our reviews coming soon. The stuff they sent looks amazing!

Check out Taza Chocolate

Candy Snob Celebrates Earth Day All Week - Thursday's Pick!

Organic Sour Jelly Bears by the English company, Sweet Botanicals. Puckerific, these bears are sour, organic AND vegan.

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, organic corn syrup, organic fruit juice concentrates (apple, apricot, blackcurrant, lemon), organic spinach powder, apple pectin, natural flavourings (apricot, blackcurrant, kiwi, lemon, pinapple), citric acid.

Check them out here.

Review: Starbucks Mocha Dark Chocolate Bar

To quote a friend of mine when she particularly enjoys a meal or beverage, "This chocolate bar is a good time."

First things first, this is an aesthetically beautiful bar. It comes in one piece (which is a little annoying to break pieces off) of smooth, dark chocolate - etched with a fairly intricate flower design.

At first taste, you get the chocolate primarily. It melts nicely, they obviously used pretty good stuff. When you add in the coffee, you get the added citrus and cocoa notes. But it is the texture is what puts this over the top. There are little (I mean almost sand-like) nibs of Guatemala Casi Cielo coffee throughout the piece, so whether you're a "melt" or a "chew" kind of person, you can't escape the coffee-licious goodness.

The wrapper says, "When coffee dreams, it dreams of chocolate." The Starbucks Mocha Dark Chocolate Bar is dreamy for sure.

French Chocolate Truffles for Mother's Day

Does your mom like truffles? French chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa powder? French truffles, dusted with cocoa powder, with no trans fats? Then do we have a pick for you. This box is full of 2.2 pounds of truffles, which will either send you into sugar shock or give you a nice treat for weeks. It has been the #1 seller in the "Gourmet Products" of Amazon during the Holidays for the last three years.

And frankly, for $11.99you can't go wrong.

Check out these French Chocolate Truffles

Need more ideas for Mother's Day? Check out our Mother's Day Gift Guide.

Candy Snob Celebrates Earth Day All Week - Wednesday's Pick

Green & Blacks Organic Chocolates- "The Absolute Best Organic Chocolate in the World" according to Really Natural, so how can you go wrong? Whether its the Organic Maya Gold Chocolate, the Organic Ginger Chocolate Bar, the Organic Milk Chocolate Bar with Caramel or the Organic Bittersweet Dark Chocolate, Green & Black's are a great way to celebrate Earth Day (week) in a chocolate-loving way.

Check out Green & Blacks Organic Chocolates

Turrón Candy & '1880' Gourmet Guirlache Turrón

Ever had Marcona almonds? If not, you're missing out. They are not your every day almonds, these are thinner, usually a little oilier, and with an amazing, distinct flavor. But we digress...we're here to talk about candy that incorporates Marcona almonds. These delectable, cruchy nuggets of goodness make up 65% of the '1880' Gourmet Guirlache Turron gourmet bar. The almonds are bound together with delicious dark caramel and sandwiched with thin wafers. Its hand-made in Alicante, Spain.

The 'suprema' quality of this bar is similar to traditional turrón except that it is made from caramelized sugar and whole fresh (unroasted) almonds, rather than honey and egg white of the traditional turrón.

But what the heck is turrón candy??

"Over a thousand years ago the tradition of turrón began in Spain. By combining almonds and honey, the Moorish conquerors of Spain created a new version of their traditional halva candy. This natural sweet became a Christmas tradition over the centuries, and is now only made in the Mediterranean town of Jijona." - La Tienda

Check out all sorts of Spanish Turron candy.