If you're ever in Scottsdale...

Mar 13, 2022,22:03 PM
 

Check out Zak's https://zakschocolate.com  Honestly, compares favorably with any chocolate I've had (and that's a lot!) from Belgium, Switzerland or Italy.  Plus they're really nice people.


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Very Good Chocolate Bar: Lindt Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Cranberry Almonds

 
 By: patrick_y : March 13th, 2022-19:42
I eat chocolate multiple times a day, usually after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes on its own. Needless to say, I like chocolate very much. As the readers of WPS know, I get very involved with my hobbies and interests, and I've since toured and e...  

Can't you find them online?

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 13th, 2022-20:16
This seems right up my alley, being a 'serious choco-holic' .... If they're not available on the web, I'll make certain I get some during my Swiss trip in June . Cheers, Filip

Nope. I tried! Can't find it online.

 
 By: patrick_y : March 13th, 2022-20:25
Not unless I want to spend 60 Euros on shipping for only a few bars! I'd spend 60 Euros for shipping maybe 60 bars, but not for sub-ten bars. Nice to know you're a serious choco-holic. We seem to have similar afflictions!

My 'sweet-tooth' is enormous x)

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 13th, 2022-20:35
But I will say, the one confection I miraculously love even more than traditional chocolate is ice-cream in all its glorious varieties . Chocolate and ice-cream are, in my opinion, the only products in the world that can hardly ever fail to satisfy consum... 

WOW! Good to know!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-05:55
Hmm, I haven't had a great chocolate ice cream in a while... Hmm. I had a nice Earl Grey ice cream from Leeuwen's in New York City. Can't think of anything else that's been exceptoinal lately.

Hahaha,

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 14th, 2022-12:09
I just bought pistachio ice cream from them yesterday , our taste buds are in fact highly alike! Cheers, Filip

Yes. Leeuwen has a nice Pistachio flavored ice cream...

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-21:24
Their flavor of Pistachio is very pistachio-buttery (like peanut-buttery) compared to other brands that are more milky and creamy. A very strong pistachio flavor. That's my second flavor at Leeuwen's.

I'm confident you'll like it!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 15th, 2022-00:56
I've still got two pints in my freezer! Deeelicious!

LoL, I sure did :D

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 15th, 2022-17:17
Bought it last night at my local grocery store on Montana Avenue, it's a truly unique but totally low-key flavor that sits well after pretty much any savory meal . Very pleased I 'discovered' both of these from VL, I had not tried them in quite a long tim... 

Yes, I look forward to discovering more flavors from Van Leeuwen's.

 
 By: patrick_y : March 16th, 2022-04:34
But I bought all the flavors at my local Whole Foods Supermarket, and the Earl Grey and Pistachio were the standouts from the selection I had.

Yes,

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 16th, 2022-04:42
I buy them at Pavilions. Besides these they have a vanilla bean flavor which I haven't tried, and a red-boxed flavor which I'm forgetting the description of....

Brooklyn Brown Sugar is the red box one...

 
 By: patrick_y : March 16th, 2022-04:45
I haven't tried that one. They were sold out of that one. But I do recall having seen it before in the red carton.

I'd like to see some cool French inspired flavors...

 
 By: patrick_y : March 16th, 2022-04:47
Like Honey Lavender. I had a Lavende ice cream in San Francisco at Bi-Rite (a local ice cream parlour) that was so good. And I recall having a French Yogurt in Lavende flavor that was exemplary. Too bad I was traveling and wasn't ever able to find that fl... 

That sounds superb,

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 16th, 2022-05:08
I remember having something along those lines from one of the small-batch artisanal ice-cream makers, at one of the specialty grocers in LA.... Van Leeuwen, I just discovered, actually makes a decent enough 'portfolio' of interesting flavors, it doesn't s... 

But on the website, they cost $12 a package, $6 at the store...

 
 By: patrick_y : March 16th, 2022-18:42
So I'll just wait until I go to NYC and try the flavors not offered at the grocery store at their brick and mortar location in NYC. But with two Earl Greys in the freezer, plus a Pistachio flavored Gelato from a different brand, and fairly cool weather, I... 

Next time you are in NYC, go to The Meadow in Nolita.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : March 13th, 2022-20:31
They carry 100+ different bars, some mainstream-ish and some not. I found it as I was looking for bars from Fossa, a Singaporean marker that has some really tasty and interesting bars. I don’t normally eat non dark (I am usually 80% +) but Fossa have a wh... 

Oh! That sounds perfect!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-05:58
Ok. Definitely on my list! And that white chocolate with seaweed sounds very interesting!

Thank you!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-05:59
I'll just have to find you the next time I'm in Switzerland! Shipping is a little risky. I can imagine the Customs agent just seizing all of my chocolate and eating it himself! I'd be heartbroken!

I'm totally not as knowledgeable or sophisticated as you with chocolate, but I do go CRAZY for it, including Lindt! ;-)) I just prefer milk to dark chocolate, but I'd literally eat kilos a day! ;-)

 
 By: FabR : March 13th, 2022-20:49
Here's one of my favorites from from Lindt, "Varesino con Panna", a DELICIOUS espresso with chocolate and whipped cream on top....note even the chocolate spoon that comes with it! OK, I already put up 5 kilos by writing this, glad that I only eat it 4 mon...  

We will eat them when we visit Italy together!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:01
The Swiss converted me to eating a small piece of chocolate after each meal; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe I'd be better off adopting the Italian version, just eating one gigantic chocolate coffee drink once a day!

We'll adopt each other's habits... And see how we like it...

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-21:25
The bears will get the best deal, since they'll be eating twice as much (and drinking twice as much) and they get it all for free!

Indeed.

 
 By: patrick_y : March 15th, 2022-02:13

;-))

 
 By: FabR : March 15th, 2022-02:57

Interesting! Good to know!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:02
I'm familiar with the Ovomaltine drink, but not of the bars.

It is super addictive.

 
 By: amanico : March 14th, 2022-07:14

Of course! ;)

 
 By: amanico : March 14th, 2022-22:23

If you're ever in Scottsdale...

 
 By: kkochheiser : March 13th, 2022-22:03
Check out Zak's Honestly, compares favorably with any chocolate I've had (and that's a lot!) from Belgium, Switzerland or Italy. Plus they're really nice people. Kent ...  

Very nice and fancy chocolate you've got there!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:03
I haven't been to Zak's. But that does look delicious! But definitely something for a special treat - like visiting Arizona!

 
 By: BigAppleBill : March 13th, 2022-22:17
I'm a bit of a dark chocolate enthusiast. I've regularly returned with a few pounds of the stuff from certain European cities. It was a relief when Laderach opened a location in NYC a few years ago. And there are other less expensive Swiss brands, includi... 

Good to know!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:08
I've seen the Laderach store in mid-town. The NYC store is much more expensive than the 70 Euros a kilogram for Laderach in Europe. So I buy a lot when I'm in Europe. It's a pity that USA customs lets you come back with such little amount of money worth o... 

This what in like.

 
 By: Bill : March 13th, 2022-23:50
...  

Lately I've been enjoying the Ghiradelli Intense Dark

 
 By: Steve E : March 14th, 2022-01:38
squares . Either the 72%, or the 86% for extra cacao kick. Today I had a couple squares with a fresh orange and a cup of Earl Grey. Ahhhhh!

Sounds like heaven!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:17
Sounds like someone had a very nice day! Ahhh!

thats even more evil thought

 
 By: Gelato Monster : March 14th, 2022-06:37

Indeed!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-21:20

This shows quite the passion for chocolate! I’d be interested to know…

 
 By: ArmisT : March 14th, 2022-04:42
what you consider a 2 or 3 level Michelin star chocolates. But this Lindt recommendation is much appreciated.

Hmm... I'm not sure I've had a 2 or 3 star chocolate...

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:15
I'll have to let you know! The Bernachon chocolate bar with the pistachio marzipan is definitely one that's very very nice. I definitely go out of my way to get it in Paris every time I'm in Paris. Bernachon is based in Marseille, but they have a dealer i... 

Interesting! I'll keep an eye open for it

 
 By: mkvc : March 14th, 2022-04:43
although I normally am a Valrhona-preferring individual. Recently got some Republica de Cacao 70% pastilles. Would recommend: the flavor is unusual, with a lot of personality.

You have excellent taste!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-06:15
Knowing you are quite the cook, I'm sure that those 70% pastilles are great! I always liked pastilles, since they're thin and they melt perfectly.

In Switserland and don't forget Belgium too, there is so much more than Lindt

 
 By: Geo : March 14th, 2022-06:39
When I walk around in Geneva, I am always amazed by the many shops that specialise in chocolate and I am actually surprised that so few are available in the US. When I lived in New York I was almost forced to get used to Nestle, but that really is another... 

Indeed. Belgium has the biggest chocolate factory in the world! Supposedly.

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-21:23
It's funny, Belgium, Switzerland, some of the biggest chocolate producers are countries that don't grow cacao trees at all!

That looks good.

 
 By: bsbg : March 14th, 2022-21:13
I know they sell a Lindt raspberry bar here in the states, but not this combination. Their 90% bar is our everyday chocolate.

Ahh! Very good!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 14th, 2022-21:22
The 90% is very dark! Very healthy. I like it, but I want something that's got a bit more personality. I also wished Lindt would do single origin chocolates.