Bang for the Buck
Bochner Chocolates, Iowa City, Iowa (about $1 per piece)
The wow: variety--raspberry, hazelnut, dark chocolate, and more adventurous pure lime and Earl Grey tea flavors
Our choice: Apricot Mendiant selection
To buy: www.bochnerchocolates.com, (319) 354-7900
Candlelight Delights
Chocolat, Fredericksburg, Texas (around $6.25 for a six-piece box)
The wow: This is your after-dinner drink. Pop the whole piece at once to avoid dribbling the liqueurs stored inside the rich chocolate exterior. Nonalcoholic coffee, espresso, and peach nectar available too.
Our choice: California Cabernet Sauvignon Chocolates, a magnificent mingling of chocolate and wine
To buy: 1-800-842-3382
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WHAT'S TRENDY
Fillings: The inside story surprises--from peanut butter and banana to after-dinner liqueurs encased in chocolate. Among our picks, you’ll find infusions of lime, Earl Grey tea, brandy, pistachio, Valencia orange, ginger, and even rich Cabernet. Some are oozy, some are creamy.
The Look: Art form that goes way beyond square. Revel in hand-painted, embossed pieces, some with designs, dusted with cocoa powder, encrusted with rich nuts, in shapes from hearts to pyramids. Eat or merely admire?
The Fun: Pull a sweet mouse by its ribbon tail, nibble a miniature ice-cream cone, or take a bite from a chocolate cigar. A giggle before you gobble.
Bean Scene: Cocoa beans from deep in exotic jungles imbue each bite with strength and direct flavor. The trend: Let the chocolate speak, without extra sugar or distraction. Natural flavors--from Tasmanian honey to Mexican vanilla--enhance the chocolate experience.
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This article is from our 2005 Weekend Living special issue, on newsstands now!
