valentines is coming. there are lots of choices in chocolates. the web
is full of choices. its tough to decide. i am looking for
recommendations on where i can purchase tasty chocolates on line at a
good price. the comments and answer that i would like to see would be
from people who have actually tasted the recommended chocolates. a big
thank you to everyone who participates.

Hi Ray!

I don't usually answer $2 questions, but you said the magic word: 
chocolate.  As a tried and convicted chocoholic, forever doomed to
cravings, I'm always happy to evangelize.  Let me show you some of my
favorites, in no particular order, all of which I've personally tasted
thanks to my own love of the stuff and the most decadant gift of a
friend:  Chocolate of the Month.

I have a special attachment to San Francisco's Ghirardelli chocolate. 
Super smooth, very creamy, and easily attainable offline, you can also
find Ghirardelli chocolate online:

Ghirardelli
http://www.ghirardelli.com

(Though I adore finer chocolates in all of their glory, Ghirardelli's
simple smoothness and easy accessibility really appeals to me.  It was
the first "gourmet" chocolate I had ever been given as a teenager, and
is now never in short supply in my home.  A visit to the factory at
Ghirardelli Square a few years ago completely sealed it - there's
nothing like watching your favorite chocolate being made.)

Likewise one of San Francisco's finest is world renowned chocolatier
Joseph Schmidt.  Sought after for his award winning chocolate
sculptures and gorgeously huge truffles, you can find his chocolates
at upscale department stores nationwide, or visit him online:

Joseph Schmidt Confections
http://www.jschmidtconfections.com/

(I had the pleasure of attending one of his chocolate seminars a few
years ago at the local Jacobson's.  This man knows his chocolate, and
you can taste that in everything he makes.  Very yummy.)

Alexanders Famous Foods' Fudge Fatale is a classy, sinfully rich gift
for any chocolate fiend - hand made, hand cut, individually wrapped
bites of the richest, decadent fudge, encased in a classy black velvet
box.  My kids chased me around for a week, begging for "just one more
piece".  It's too rich and wonderful to share, though!

Fudge Fatale
http://www.fudgefatale.com/

Chocolate connoiseurs will tell you that fine chocolate is like fine
wine or exceptional coffee - you have to experience the purest you can
find.  International Chocolate Company of Salt Lake City specializes
in "single bean" chocolates.  You probably didn't know this - most
people don't - but all commercial chocolates and many specialty
chocolates are made from chocolate blends.  These are recipes calling
for certain proportions of cocoa beans grown in certain regions,
blended to give each chocolate a distinct taste.  International
Chocolate does not blend it's chocolates.  Instead, chocolate squares
are made from a single bean variety, to let you taste the unique
qualities of each chocolate growing region.

This stuff is better than a winning lottery ticket!

International Chocolate Company
http://www.internationalchocolate.com/

Their name is a little presumptuous, but The Best Chocolate In Town
strives to live up to it.  Presentation is very simple, they prefer to
let their creamy truffles speak for themselves.  And do they ever
speak!  "Come on...eat another one...diet?  What diet?  Forget the
diet!"  My last box of these treats didn't last long at all.

The Best Chocolate In Town
http://www.bestchocolateintown.com/

On my desk right this instant is a full pound of lovely Belgian
truffles by Nirvana Chocolates.  Gorgeous, creamy, and made with the
freshest butter, cream and chocolate and the finest liquers, these
little delights are a bit pricey, but worth every penny.  They're
smooth enough to make you weep, and guaranteed to create smiles and
near-orgasmic bliss with every bite:

Nirvana
http://www.nirvanachocolates.com/

Last, but not least on my list of favorites is Fran's of Seattle. 
Also a bit on the "pricey but worth it" side, Fran's is loved among
chocolate fans for her dark truffles and silky caramels.  She's been
in business for twenty years, and expects to be around for many more. 
If you really want to surprise your girl, send her a box with
bittersweet truffles, and watch her face light up in amazement to find
luxury chocolate *sprinkled with gold dust*!

I nearly fainted the first time a box of Fran's truffles showed up at
my door.  How often do you find gold dust in your candy box??

Fran's of Seattle
http://www.franschocolates.com

For more chocolate fun, have a look at these selections from my own
chocolate resource guide:

Chocoholic.com
http://www.chocoholic.com/

Virtual Chocolate
http://www.virtualchocolate.com/

The Sweet Science of Chocolate
http://www.exploratorium.edu/chocolate/

Chocolate.org
http://www.chocolate.org/

Happy Valentine's Day!

--Missy

Search terms:  None.  I maintain a Chocolate Guide!

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Request for Answer Clarification by ray_on_the_web-ga on 01 Feb 2003 04:15 PST

hello missy
chocoholics are some of the nicest people and the easiest to spoil. in
your library of chocolate knowledge- who, in your personal opinion,
has a the tastiest product online, for everyday enjoyment at
non-special occasion prices.
best regards
ray

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Clarification of Answer by missy-ga on 01 Feb 2003 07:27 PST

Good morning, Ray!

I'm glad you liked your answer!

Buying chocolate online is nearly always going to be more expensive
than buying it in person - choclatiers with online shops usually only
offer a small selection of their goodies for online purchase, and it's
almost always their most expensive items! (And the shipping is just
killer.  Yikes!)

For everyday chocolate, I'm afraid I'm going to have to send you
offline.  Ghirardelli chocolate squares, which come in a multitude of
flavors, sell for ~$3/bag at most Target and K-Mart stores.

The milk chocolate variety is available in bulk (180 squares!! Six
whole pounds!) from The Candy Warehouse for $36, plus shipping:

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Squares
http://www.candywarehouse.com/csquares180ct.html

(Don't be afraid to spoil yourself, though.  Life is way to short to
never eat expensive chocolate!  ;)  )

--Missy

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ray_on_the_web-ga on 01 Feb 2003 14:48 PST

thank you
ray

---

Clarification of Answer by missy-ga on 02 Feb 2003 20:12 PST

You're very welcome!  It was a pleasure to be of service!

--Missy

What a mouth watering response!!!!! THANK YOU Missy-ga. Your answer made my day.

G'morning Ray!

Missy's given you a wealth of wonderful chocolate links (yum!), but I
just wanted to add my particular personal favorite, DOVE Chocolate. 
Lots of people have heard of Dove Bars, which are ice cream bars.  But
fewer know that Dove also makes chocolates, and in my not so humble
opinion as another confirmed unrepentant, totally addicted chocoholic,
this is some of the absolute silkiest, smoothest, yummiest, to-die-for
chocolate I have ever had in my life - and I've had plenty, believe
me! I like the dark chocolate, but my sister swears the milk chocolate
is the best she's ever had too. Gee, have I gushed enough?  Anyway,
here's a link to their website:
http://www.dovechocolate.com/every.html

Have fun, happy eating and Happy Valentine's Day to you!

--Byrd

Wow, Missy - a fellow chocolate fanatic has just learned so much more
about her favorite food group!  And, Ray, if you haven't seen it yet,
please view the movie Chocolat.  It's a delightful little tale and, if
you like chocolate, that film will fling cravings on you as it
entertains.  Better yet, gift your lady with a box of chocolate and a
copy of the movie!  :)

One word - Neuhaus.  It rules, and very expensive but hard to find.
Get the little cones of solid chocolate, I think 50 bucks a pound
or more.  In Brazil we used to pay around 120, but is was worth 
every penny.

byrd-ga, journalist-ga, and martinjay-ga
your comments are great and very much appreciated. thanx
ray

There is only one place to get your Valentine chocolates - Mike Libs
and the Chocolate Factory - www.libschocolates.com!!!!
Mike and his family have been maklng chocolates for over 50 years.  We
are famous for our Pecan Flip Overs.
You can order on-line and we can ship the chocolate to you via UPS.
We have customers all over the United States and 7 different
countries.
Check us out!