Gourmet Chocolate Gift

With everything from fancy chocolates to a plain peanut butter cup, we’re ready to celebrate.

Gift-Finder

Main Page
Recommendations
For All Occasions

Entertaining Guide

Main Page
Food and Tabletop
Recommendations

Shop!

Main Page
Products & Services
of Interest to Foodies

Special Offers

Main Page
Savings You’ll Enjoy

December 2008

Marketplace / Gift-Finder

Gourmet Chocolate Gift Delights

Gourmet Caramels, Too

There’s something for everyone here—and at every price point, from a $2.50 peanut butter cup stocking stuffer to the deluxe chocolates at the left. If you don’t see what you like, check out our entire Chocolate Section as well as chocolate gift recommendations from prior years.

Prices and product availability are verified at publication but are subject to change.


Caffe Acapella: Coffee Bars These are NOT chocolate bars, they’re coffee bars, made of sugar, cocoa butter (not cocoa solids), milk, fresh roasted gourmet espresso beans and soy lecithin. In Cappuccino Connoisseur, Caramel Macchiato Classico, Espresso Serenade and Toffee Espresso Concerto, this is something truly special for the coffee lover (and anyone allergic to chocolate). Keepsake Gift Box 4 Bars, $14.99 Buy online at AcapellaFoods.com	Now, “coffee bar” has a new meaning.

Carolyn’s: Chocolate Bark We can’t believe we ate the whole thing, but we did—because these nut-laden chunks of fine chocolate are so delicious, we couldn’t stop. We’re hung up on the Orange Pecan Dark Chocolate, but Spicy Cashew Dark Chocolate and Sweet & Salty Milk Chocolate are also excellent. Pan Asian Collection Boxes, Jars & Tins $17.55 To $53.99 Buy online at 40ParkLane.com	Carolyn’s Chocolate Bark in Orange Pecan.

Chocolat Céleste: Far East Collection Explore the flavors of the Far East with the limited edition Pan Asian Collection from one of our favorite chocolatiers. Bite-size bonbons hold ganache infused with flavors such as Edible Pearl, Ginger Citrus and Plum Wine. The beautiful antique motifs on top make these truly, edible art. 16 pieces $75.00. Read our review of Chocolat Céleste. Pan Asian Collection 16 Pieces $75.00 Buy online at ChocolatCeleste.com	Edible art.

Chocolat Moderne: “Salt Talks” Salt Caramels Salt-and-sweet flavor combinations are “happening” in chocolate. Some call salt caramels them the new comfort food, and we wouldn’t disagree. The Salt Talks collection from Chocolat Moderne provides fab-flavored caramel in three different chocolate shells. The dark chocolate shells contain Illy espresso-flavored salted caramel. The milk chocolate shell holds salted caramel with an additional sprinkling inside the shell of coarse sea salt and chopped pecans. The white chocolate shell reveals a salted caramel seasoned with Halen Mon, gourmet sea salt smoked over Welsh Oak. Read more about the Chocolat Moderne, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week. Salt Talks Caramels 6 Pieces, $12.00 16 Pieces, $32.00 ChocolatModerne.com	Please, pass the salt...caramels!

Coco-luxe: Flavored Caramels The Coco-luxe Caramel Collection is a sophisticated interpretation of the classic American caramel. In Brown Sugar Praline, Butterscotch and Shoo Fly Pie (blackstrap molasses), all finished with a touch of artisan salt. The Shoo Fly Caramel won Best Bonbon 2008 in the Next Generation Chocolatier Awards. Read more about Coco-Luxe’s other bonbons in our full review. 3 Pieces $6.95 9 Pieces $18.95 36 Pieces $67.95 Buy online at Coco-luxe.com.	Photo by Emily Chang \| THE NIBBLE.

Julia Baker: Artisan Chocolates In Scottsdale, Arizona, where chocolate can melt on a hot day, these meltingly good chocolates are made by confectioner Julia Baker. Square bonbons with silky ganaches like passionfruit and chocolate truffles filled with caramel are new favorites! It’s hard to believe that this gifted chocolate artisan began her career as a statistician! The oval gift box is a beauty, and can be repurposed to hold anything from photographs to love letters. 16-Piece Box $55.00 32-Piece Box $88.00 Other sizes available Buy online at JuliaBakerConfections.com	Photo by Emily Chang \| THE NIBBLE.

Mackenzie Ltd: Chocolate Ornaments Made in the U.S.A. of dark and white Belgian chocolate, these Christmas tree ornaments are filled with caramel and handmade marshmallow, then decorated in holiday themes. We haven’t seen any holiday chocolate that’s more fun and seasonal than this. Four 4-Ounce Ornaments (One Pound Total) $69.95 Buy online at MackenzieLtd.com	On the tree or in a bowl, these ornaments are exquisite.

PMS Kookie Company: Peanut Butter Blast Fans of peanut butter cups should try this one: a semisweet peanut butter cup with a creamy PB filling and a pie crust. It’s a fusion food: a peanut butter cup tart, perhaps? Per Piece $2.50 Buy online at PMSKookieKompany.com	Note the pie crust bottom.

Rabitos: Chocolate-Stuffed Fig Bonbons From a small family-owned baker in Spain, handmade Rabitos (“Little Tails”) fig bonbons are bite-size charmers. Tiny whole figs are stuffed with brandy-accented chocolate ganache, then completely dipped in chocolate. They are simply stunning with after-dinner coffee or espresso. 9 Pieces $14.95 16 Pieces $24.95 Buy online at MagnificentGifts.com	Bite-size chocolate-stuffed and -coated figs are real charmers.

Vosges Haut Chocolat: Mo’s Bacon Bar & Rogue Stout Gift Box If the thought of chocolate and bacon sounds alien to you, get ready to fly to the stars with Mo’s Bacon Bar, dark milk chocolate, bits of real bacon and sea salt. It is beyond delicious. Paired with this wonderful chocolate is Rogue Shakespeare, an oatmeal stout from the great Oregon brewer with delectable chocolatey notes. Stout and chocolate are a great pairing, too: See our recipe for a chocolate stout ice cream float. Gift Box 2 three-ounce Mo’s Bacon Bars 1.2-ounce flying bacon pig 16-ounce bottle stout $42.00 Buy online at VosgesChocolate.com	Go hog wild: Mo’s Bacon Bar, a flying pig and Rogue Stout. Alas, beer cannot be shipped to Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. Suggest to your state legislators that they repeal this consumer-unfriendly legislation.