Sugar Savvy

Waaay back in 2008, I reviewed Amano’s then complete line-up of single-origin bars and gave them my highest rating. They’ve since released a new Jembrana bar and updated their packaging with a shinier, artsier look. I was pleasantly surprised with a free pair of their newest bars for tasting. Apparently they’d kept my name and […]

At a recent chocolate tasting event, Anya Wayne, co-owner of the custom confectioner Bellatrix Confections, shared a recipe for a party mix designed to take advantage of the different varietals of chocolate now availble.
Of course, being a candy maker, Wayne has what she describes as a spare room full of chocolate to choose from.  I ended up […]

When I visited London last year, I made sure to do the standard touristy things, including visiting Harrod’s department store. My second favorite part about Harrod’s was trying on uber-expensive designer shoes - I had no hopes of actually affording them (paying rent, just a tad more important), but hey, they were out in the […]

This past Sunday was the 2nd annual Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon. The Chocolate Salon is a chocolate show in the Los Angeles area that takes place at the Pasadena Center, where chocolate lovers can taste artisan and gourmet chocolate, as well as hear chefs and authors talk about their products.
I was fortunate enough to […]

Every once in a while, you’re fortunate enough to experience something so eye-opening that it changes the way you frame your worldview. After falling in love for the first time, or tasting your first Jelly Bellies, schoolgirl crushes and plain old generic jelly beans will never be seen the same way again. Amano’s trio of […]

Amano is one of less than 20 chocolate makers in the United States actually making their own chocolate. This is to say that they begin with raw beans, roast and grind them, and then create small-batch, high quality chocolate bars. Hence the he name “Amano,” which translates to “by hand.” Chocolate savant David Lebovitz spells […]

Annabelle’s Rocky Road is a retro candy that’s easily distinguishable by its bright red wrapper. I first read about Annabelle’s, who also makes the Abba Zabba and the Big Hunk, in Steve Almond’s Candy Freak. The wrapper promises milk chocolate coated marshmallow with cashews, which I was excited about, as it’s hard to go wrong […]

I have to admit I already had quite a crush on Charles Chocolates. I first flirted with them at a Fancy Food Show a few years ago. Somehow I kept coming back to Charles’ booth to nibble a little more on this, sample a little more of that. I couldn’t get enough.
My […]

Again with the Das Caramelini … they keep sending and we keep reviewing (and chewing).  (Enter “das” in the search field our our site here to see 6 previous reviews of Das salted caramels in a variety of flavors.)
To avoid redundancy, I will simply say that the remarks and opinions put forth with regard to the other […]

I had previously enjoyed reviewing the classic version of the Das Caramelini caramels, and Alicia and Joanna liked the lemon & honey and ginger & pistachio, respectively. When Das Foods sent even more caramel flavors for us to review, I was quite excited to get to try the Chai Latte.
The spices that comprise Chai […]