Best Reviewed
Chocolate
- Best chocolate overall. L.A. Burdick *Est. $28
- Best gourmet chocolate for connoisseurs. Recchiuti Confections *Est. $83
- Best American-style chocolate candy. Bridgewater Chocolate *Est. $35
- Best caramels. Frans Chocolates *Est. $48
- Best truffles. Candinas *Est. $33
- Budget chocolate candy. Fannie May *Est. $23
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Best chocolate overall.
- Best gift chocolate for the money
- Chocolates have intense, long-lasting flavor
- Inventive flavors are exotic, but not pretentious
- Classy packaging
- Reasonable shipping costs
- During summer months, overnight shipping (starting at $10.50) is the only option
Reviewers agree that when it comes to overall quality and value, L.A. Burdick chocolates are the best in their price class. Critics say that the chocolates vary widely in flavor, from familiar to exotic, but every one is a winner and none of them are too "out there." Reviewers also praise the company's attractive packaging -- typically a wooden crate tied with a ribbon -- and the inclusion of small chocolate and almond "mice" with silk tails. Domestic shipping rates are surprisingly low, but overnight shipping is the only option to states with warm climates or during the summer months in other states. If you're looking for more traditional chocolate candies with less adventurous flavors, reviews point to Bridgewater Chocolate (*est. $35 for 20 pieces).
NPR.org, Real Simple, SeriousEats.com, Vogue and the Rosengarten Report have all reviewed L.A. Burdick chocolates. The majority of these reviews cover a dozen or so brands. David Rosengarten is the only reviewer to have gone the extra mile, chocolate-wise, by sampling 700 boxed chocolates. An amateur reviewer, Eric Postpischil, weighed chocolates to determine the actual per-pound cost, and he took note of customer service. We wish professional critics had done the same.
Our Sources
1. The Rosengarten ReportDetails/Subscribe
David Rosengarten, a former writer for Gourmet and a Food Network reporter, selects seven all-time great chocolates from a pool of 700 confections. L.A. Burdick is among them.
Review: Forget the Seven Deadly Sins: Behold the Seven Best Chocolates in America, David Rosengarten, Sept. 3, 2001
2. VogueDetails/Subscribe
In this account, food critic Jeffrey Steingarten tastes 40 boxes of chocolates from the country's best chocolatiers. Chocolates from L.A. Burdick receive the highest score.
Review: Dark Victory, Jeffrey Steingarten, Feb. 2007
Ed Levine, an occasional contributor to The New York Times' dining section, runs this lively site for food enthusiasts. Levine is a fan of L.A. Burdick's chocolate mice, and he says the company is obsessively attentive to detail. He also recommends the chocolate-lemon cake.
Review: Chocolate Faves for Valentine's Day, Ed Levine, Feb. 8, 2007
4. Real SimpleDetails/Subscribe
Reviewer Sarah Humphreys recommends chocolates in seven categories. It's not clear how many chocolates were tested, and Humphreys offers no details about the ordering experience or wrapping. L.A. Burdick chocolates are described as "precious but unpretentious."
Review: The Best Chocolates, Sarah Humphreys, Feb. 2002
Erin Hartigan sampled eight chocolates, and although we're glad that she provides shipping costs along with the prices of the, her reviews are brief. Her top picks include L.A. Burdick.
Review: Taste Test: Valentine's Day Chocolates by Mail, Erin Hartigan
Shawn Sell and Tish Boyle, editor-in-chief of Chocolatier magazine, pick 10 of the best "boutique chocolates" available by mail order. Boyle loves L.A. Burdick's signature chocolate mice as well as their hand-piped penguins.
Review: Ten Great Places to Buy Mom the Very Best Chocolate, Shawn Sell, May 5, 2005
7. NPR
Melody Joy Kramer and a panel of NPR employees conduct a blind test 30 of chocolate brands. Unfortunately, this very brief review is limited to Burdick's chocolate mice.
Review: A Bittersweet Guide to the Best V-Day Chocolate, Melody Joy Kramer, Feb. 5, 2007
8. Eric's Site
Software engineer Eric Postpischil reviews more than 90 chocolate purveyors on his blog. He considers Burdick's work superior to that of many other chocolatiers, but he notes that the company sent the chocolate on the wrong day.
Review: Chocolate Store Reviews, Eric Postpischil
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