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by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Editors tested 20 boxed chocolates ranging in price from $8 to $97 per box. They group recommended chocolates into two categories: "for traditionalists" and "for adventurous tastes." "Traditional"… chocolates are usually truffles, while the more exotic chocolates had more unusual fillings, such as herbs, spices, and purees of fruits not usually found in boxed chocolate. Editors say that the best super-premium chocolates are "really, really good -- extremely fresh, with smooth, even-melting chocolate; flavors of cream, butter, and vanilla; and fruit fillings and herbal infusions that taste like the real deal, not extracts or concentrates."
by David Rosengarten
David Rosengarten, a former writer for Gourmet and a program host on The Food Network, selects seven brands of chocolates from a pool of 700 confections from 28 international chocolatiers. Three of his… "ultimate" picks are French: Richart, La Maison du Chocolat and Michel Cluizel. Michael Recchiuti and Jacques Torres fall into the "great" category, while many others are deemed "good" or merely "acceptable." We were surprised that Rosengarten's tasting did not include MarieBelle, John and Kira's or Woodhouse.
by Jeffrey Steingarten
In this diverting account, Jeffrey Steingarten and a co-founder of Scharffen Berger, Robert Steinberg, taste their way through 40 boxes of chocolates from the country's best chocolatiers. Along the way,… they break out a bottle of Scotch, and testing becomes significantly less rigorous. In one of many chocolate-related tangents, Steingarten describes the two basic processes by which bonbons are made. Chocolates from L.A. Burdick receives the highest score, while La Maison du Chocolat is deemed the best French-style bonbon. Recchiuti chocolates are praised for their "wonderful smoothness." Steingarten does not discuss packaging or shipping rates.
by Ed Levine
Ed Levine's roundups of the best artisan foodstuffs have earned him the title "missionary of the delicious." His status as a veteran food reporter lends credibility to this short list. After renaming… Christmas "Chocomas," Levine offers 12 sites for extraordinary chocolate online. An identical listing appears in the Valentine's Day article at the same site, but comments chime in with recommendations for Linda Grisham Chocolates and Byrne & Carlson.
by Ed Levine
Ed Levine, an occasional contributor to The New York Times' dining section, runs this lively site for food enthusiasts. Levine and his merry band of testers rave about Theo Chocolates, John and Kira's, L.A.… Burdick, Fran's, Recchiuti and La Maison du Chocolat. Boule L.A. offers crunchy chocolate rochers containing puffed rice. Fran's is best known for its caramels (particularly the salted variety), while L.A. Burdick offers chocolate mice in three flavors (orange, mocha and cinnamon). John and Kira's uses local ingredients whenever possible.
by Marian Burros
Marian Burros presents her annual list of top mail-order food gifts and kitchen accessories. As someone who "doesn't care that much about candy," Burros has rarely included boxed chocolates in her highly… selective list, so her inclusion of Recchiuti Confections' Black Box is particularly significant. In 2004, the selection included lavender-, jasmine-, bergamot- and lemon verbena-flavored chocolates. Although she doesn't describe her methodology, we believe Burros, the author of 13 cookbooks and a veteran food reporter, when she says that all her selections have been thoroughly taste-tested.
by YiLing Chen-Josephson
Chen-Josephson tests eleven chocolate boxes, all of which are available online. She ordered the most diverse box available and rated the chocolate purveyors on taste, aesthetics and ease of site navigation.… Although Chen-Josephson arranges the results from worst to best, she notes that she'd eat "most of the contents of any of these boxes at any time." La Maison du Chocolat, a pricey French chocolate shop, earns first prize for its "understated and exquisite bonbons." Runner-up MarieBelle scores big with its "jewel-like chocolates nestling in their baby-blue box." See's Chocolates earns last place with its overly sweet chocolates. Jacques Torres also finished near the bottom, but Chen-Josephson blames "a box weighted with duds" for this noted chocolatier's poor showing.
by Eric Postpischil
Software engineer Eric Postpischil has posted reviews of more than 90 chocolate purveyors in the United States, France and Germany at his personal website. Most receive brief write-ups that highlight… particular confections. We particularly appreciate Postpischil's discussion of customer service, site navigation and shipping options. Postpischil is one of only two reviewers who actually weigh chocolates to determine whether the cost per pound is accurate or not. Although it's idiosyncratic -- Postpischil crosses out reviews of companies that send him unsolicited e-mail and posts reviews based on just a few pieces of chocolate -- we appreciate Postpischil's informed, unsentimental take on the subject.
by Sarah Humphreys
Reviewer Sarah Humphreys recommends chocolates in idiosyncratic categories that include "Best Small Kitchen," "Best Commercial," and "Best Drugstore." Although the article includes quotes from editors at… the magazine, we're not sure how many chocolates were tested, and Humphreys offers no details about the ordering experience or wrapping. Real Simple calls L.A. Burdick chocolates "precious but unpretentious," Vosges "pure," and Godiva "decadent, in a Donald Trump sort of way." Michael Recchiuti is named "Best High-End Artisanal" for his "delicate synergy of flavors" and "modern, meticulous design."
by Elizabeth Schatz
This article offers information about Woodhouse, Scharffen Berger and eChocolates.com, but author Elizabeth Schatz doesn't provide any tasting notes. Woodhouse's Tiffany-blue box earns praise from the… reviewer, as do Scharffen Berger's wooden boxes. eChocolates' wrapping is deemed "artful, so no further wrapping is necessary." We wish this article included photos of each box and more information about the chocolates themselves.
by Erin Hartigan
Erin Hartigan teams with chocolate-shop owner Ginger Park to test eight brands of chocolate. Although we're glad that Hartigan provides shipping costs along with the chocolate prices, her reviews are brief.… Though she praises the "elegant offerings" of Bridgewater Chocolate, she says nothing about their taste. Her top picks include Candinas, John and Kira's, L.A. Burdick and Michael Recchiuti. Norman Love wowed Hartigan with its "lively flavors and seductive designs." Some of Lillie Belle's chocolates were deemed "chalky." We're disappointed that Hartigan included K. Chocolatier (*est. $125 for 39 to 44 pieces) in this list of favorites, because she reports that some of the chocolates looked "tired" or had "virtually no chocolate flavor or aroma," despite their attractive packaging. She deems this best for "when the presentation's more important," but at these prices, the chocolate should be extraordinary. Hartigan doesn't question the fact that $125 buys you anywhere from 39 to 44 pieces of chocolate.
by Shawn Sell
Shawn Sell and Tish Boyle, editor-in-chief of Chocolatier magazine, pick ten of the best "boutique chocolates" available by mail order. These include Candinas, Recchiuti, John and Kira's and Jacques Torres.… Boyle loves L.A. Burdick's signature chocolate mice with silk tails and hand-piped penguins. Norman Love wins her over with his "edible works of art with brilliant colors hand-painted or airbrushed into the molds." She describes Bridgewater as "classic, American-style knock-your-socks-off" chocolate. Unfortunately, this article does not discuss the ordering process, shipping charges or packaging.
by Editors of the Nibble
Editors select eight of their favorite boxed chocolates with link to full reviews of each one. They rave about L.A. Burdick's heart-shaped wooden box, Recchiuti Confection's Champagne truffles, and Vosges… Haut-Chocolat's molded "Flaming Heart." They also praise Pierre Marcolini's raspberry-filled white chocolate hearts. Unfortunately, editors don't discuss chocolates that didn't make the grade, and they don't describe their testing methodology.
by Kitty Bean Yancey
by Contributors to eGullet.com
At this forum for food enthusiasts, members discuss high-end boxed chocolates in several threads. Although no testing is performed and choices are highly subjective, members tend to be well informed.… Several members, including the owner of a Portland chocolate shop, praise Recchiuti. Norman Love Confections and Christopher Elbow are recommended for their "stunning" chocolates. La Maison du Chocolat is said to sell excellent chocolates at budget prices. Site co-founder Steven Shaw characterizes Jacques Torres chocolates as "world class" and deems them a good value. He considers Wegmans Chocolates by Pierre Hermé to be "the best retail chocolate value out there." He describes Leonidas as "typically Belgian -- light and sweet."
by Melody Joy Kramer
Melody Joy Kramer and a panel of NPR employees blind-tested 30 brands of chocolate, selecting ten winners including Candinas, Fran's, Lake Champlain, Moonstruck and Norman Love. Testers' opinions diverged… sharply: Amano chocolates is deemed "almost perfect" by one tester and "weirdly sour" by another. Some testers recoil at a Whitman's Sampler box, while others rave that Whitman's is "rich and smooth," with the perfect level of sweetness. We wish that NPR had put together an expert panel whose responses were more insightful and less jokey (liquor chocolates are deemed "Better than Pabst!").
by Charles Passy
Charles Passy enlists a panel of women between the ages of 20 and 70 to taste five popular brands of chocolate and rate them for taste, presentation and value. Although the selection purports to be… mainstream, one of the included purveyors, Vosges Haut-Chocolat, is a Chicago-based purveyor with a single store. Although Harry and David's Grand Collection (*est. *est. $30 for 38 pieces) has a printed "ribbon" instead of an actual one, testers award a grade of A- for the box's "stunning variety" and value. Target's Choxie (*est. $25 for a 12.5-ounce box) is downgraded for the "bizarre" appearance of its confections and their "waxy" taste. Whitman's (*est. $24 for 32 ounces) reminds panelists more of Mounds and Heath bars than of fine chocolate.
by Emily Lambert
Forbes testers examine six chocolate brands available at retail stores, looking for flavor, texture and presentation, as well as value. Interestingly, Lake Champlain chocolates bought at Whole Foods edge… Godiva for the top spot. Fannie May earns recognition for value, with the highest score for quality per dollar spent. Testers had "high hopes" for Belgian Leonidas chocolates, but say they were "nothing special."
by Amy Traverso
For Sunset, whose tagline is "Living in the West," Traverso and colleagues sample chocolates from 13 chocolatiers, all of whom are headquartered in the western United States. She scores the chocolates on… quality, range and balance of flavors, artfulness of packaging, and value." Recchiuti Confections is the tasters' favorite, followed by Charles Chocolates and Jin Patisserie, which are recommended for the "artists and aesthetes in your life." Unfortunately, Traverso doesn't list the chocolates that don't make the grade.
by Brett Moore
About.com's guide to gourmet food, Brett Moore, doesn't tell us anything about what criteria was used to create this list apart from "Here are some online chocolate shops with some truly extraordinary… products." What follows is a list of ten companies, along with a blurb taken from the company's website. Moore doesn't appear to have any personal experience with these candy makers (and if he does, he doesn't say so). (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Elizabeth LaBau
About.com's guide to candy, Elizabeth LaBau, reviews a large Valentine's Day box from Michael Recchiuti Confections in San Francisco. She describes the presentation as "simple and elegant," and notes that… the box comes with a detailed guide to its contents. Although she finds the pieces beautifully sculpted, satisfying and inventive, she adds that some flavors were unsuccessful. The ginger piece is overpowering, while the sesame nougat is flat. A spearmint and green tea piece is invigorating and fresh. No other chocolates are tested or compared, however. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Eugenia Bone
by Editors of AOL Food
Editors test 22 chocolate boxes and provide a slide show with a photo of each box alongside each review - a nice touch. But a surprisingly large number of boxes come from Russell Stover, and the results are… confusing - chocolates from this producer are variously rated "yummy," "horrible," and "hit or miss." Oddly, editors review two boxes of wrapped Lindt truffles. Vosges' Exotic Truffle Collection is the editors' pick even though "grandma would hate" the unusual flavors. Michel Cluizel earns raves as much for the "swoon-worthy" box as for the chocolates themselves. Editors don't reveal who the panelists were or discuss their qualifications.
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