Chocolate Reviews

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Chocolate Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Chocolate Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Cook’s Illustrated >> Details/Subscribe	Valentine's Day Chocolate Editors of Cook's Illustrated Jan. 2005		Editors judge five brands of boxed chocolate available on the Internet, critiquing ease of ordering, presentation, card, and the quality and variety of the chocolates themselves. Editors found to their surprise that boxes from Lindt and Ghirardelli were identical. Godiva's chocolates were fresh and well varied, and the box was beautifully wrapped. Chocosphere inquired about dietary restrictions and selected a variety assortment of chocolate bars that testers liked (testers thought these chocolates would be well suited to a male recipient or a chocolate connoisseur). Two of the five chocolate boxes – Chocosphere and Godiva – earned a recommendation of "recommended." Lindt was downgraded for communications failures and for sending a plain blue box instead of a Valentine's package.
2. Cook’s Illustrated >> Details/Subscribe	Mail-Order Truffles Editors of Cook's Illustrated Jan. 2007		In this article, testers ordered chocolates from six chocolate boutiques and two distributors. Editors preferred Fran's chocolates, which came in an "elegant" box and tasted "luscious" and "intense," but "not too sweet." Dan's Chocolates receives a best-buy award for its "good-quality, straightforward dark chocolate truffles. Chocolates from Vosges, Neuhas, Godiva, Joseph Schmidt and Jacques Torres all earned a rating of "recommended." See's Candies projected an "old-fashioned image," but the quality of the chocolate was not on par with the other chocolates in this test.
3. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Dandy Candy Editors of Consumer Reports Feb. 2007		Editors at Consumer Reports tested 20 boxed chocolates ranging in price from $40 to $90 per box. They group recommended chocolates into two categories: "for traditional chocolate lovers" and "for adventurous palates." 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. Price is not a reliable indicator of quality, as some expensive selections are rated merely "good." This article does not include Consumer Reports usual objective ratings, but does include discussion of each chocolate's unique characteristics. All of the chocolates rated excellent or very good merit "Quick Pick" recommendations, though the better values are further identified as Best Buy selections.
4. The Rosengarten Report >> Details/Subscribe	Forget the Seven Deadly Sins: Behold the Seven Best Chocolates in America David Rosengarten Sept. 3, 2001		David Rosengarten, a former writer for Gourmet and a 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.
5. Vogue >> Details/Subscribe	Dark Victory Jeffrey Steingarten Feb. 2007		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.

Chocolate Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Chocolate Ratings Comments on Reviews

6. SeriousEats.com	Chocolate Gift Guide Ed Levine Dec. 6, 2006		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.
7. SeriousEats.com	Chocolate Faves for Valentine's Day Ed Levine Feb. 8, 2007		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.
8. The New York Times >> Details/Subscribe	Stand Aside, Rudolph: The Mouse Will Lead Marian Burros Nov. 10, 2004		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.
9. Slate.com >> Details/Subscribe	Sweets for Your Sweetie YiLing Chen-Josephson Feb. 2, 2005		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.
10. Eric's Site	Chocolate Store Reviews Eric Postpischil As of Nov. 2007		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.
11. Real Simple	The Best Chocolates Sarah Humphreys Feb. 2002		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."
12. Real Simple	Best Websites for Gourmet Chocolate Elizabeth Schatz Dec. 2003/Jan. 2004		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.
13. The Washington Post >> Details/Subscribe	Taste Test: Valentine's Day Chocolates by Mail Erin Hartigan Not Dated		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.
14. USA Today Magazine	Ten Great Places to Buy Mom the Very Best Chocolate Shawn Sell May 5, 2005		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.

Chocolate Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Chocolate Ratings Comments on Reviews

15. USA Today Magazine	Sweet Spots for Chocolate Kitty Bean Yancey Feb. 9, 2006		USA Today's Kitty Bean Yancey enlists colleagues and experts, including the head of chocolate marketing firm, to taste seven high-end chocolates. Chuao, John and Kira's and XOX emerge the winners, with B.T. McElrath rounding out the top tier. Chocolate Moderne's "appealing and arty" chocolates receive the lowest scores, but the panel only tasted four of their chocolates.
16. eGullet.com	Chocolate Reviews Contributors to eGullet.com As of Nov. 2007		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 praise Recchiuti, including the owner of a Portland chocolate shop. 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."
17. Food & Wine Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Editors' Pick Editors of Food & Wine May 2002		In this brief news item, editors report that Pierre Hermé's chocolates for Wegmans grocery store are available by mail order: "Most thrillingly, his passion fruit milk chocolate ganaches and pistachio-almond pastes dipped in dark chocolate." Although the chocolates, which cost about $33 per pound, are described as a bargain, they are no longer available by mail order due to the vagaries of weather and shipping.
18. NPR	A Bittersweet Guide to the Best V-Day Chocolate Melody Joy Kramer Feb. 5, 2007		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!").
19. Money.com >> Details/Subscribe	Chocolate Taste Test Charles Passy Feb. 2007		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.
20. Forbes >> Details/Subscribe	Best Chocolate For The Buck Emily Lambert Feb. 14, 2007		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."

Chocolate Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Chocolate Ratings Comments on Reviews

21. About.com	Top 10 Gourmet Chocolate Makers Brett Moore Not Dated		About.com 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).
22. About.com	Review of Valentine's Box from Recchiuti Confections Elizabeth LaBau Not Dated		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.
23. Forbes >> Details/Subscribe	Sweet Temptations Eugenia Bone Dec. 2006		In this sidebar to an article titled "Sweet Temptations," Eugenia Bone selects seven chocolate products, one of which is only available for a few weeks a year. She deems Fran's Chocolates "the most refined." Jacques Torres' fruit assortment is her "preferred boxed assortment," but it is no longer available, according to Torres' website.