PrintThe best commercially available dark chocolate bar is...
So I need to pick up some dark chocolate bars for a holiday gift and I've always wondered what's the best. Unfortunately, ordering online isn't an option as I need it this week. Any nationally available brand is fine, but I'd also be happy with anything NYC-specific.
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8 Comments:
Jacques Torres would make an impressive gift--nice design, suitable for romantic or not. Also some of the best filled chocolates in the world. Check out the DUMBO location or the one on Hudson St...
Cathy@noteatingoutinny at 2:38PM on 12/19/06
I'm partial to Dagoba dark chocolate myself, which you can get at Whole Foods, Zabars, and other gourmet grocery stores.
There's also a Scharffen Berger store on the Upper West Side, and SB is also very good. They also get bonus points for pretty packaging and it looks more "gift"-y. I also enjoy their cacao nibs and chocolate covered champagne grapes.
Here's an oldish taste test:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/07/FDGDS43BHC1.DTL
kathryn at 2:39PM on 12/19/06
For those not needing to spend a lot, I always put in my gift baskets Trader Joe's A pound and then some (17.6 ounces) dark. It looks large and the taste is suprisingly good cost less than 5.00. Comes in A few flavors as well.
JerzeeTomato at 3:46PM on 12/19/06
Valrona
NYminknit at 9:13AM on 12/20/06
does the person plan on using it for baking or for eating out of hand? if it's the latter, i'd like to suggest a couple of different options. one easy to find option is green and black's organic chocolate bars. the "maya gold", flavored with orange and spices is a favorite of mine.
you also have the option of heading to soho to vosges chocolate. if you can get over the pretentiousness of her silly "how to eat a vosges chocolate bar" written on the side of the package you will be rewarded with some chocolate bars with interesting flavors and spices. my favorite is the oaxaca bar with gaujillo and pasilla chilis. it's not "hot" just a little bit spicy (in the best possible way) my second favorite is the red fire exotic candy bar, flavored with mexican ancho, chipotle chili and cinnamon.
if it's for baking, here's what i rely on almost exclusively: valrhona for bitter and semisweet, and for unsweetened, i always use scharffen berger.
hope this helps. have a nice holiday!
the word yes at 12:15PM on 12/20/06
Thanks guys. I ended up following kathryn's advice due to time constraints. It's hard to argue with the convenience of Whole Foods.
Next time I'll plan better and head to Jacques Torres or try out some of the flavored chocolate. The giftee likes her chocolate plain (i think!), so the flavored chocolate will have to be for me.
capndesign at 3:45PM on 12/20/06
P.S. The San Francisco Chronicle's taste test this week was on baking chocolate, and my preferred brand, Valhrona, rated pretty low, but Trader's Joe rated pretty high. I can't find the link, but FYI.
NYminknit at 4:19PM on 12/21/06
Lots of great NYC chocolate: MarieBelle and Vosges in SoHo, Maison du Chocolate on the upper east. If you like a little spiciness try the Cowgirl brand available at Kitchen/Market.
Tamarind at 3:05PM on 12/22/06