I don’t know about all these other sites, but Norman Love is one of the top 10 confectioners in the US. I live not too far from the place and I tell you, if little bits of heaven solidified and fell to earth…
…you’d still pass them over to get to the Norman Love chocolates.
Highly informative descriptions for chocolatier & each item. From simple bars to great chunks of baking chocolate. Plus chocolate sauces, cocoa mix, etc.
They are very overpriced and not as good as some other Truffles I have had, including Criterion that I mentioned above. I bought my wife a small box one Valentines day and it was $40. I bought the same size box from Criterion for Christmas/Hanukkah and it was less than $20 and tastes better.
I’d be very happy to receive a 1/4 lb. or 1/2 lb. box of assorted chocolates from Godiva. I know a lot of Dopers seem to have it in for them, but don’t overthink this. You don’t have to scour the ends of the earth for the Best Chocolates On The Planet. Godiva makes great chocolates and are easily available. And there’s great stuff at Target, too. She’ll just be happy you thought of her, and spent more than on a Whitman’s sampler. Malley’s is also good, but not as pretty as Godiva.
Wait a second, I know of no doper prejudice against Godiva, if you say there is one, I’ll will accept your word for now. I presented a simple cost analysis. They charge a premium based on their name recognition and yet I have had better chocolates for much less money. The Op specifically mentioned he was *“hoping for like, a $20-30 range”. * I do not think I nice box of Godiva Chocolates will fall into this range. The Target’s idea sound much likely to be in the price range.
Please do not include me in any vast doper conspiracies.
Trader Joe’s also carries some very nice chocolate bars. I’m currently addicted to thier Organic Milk Chocolate Truffle. Also carry a loverly Swiss bar with lots and lots of hazelnuts but since I killed that bar a couple days ago, I can’t pull the wrapper for the brand. It’s a bar, inside a box, and it’s light brown. Says 30% hazelnuts. Absolute Heaven should be the name.
Piron Belgian Chocolatier is a small storefront family-owned place in my hometown, which IMO makes stuff that kicks Godiva’s butt. The owner is a 2nd-generation Belgian guy who went back to the Motherland to apprentice himself to an artisanal chocolate-maker. It’s impossible to walk into that place and walk out empty-handed; you should see the line down the block on Valentine’s Day!
I’ll third this. When I went to Belgium on vacation my family had only one request, chocolate.
I can’t say the same for my girlfriend at the time, who knew that the majority of diamond trade in the world went through Antwerp…
But he is from Belgium originally. (I can get Bernard Callebaut chocolate in my local supermarket. Envy me!!! )
I just came in here to make sure people weren’t telling you that Dove and Hershey bars were good chocolate. You may continue. Oh, actually, if she likes the good, dark stuff, try some extra dark on her (60% cocoa and up) - it’s not for the faint of heart, but it has a taste all of its own that I’ve grown to love. Or an assortment of cocoa percentages - I would love that.
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