at Tue, 11 May 2004 16:24:52 GMT in
>, 28762153
@tmicha.net (Demetrius Zeluff) wrote :

(dawn) wrote in news:99da95ad.0405110340.29ab02f5
:
>
>> I absolutely adore chocolate, whenever and whereever! Even chocolate
>> spread is delicious eaten by the teaspoon. It is a women's best
>> friend.
>
>Waitrose in Cheltenham sells Michel Cluziel, which is a very nice
>chocolate. I have a terrible memory, so I can't remember the name of the
>type I prefered, but it had a blue not orange band.

Blue square at the top center of the wrapper = Amer Brut 72% (superb)
Blue border to the entire wrapper = Ilha Toma (excellent) or
Hacienda Tamarina (very good)

Orange border to the entire wrapper = Hacienda Concepcion (excellent)

Ilha Toma has largely been replaced by Hacienda Tamarina so don't expect
to see it return any time soon.

Cluizel is indeed one of the best chocolatiers in the world, perhaps the
best overall for chocolate bars, looking across the range. The Amer Brut is
IMHO somewhat better than Tamarina or Ilha Toma. Look for a bar with a
green border: Hacienda Los Ancones. This is the best of his 1er cru
collections - the single-origin bars - and by most accounts one of the best
chocolates ever made. The consensus seems to be pretty unanimously
enthusiastic on this one.

Also, if you like milk chocolate, definitely try Chocolat Grand Lait Cacao
Pur Ile de Java 50% (salmon square at the top of the bar). This is (at
least IMHO, the best milk chocolate in the world.

And for the true chocoholic, try Noir Infini 99% - unsweetened chocolate
for eating (it's also great for baking, btw). This is the surest test of
how much you like chocolate: those who really like chocolate will love it.
Those who are in truth sugar-holics rather than chocoholics will not be
thrilled with it.

>
>They also sell rococo, which I haven't tried yet, but I will soon.

Good, but a lot of the bars are simply repackaged Valrhona. Valrhona is on
a similar high plane to Cluizel quality-wise, but tend towards a much more
fruity flavour. As a result it's more polarising - you will either like it
or strongly dislike it.

--
Alex Rast

(remove d., .7, not, and .NOSPAM to reply)