Cluziel's Grand Lait 45%

Region: Blend

Cacao Content: 45%

Michel Cluziel is noted for saying, "to arouse pleasure, chocolate must delight the palate like no other exquisite sweet." His Grand Lait 45% bar does exactly this. Like all of his other chocolates it melts smoothly in your mouth and has notes of carmel and hazelnuts.

A HISTORY NOTE: Cluziel started concocting chocolates in 1947 at his parent's pastry business. This was the start of a very prosperous chocolate relationship between himself and his parents that would last for roughly 36 years. His first chocolate shop was opened in 1987 in Paris and 10 years later he made his first single origin/single estate bar, Hacienda Concepcion.

Come into Chocolopolis on June 27 to experience Cluziel's delightful milk chocolate blend.

Bar of the Week: Cluizel Los Ancones

Region: Dominican Republic

Cocoa Content: 67%

Michel Cluizel describes this bar as having notes of red berries and green olives with a lingering flavor of currants and apricots. We describe it as being delicious.

Rediscover Caribbean cacao this Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Back in Stock...

Our shelves are well-stocked this week with new shipments from Amedei, Askinosie and Dolfin.

As our featured maker of the month it's only fitting that we brought back two of the bars that make Amedei one of the finest chocolate makers in the world, the Chuao from Venezuela and the "9" bar whose name is taken from it's blend of nine beans from around the world. Also on hand is the Bianco Con Pistacchi, a delicious white chocolate blend studded with Bronte pistachios.

Another option on the white chocolate front is Askinosie's single-origin San Jose Del Tambo white bar, made with the unique addition of goat's milk powder. This isn't your traditional white chocolate bar and we have plenty of samples for anyone who would like a taste. For those that like a little crunch in their chocolate we have Askinosie's white bar with salted pistachios and one with cacao nibs.

Our inclusion section is bursting with bars blended with everything from passion fruit to pink peppercorns, and Dolfin brings two flavored milk chocolate bars to the mix. The first is a blend of 32% milk chocolate and sencha green tea from Japan, while the Hot Masala bar is spiced with ginger, black pepper, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon.

In the truffle case we've brought back the pineapple and coconut confections by Norman Love as well as one new treat, a peanut butter ganache blended with Swiss milk chocolate.

With all of the options available in our store we know that one bar is never enough, and that's why we're developing a frequent customer card to reward you for your business. The actual card is still in the works but we'll let you know as soon as it's available.

Bar of the Week: Pralus Papouasie

Region: Southeast Asia

Bean Type: Trinitario

Cocoa Content: 75%

This photo was taken prior to Pralus' recent packaging overhaul. The Papaousie is not quite the POW of hot pink it once was. It's now a more subdued, natural, eco-friendly brown with a stripe of the old pink. But, packaging aside, the quality and flavor of the bar haven't changed a bit!

The Papouasie is crafted from cacao beans grown in Papua New Guinea. It's flavor offers just a hint of the smokiness that characterizes southeast asian cacao. Due to the moist climate, cacao growers often use wood fires (rather than sunshine) to dry their beans. As a result, a delightful smokey flavor comes through in the finished product.

As always, we'll be sampling it out next Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00!

Saturday Sample: AMEDEI CHUAO!

Mark your calendars, chocolate fans, because this coming Saturday, June 6th, you are in for a rare treat. It's June, and this month we've chosen to feature Amedei--that infamous, Tuscan, brother-sister team. In tribute, we'll be sampling out Amedei's prized 70% Chuao chocolate from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm!

If you're unfamiliar with Amedei, let us tell you a little bit about why we love them. Amedei is widely considered to be the finest bean-to-bar chocolate maker in the world. In fact, Amedei bars have been the recipients of The Academy of Chocolate's coveted "Golden Bean" Award all four years that the award has been in existence, the Chuao alone winning 2 of the 4. See the list of winners for 2009.

Stop in and see our display, complete with Amedei's list of awards, as well as suggested wine pairings for each of the Amedei bars in stock. And please, don't hesitate to ask our staff what makes the Chuao so special!

*One more, thing: Amedei has recently and dramatically reduced their prices. Chocolate excellence, my friends, is finally within your grasp. See you Saturday!