Good Food Awards for Chocolate 2014

The Good Food Awards published their winners for 2014. The following unflavored bars won awards in the chocolate category:

Askinosie San Jose Del Tambo (Ecuador 70%)
Blue Bandana 70% Madagascar
Dick Taylor Belize Toledo 72%
Fruition Dominican 70%
Guittard 100%
Patric Signature 70%
Rogue Balao (Ecuador 75%)
Rogue Hispaniola (Dominican Republic 70%)
Rogue Silvestre (Bolivia 75%)
Videri Ecuador Camino Verde 90%

The links above go directly to our associated detailed chocolate bar review.

Review: E. Guittard Sur del Lago

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Guittard bar Sur del Lago region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo, Trinitario year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 65% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $3.89

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, signature imprints, scoring, scuffing, bubbles aroma roast (cocoa, coffee), sweet, vanilla, floral snap hard taste roast, sweet, dairy, spice, fruit (red berry) melt smooth to more smooth length short finish slightly sour

Guittard made Sur del Lago with Criollo and Trinitario cacao beans from the Sur del Lago (literally south of the lake) region of Venezuela. The lake to which they refer is Maracaibo.

This bean to bar chocolate was made with 65% cocoa solids (including added cocoa butter) and had other ingredients of cane sugar, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans. The two ounce bar was scored into 12 pieces, each with an E. Guittard signature imprint. It came enclosed in brass-sided foil inside a paper wrapper. The best before date on the bar I reviewed was August 2012.

Sur del Lago had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was smooth, but had substantial scuffing and several tiny bubbles. The snap was closer to hard than medium hard.

The aroma of this chocolate consisted of roast, sweet, vanilla, and floral scents. The roast was a mix of mostly cocoa with a little coffee.

I tasted roast and sweet flavors, with some dairy, occasional spice, and fruit. The fruit flavor, which included red berry, was relatively subdued behind the strong sweet roast.

The melt of Sur del Lago was right on the cusp between smooth and more smooth. The flavor lasted 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The finish was slightly sour.

You can purchase Sur del Lago for $3.89 online directly from Guittard, or for $3.25 from Chocosphere.

Review: E. Guittard Tsaratana

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Guittard bar Tsaratana region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 61% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $2.89

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with signature imprints, scoring, bubbles, scuffing aroma roast (cocoa), vanilla, fruit (coconut), sweet (hint of caramel), nut snap hard taste floral, roast (cocoa), sweet, vanilla melt more smooth length medium finish slightly acidic, very slightly bitter

E. Guittard makes three dark chocolate bars with blends of cacao beans: Nocturne with 91% cocoa solids, Quetzalcoatl with 72% cocoa solids, and this bar: Tsaratana with 61% cocoa solids.

The ingredients of Tsaratana were cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans. The two ounce bar was scored into 12 pieces, each with the E. Guittard signature imprint. It came enclosed in brass foil inside a paper outer wrapper. The best before date on the bar I reviewed was July 2013.

The color of the chocolate was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface was smooth, but there was a bit of scuffing and a few bubbles. The bar had a hard snap.

Tsaratana had an aroma that reminded me of an Almond Joy® bar from my childhood: a cocoa roast with sweet coconut, vanilla and nut. I also smelled a hint of caramel in the sweetness.

The taste was floral with cocoa roast and vanilla flavors. It wasn't especially sweet at the beginning, but grew to be very sweet by the end.

The chocolate had a more smooth melt. The length was medium, with the flavor after the chocolate was gone lasting 25 to 30 seconds. The finish was slightly acidic and very slightly bitter.

Tsaratana surprised me with a nice aroma, a pleasant simple flavor, great melt and solid length. If you like chocolate this sweet, this is one you should try, and it's a bargain for the price.

You can purchase Tsaratana online for $2.89 directly from Guittard, or for $2.50 from Chocosphere.

Review: E. Guittard Quevedo

Lindy's Rating: 6.5

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Guittard bar Quevedo region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees Forastero year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 65% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $3.89

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with signature imprints, scoring, scuffing, bubbles aroma floral, roast (cocoa), sweet, fruit (banana) snap hard taste floral, roast (tea), sweet, nut melt smooth length medium finish slightly acidic

Quevedo was a single origin chocolate bar made with Nacional cacao from Ecuador by E. Guittard. This bean to bar chocolate contained 65% cocoa solids (beans and added cocoa butter). Other ingredients were cane sugar, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans.

The two ounce bar was scored into twelve pieces, each with the E. Guittard signature imprint. It came enclosed in brass colored foil inside a paper wrapper. The best before date on the bar we reviewed was February 2013.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was smooth, but had scuffing and some tiny bubbles. The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma consisted of floral, roast, sweetness and fruit. We experienced the roast as cocoa and the fruit as banana.

Quevedo tasted floral, with a roast in the form of tea, and sweet. The tea flavor lacked the usual associated tannin. The sweetness was nicely less strong than we expected from a chocolate with 65% cocoa solids. I also noticed some nuttiness. Lindy described the flavors as muted, but I found them mild rather than muted.

The melt was smooth. This chocolate had a medium length, with the flavor lasting 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was slightly acidic.

You can purchase Quevedo online for $3.89 directly from Guittard, or for $3.25 from Chocosphere.

Sale: 20% off Bonnat, Guittard, Lake Champlain chocolate

Sales this week at World Wide Chocolate include 20% off Bonnat, Guittard and Lake Champlain chocolate using coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through February 21).

They are also continuing several of their 15% off sales by nationality:

• Amano, Blommer, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Patric, Potomac, Scharffer Berger, Taza, and Vermont Nut Free chocolate using coupon code AMERICAN15
• Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Yves Thuries, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona chocolate using coupon code FRENCH15
• Divine, Hachez, and Viviani chocolate using coupon code GERMAN15
• Amedei, Domori, L'Artigiano, Maglio, Slitti, and Venchi chocolate using coupon code ITALIAN15

You can view the full list of promotions here.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

In addition, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Michel Cluizel Squares" in the Comments field during checkout will receive 5 free bite-size 5 gram chocolate squares of Michel Cluizel chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 20% off Patric and Guittard chocolate

World Wide Chocolate's sales this week include 20% off Artisan du Chocolat, Côte D'Or, Guittard and Patric chocolate using coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through January 23).

They are also continuing their 15% off sales by nationality:

• Amano, Blommer, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Patric, Scharffer Berger, and Vermont Nut Free chocolate using coupon code AMERICAN15
• Becolade, Cafe-Tasse, Callebaut, Cavalier, Chocolove, Côte D'Or, Dolfin, Galer, Godiva, and Nirvana chocolate using coupon code BELGIAN15
• Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Yves Thuries, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona chocolate using coupon code FRENCH15
• Amedei, Domori, L'Artigiano, Maglio, Slitti, and Venchi chocolate using coupon code ITALIAN15

You can view the full list of promotions here.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

In addition, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Michel Cluizel Squares" in the Comments field during checkout will receive 5 free bite-size 5 gram chocolate squares of Michel Cluizel chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 15% off all chocolate again this weekend

World Wide Chocolate is having a 15% off everything sale again this weekend. Mix and match any of the many chocolate brands they sell. Use coupon code weekend15 during checkout for this discount. If you are spending $100 or more, use coupon code weekend20 for 20% off instead.

Note that the existing sale of 20% off Patric, Guittard, Artisan du Chocolat, Valor, Godiva, and Callebaut chocolate with no minimum purchase using coupon code SPECIAL20 continues through Monday. NOTE: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 20% off Guittard, 15% off nearly all other chocolate brands

This week World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Guittard and Valor chocolate using coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through December 19).

They have 15% off many other chocolate brands by nationality (also through December 19), including:

• Amano, Blommer, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Patric, Scharffer Berger, and Vermont Nut Free chocolate using coupon code AMERICAN15
• Becolade, Cafe-Tasse, Callebaut, Cavalier, Chocolove, Côte D'Or, Dolfin, Galer, Godiva, and Nirvana chocolate using coupon code BELGIAN15
• Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Yves Thuries, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona chocolate using coupon code FRENCH15
• Amedei, Domori, L'Artigiano, Maglio, Slitti, and Venchi chocolate using coupon code ITALIAN15

Finally, if you want to mix and match chocolate of multiple nationalities, you can use coupon code take5 to get $5 off a purchase of $30 or more, or coupon code take10 to get $10 off a purchase of $60 or more. These two coupon codes may end today.

As a bonus treat during checkout, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Michel Cluizel Squares" in the Comments field will receive 5 free bite-size 5 gram chocolate squares of Michel Cluizel chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate has some additional promotions available on other chocolate products.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Review: E. Guittard Chucuri

Lindy's Rating: 7.0

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Guittard bar Chucuri region Colombia plantation (blend) cacao trees Trinitario year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 65% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $3.89

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with signature imprints and scoring aroma sweet, roast (smoke), floral, hint of vanilla snap hard taste sweet (butterscotch), floral (rose), herbal (mint), tannin, fruit (melon), hint of nut melt smooth length medium finish tannin

E. Guittard made single origin Chucuri with Trinitario cacaco beans from the San Vicente de Chucuri Valley in Santander, Colombia. This chocolate had 65% cocoa solids (including added cocoa butter) and additional ingredients of cane sugar, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans.

This two ounce bar was scored into 12 pieces, each with the E. Guittard signature imprint. The chocolate came wrapped in brassy-colored foil inside a paper cover. The best before date on the wrapper of the bar we reviewed was April 2012.

Chucuri had a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) color. The surface was smooth, with a few tiny bubbles. The bar had a hard snap. The aroma of this chocolate was sweet, with a smoky roast and obvious floral scents. I also smelled a hint of vanilla.

The taste of Chucuri first gave us a butterscotch sweetness. We tasted an unusual rose floral flavor, along with a herbal mint. Lindy also noticed tannin, and I experienced a melon flavor and a slight nuttiness.

The melt was smooth. The flavor lasted 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a medium length. Lindy tasted a flash of bitterness before the finish. The final aftertaste for both of us was tannin.

Overall, while not as wonderful as the magnificent Colombia bars of Santander or Domori Teyuna, Chucuri is a good single origin chocolate from that area and better than Pralus Colombie.

You can purchase Guittard Chucuri online for $3.89 directly from Guittard or for $3.35 from Chocosphere.

Review: E. Guittard Ambanja 65%

Lindy's Rating: 7.5

Richard's Rating: 8.0

chocolate maker Guittard bar Ambanja region Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo, (unknown) year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 72% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $3.89

color light brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth with signature imprints and scoring, slightly uneven sheen aroma earth, spice (clove), roast (cocoa), coconut, vanilla snap hard taste sweet (brown sugar, honey), blueberry, orange, spice, roast, earth melt smooth length medium finish sweet, slightly sour, slightly tart

Ambanja is a single origin bar made by U.S. chocolate maker E. Guittard. It was made with a mix of Criollo and other cacao beans from the Sambirano Valley of Madagascar. Ambanja had 65% cocoa solids (cacao beans and cocoa butter); the other ingredients were cane sugar, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans.

This two ounce bar was scored into 12 pieces, each with an E. Guittard signature imprint. The chocolate came wrapped in brassy-colored foil inside a paper cover. The best before date on the wrapper was October 2012.

The color of Ambanja was a surprisingly light brown Fudgesickle color (PANTONE 19-1431), almost as if it were a milk chocolate. The surface was smooth, with some slight differences in sheen. Those differences appear more dramatic in the photo above than they were in person. The bar had a hard snap.

This chocolate had a strong earth aroma, but with other scents as well. We smelled a spice that I experienced as clove, a roast in the form of cocoa, a scent of coconut, and vanilla.

Ambanja had sweet flavors of brown sugar and honey, but the strongest flavor became blueberry as the chocolate melted. Adding complexity were an orange and a mixed spice. Note that the orange wasn't a citrus fruit, but more like an extract. I also tasted roast and earth.

The melt was smooth. The flavor lasted about 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a medium length. The finish was sweet and slightly sour, and after a few minutes the final aftertaste was slightly tart as well.

You can purchase Guittard Ambanja online for $3.89 directly from Guittard or for $3.35 from Chocosphere.

Review: E. Guittard Quetzalcoatl 72%

Lindy's Rating: 5.5

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Guittard bar Quetzalcoatl region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 72% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $2.89

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with signature imprints and scoring aroma roast (cocoa, smoke), sweet, vanilla, hint of floral snap hard taste sweet, vanilla, roast (cocoa) melt smooth length short finish slightly bitter, slightly chalky

United States bean to bar chocolate maker E. Guittard makes both single origin and blend chocolates. Quetzalcoatl, named for the feathered serpent god who brought us chocolate, was made from a blend of cacao beans and is the only chocolate Guittard makes without added cocoa butter. The ingredients were 72% cacao beans, cane sugar, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans.

The bar was the standard two ounce size of Guittard's chocolates. It was scored into 12 pieces, each with an imprint of the E. Guittard signature. The chocolate was wrapped in brassy-colored foil and enclosed in a paper cover. The best before date on the chocolate we reviewed was April 2013.

Quetzalcoatl had a medium-dark brown Bracken color (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface was smooth, with only a little scuffing. The bar had a hard snap.

We both smelled aromas of roast, sweetness and vanilla. The roast was primarily cocoa, but also included clear scents of smoke. Lindy clarified the vanilla aroma to be vanilla bean. I also noticed the suggestion of something floral. As for taste, this chocolate had a straightforward and simple flavor profile: it tasted sweet, with flavors of vanilla and cocoa roast.

The melt was smooth and Quetzalcoatl had a short length, with the flavor lasting 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was slightly bitter and slightly chalky.

Overall, this chocolate wasn't particularly interesting, but it was better than most comparable mainstream bars, such as Ghirardelli, Godiva, Green and Black's, and Lindt.

You can purchase Guittard Quetzalcoatl online for $2.89 directly from Guittard or for $2.50 from Chocosphere.

Sale: 20% off Guittard and 5 free chocolate squares

This week World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Guittard and Godiva chocolate (through November 7th). Twenty percent off Guittard is a good deal, but you can frequently find Godiva priced lower on sale in retail stores. Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout for this 20% discount.

As a bonus treat during checkout, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Venchi Chocolate Squares" in the Comments field will receive 5 free bite-size 3 gram chocolate squares of Venchi chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate has some additional promotions available, but none are especially compelling.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Event: Northwest Chocolate Festival is this weekend!

The Northwest Chocolate Festival will be this weekend in Seattle. Tickets are available online until midnight Friday, or you can pay a bit more at the door.

Since my original posting about the festival, three additional chocolate makers have decided to attend: Dandelion, Guittard, and Ritual. Unfortunately, Lillie Belle Farms had to cancel and will no longer be attending.

NWChocolate.com has also posted the weekend schedule, so if you don't want to attend both days, you can decide which day has activities you'd prefer to experience.

Event: New York Chocolate Show November 10-13

The 14th annual New York Chocolate Show runs Thursday, November 10th, through Sunday, November 13th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closing early on Sunday at 6 p.m.) It is the largest chocolate event in the U.S., and already has at least 48 exhibitors (on the list at the time I wrote this), including Michel Cluizel, Divine, Grenada, Guittard, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona.

In addition to the many chocolate companies, the New York Chocolate Show also includes cooking demonstrations in two theaters, book signings, and activites for kids. They have not yet posted the 2011 information, but you can get an idea from the 2010 information, and check those links closer to the event for updated information.

You may want to wait to purchase tickets until the 2011 schedules are published so you can attend on a day that has more events that interest you.

There will also be special events, but only the Broadway theme fashion show (separate $150 admission on Wednesday, November 9th, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.) has been posted at this time.

Tickets (Enter our FREE TICKETS GIVEAWAY)
Advance tickets cost $30 for Thursday, Friday, or Sunday admission; $35 for Saturday. They can be purchased online at Eventbrite. I do not know any discount codes at present, but if you find one, please post a comment to share it with other readers. Thanks!

At the door, tickets cost $35 for Thu, Fri, or Sun; $40 for Sat. Children ages 5 to 12 enter free (up to 2 per adult ticket); additional child tickets cost $8 (not available in advance). Kids 4 and under enter free. Groups of 20 or more can arrange reduced ticket prices ($25 for Thu, Fri, or Sun; $30 for Sat) by emailing boxoffice@chocolateshow.com.

In any case, due to the expected high turnout, I recommend buying tickets in advance rather than waiting in line at the door.

Location
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011

Event: Northwest Chocolate Festival October 22-23 in Seattle

The Northwest Chocolate Festival (NWCF) will be held in Seattle next month, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day during the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd. Nearly all of the festival will take place in the Northwest Rooms of Seattle Center (305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109). The theme of the weekend is Taste, Learn, and Celebrate.

Tasting includes not only an amazing selection of chocolate (from at least 17 chocolate makers, including: Amano, Chocolate Conspiracy, Divine, Escazú, Fresco, Indahphoria, Kallari, Lillie Belle Farms, Madécasse, Madre, Mindo, Olive & Sinclair, Rogue, Snake & Butterfly, Stirs the Soul, Taza, and Theo), but also chocolate desserts and even drink pairings.

Learning includes a huge variety of more than 70 classes about farming cacao, trade equity, crafting chocolate from the bean, single origin chocolate, tempering chocolate, pairing chocolate, health benefits, etc. For an additional $8 [$10 at the door] and attending 5 classes, NWCF is offering their Chocolate Academy "Masters in Chocolate Level 1" certificate, which also includes Chocolate Academy membership. Membership benefits include a quarterly newsletter, discounts on tickets to future festivals, and invitations to special chocolate events at partner businesses.

Celebrating is highlighted by Saturday night's Chocolate Masquerade Ball at Sole Repair (1001 E. Pike St., Seattle WA 98122). This special event has separate admission. It starts at 8 p.m. with a Chocolate Dessert Showcase and Competition, with awards for the best desserts. At 10 p.m., there will be a Best Costume contest. Attire is black tie and/or masquerade.

You can read more about the entire weekend on their website: http://www.nwchocolate.com/.

In addition to these activities open to everyone, 100 VIP tickets are being sold that include full weekend passes, an exclusive "Meet the Maker" opening night reception of wine and chocolate, a VIP-only chocolate and pairing event, a complimentary drink flight in the Beer, Cider, Spirit and Wine Garden during the festival, the Chocolate Academy certificate described above, and a chance to win two tickets on Alaska Airlines.

You can purchase any of the following tickets in advance and pick up your non-transferable ticket at Will Call with photo identification:

• $37.50 full weekend pass [$40 at the door]
• $22.00 one day pass (age 13+) [$25 at the door]
• $6.50 one day youth pass (age 5 to 12)
• $89.00 VIP full weekend pass and more
• $42.50 chocolate masquerade ball [$50 at the door]

With so many bean-to-bar chocolate makers and great classes, the third annual Northwest Chocolate Festival might be the best chocolate event in the U.S. this year. If you will be in the Seattle area, you do not want to miss it. Lindy and I are attending, and we hope you'll be able to get there, too!

Store: kakáo: website is up and a few changes

kakáo has made a few changes since I first posted about them in April.

• They extended their hours until 6 p.m. on weekdays and are now open on Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
• kakáo also has a website with a little content: http://www.kakaoseattle.com (replacing http://www.kakao.us that had been a placeholder for two years and is no longer in use).
• When I was there yesterday, I noticed they had two new bars: Nocturne from E. Guittard and a dark chocolate with pomegranate bar from Nirvana.

In any case, I've revised the detailed original posting about their store to include this updated information.

Sale: 20% off Michel Cluizel and Guittard

This week World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Michel Cluizel, Guittard, and Vintage Plantations chocolate (through May 16th). Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout for this 20% discount.

They also have 15% off Belgian chocolate. Coupon code BELGIAN15.

Here is the complete list of their special offers.

If you are interested in buying multiple chocolate brands, World Wide Chocolate has their more or less normal offers:

• 5% off orders over $15: 1day5-15
• 15% off orders over $60: 1day15-60
• 20% off orders over $250: 1day20-250
• 25% off orders over $550: 1day25-550

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping is free on orders over $150. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 20% off Domori, 15% off Amano and Guittard

World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Domori, Cacao Barry, and Côte d'Or chocolate this week (through May 9th). Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout for this 20% discount.

They also have 15% off American chocolate, including Amano, Blommer, Dagoba, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Scharffen Berger, and Vermont Nut Free. Coupon code AMERICAN15. Check the price before you buy, as you can find lower prices elsewhere for some of them (such as Ghirardelli).

They are still continuing their 25% off Zotter chocolate sale (coupon code ZOTTER25).

Here is the complete list of their special offers.

If you are interested in buying multiple chocolate brands, World Wide Chocolate has their more or less normal offers:

• 5% off orders over $15: 1day5-15
• 15% off orders over $60: 1day15-60
• 20% off orders over $250: 1day20-250
• 25% off orders over $550: 1day25-550

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping is free on orders over $150. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 20% off Valrhona and Guittard chocolate

World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Valrhona and Guittard chocolate this week (through April 25th). Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout for this 20% discount.

Here are direct links on World Wide Chocolate to Guittard and Valrhona bars.

They are also continuing their 25% off Zotter chocolate sale (coupon code ZOTTER25). Here is the complete list of their special offers.

If you are interested in multiple chocolate brands, World Wide Chocolate has their more or less normal offers:

• 10% off orders over $25: 1day10-25
• 15% off orders over $40: 1day15-40
• 20% off orders over $275: 1day20-275
• 25% off orders over $575: 1day25-575

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping is free on orders over $150. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Store: Kakao

Last month I ran across kakáo (pronounced kuh-key-oh) while on a walk in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. I saw the sign in the window and felt compelled to check it out. I'm glad I did.

kakáo is a combination chocolate and coffee shop, with lots of bright, open space in which to hang out. In this converted warehouse, under 15' high wooden ceilings, they have ten tables with chairs, two loveseats, two lounge chairs, free Wi-Fi for internet access (wireless network 415: just ask them for the password), and lots of outlets around the walls and windows (to power your laptop, etc).

chocolate store	kakáo
website	http://www.kakaoseattle.com/
address	415 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 United States
phone	(206) 388-5467
hours	Mon-Fri	7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
	Sat	8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
online shopping	no
shipping area	N/A
warm weather shipping	N/A
chocolate makers	Amedei Michel Cluizel Claudio Corallo Dagoba Fran's Green and Black's Guittard Kallari Komforte Lindt Madécasse Moonstruck François Pralus Republica del Cacao Scharffen Berger Taza Theo Valrhona Vosges
special deals & events	free Wi-Fi
last updated	February 24, 2012

With more than 50 different chocolate bars of more than a dozen different brands, kakáo has the second largest collection of quality chocolate in Seattle (including some not available at Chocolopolis).

At the espresso bar, they serve Valrhona Celaya drinking chocolate in addition to more traditional drip coffee and espresso. Their coffee is from local Seattle green coffee maker Herkimer. A small collection of pastries is also available.

The shop is officially open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but a barista let me know that they are usually open by 7:15 a.m. Their website is only a placeholder at present, but the owner, J.B., intends to add content and perhaps eventually sell chocolate online (I'll let you know if he does!)

kakáo has a side room that holds up to twenty people that is available for free, and can even be reserved. They also have a huge venue space for rent in back that has a capacity of 300 people (200 for a seated event). Call and talk to Jim if you're interested in more information about their venue space.