TCHO

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Goodbye Hersheys and hello TCHO.  TCHO is steadily becoming more of a household name, at least within the Bay Area.  Many restaurants and cafes use their product, Smitten being one of them (see post HERE).  Their factory along the Embarcadero provides a free chocolate tour daily, but because of its popularity you have to reserve online ahead of time.  Not exactly Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but it does offer some fun facts on chocolate and some free tastings.  No tickets are needed to peek through the giftshop and cafe.   

TCHO chocolate already has a pretty rich chocolate taste, but for $2 you can get a "shot" of 3oz of rich drinking chocolate.  For those that want to test how much of a chocolate lover they are, I suggest ordering that.  Its intense dark chocolate that is so thick, it coats your mouth with a velvety smooth chocolate layer.  Supposedly drinking this shot will give you a euphoric feeling, but I had to stop myself at a couple sips and tap out.  Too chocolate for me.

    

Address:                 TCHO
                                Pier 17
                                San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                       dessert

Popular chomps:     chocolate shot
                                 mocha

Chomp worthy:        anything chocolate        

Littlejohn's Candies

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Candy stores seem to be popping up all over the city.  First Hooker's Sweet Treats (see post HERE) and now Littlejohn's.  All these candy stores make it a little hard to start the new year being good.   

San Francisco is the second location of this sweet shop (the original being in Los Angeles).  Littlejohn's has a little bit of something for everyone.  From English toffee, chocolate dipped fruit, to homemade fudge. 

All the candies are made in house!

Its hard to pass up their signature English toffee, especially when they tempt you with a free taste as you walk in the store.  Sweet, crunchy toffee topped with pieces of walnut remind me of Almond Roca but better. 

The English toffee boxes make for the perfect holiday gift.  I know I passed out a couple boxes...

  

Address:                 Littlejohn's Candies

                                1422 Market St.
                                San Francisco, CA

Type:                       candy/chocolate

Popular chomps:     English toffee
                                 fudge
                                 pralines

Chomp worthy:        English toffee      

Hooker's Sweet Treats

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Hooker's Sweet Treat is named somewhat appropriately considering its placed in the middle of the Tenderloin.  This artisanal sweet shop sells Sightglass coffee to sip on as you nibble on their sweet treats.

Besides salted caramels, .the small shop also sells cookies, and a bread pudding.  They do have one savory item - a cheddar biscuit, in case you aren't in the mood for something sweet.

The flourless chocolate cake has a nice crust of chocolate with a gooey center.  It wasn't too chocolatey to make you feel sick, but just the right amount to satisfy your sweet tooth without making you feel guilty.

The handmade salted caramels are the popular item here.  There are two flavors offered:  regular sea salt dark chocolate covered caramel), 3rd nut (caramel with cashews and almonds).  Best part is you don't have to trek to the ghetto and you can purchase them online in the safety of your own home.

Usually when I think about salted caramels I think hard, like my teeth are going to get pulled out of my mouth hard or so sticky that I spend the next hour trying to get it out of my teeth.  The salted caramels here are chewy, but so soft it actually melts in your mouth.  The sprinkle of salt gives you enough salt to make your mouth water and doesn't overpower the flavor.  Caramels are often so sweet that one is usually enough for me, but here at Hooker's they have a subtle sweetness so you can indulge in a couple more.

  

Address:                   Hooker's Sweet Treats
                                  442 Hyde St.
                                  San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                         chocolate/dessert

Popular chomps:       bread pudding
                                  salted caramel
                                  flourless chocolate cake

Chomp worthy:         salted caramel
                                   flourless chocolate cake     

Sanders Potato Chip Chocolate Bar

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On my way to get a sandwich for lunch at Schaub's in Palo Alto, a chocolate candy bar caught my eye.  I've had chocolate dipped potato chips before, but never in a chocolate bar.  I remember loving the salty taste and crunchy texture mixed with sweet chocolately goodness.  I sort of hoped that this would rekindle some of those great chocolate memories and tastes.

The bar itself is quite large.  I liked how it was sectioned off into breakable and bite size pieces.  The chocolate is rich and velvety, but there wasn't many potato chips pieces mixed it.  Not sure if the chocolate absorbed most of the salt in the mixture process, but there were no salty bits.  Once in a while I would bite into a chunk of potato chips, but that just reminded me of the crispy bits of a crunch bar.  Sad...

Hershey's Kisses Air Delight

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Hershey's newest addition to its kisses family.  Having seen these commercials multiple times during this holiday season, my curiousity got the best of me and I picked these up at Walgreens.  Aerated chocolate.  Fancy name for chocolate with holes.  Honestly, first thought I had was Hershey's came up with a candy where they give you less chocolate and make more money.  So bubbly holes - a gimmick or is there really something to it?  I'd have to say gimmick.  Besides some extra softness to the chocolate I can't really find anything exciting about this.

Cacao Sampaka - Spain ( Barcelona)

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hot chocolate

biscuits

Verdict:                   Stop by for a chocolate tasting or if you are looking for a gift for you or someone else!

Address:                 Cacao Sampaka

                                       c/ Consell de Cent, 292

                                       Barcelona, Spain

Type:                         cafe
                                       casual 

Chomp worthy: all chocolate items!

Chocolateria San Gines - Spain (Madrid)

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Chocolateria San Gines

Chocolate con churros

 Made to order. Hot, crispy when brought to your table.  The cup of hot chocolate is thick - enough so that you can dip the churro with a nice shiny coating, but still easily drinkable.  The chocolate doesn't have a rich  chocolatey flavor.  Its very different than the super sweet chocolate bars you find in the States.

Verdict:                   Its not the best churros, but its definitely one of the more popular spots in Madrid and a must visit. 

Address:                  Chocolateria San Gines 

                                        Pasadizo de San Gines, 5 (Sol) 

                                         Madrid, Spain

Type:                           dessert, snack
                                         casual

Chomp worthy:  churros with chocolate

Random facts:

• open 24 hr
• popular late night spot after hitting the bars