Category Archives: Food and Drink

Trader Joe’s Organic Hot Cocoa Mix

I love books. I love music. I absolutely adore beer. And when the cool breezes start to blow, I need hot chocolate. It’s a requirement around here. So when I got some “TJ’s” cocoa in the mail, I rushed to … Continue reading

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Taza Chocolate’s Mexican-Style Stone-Ground Super Dark

In spite of the name, Taza is an American company manufacturing, among other things, Mexican-style stone-ground chocolate. Yes, that’s just what it says: the chocolate, from organically grown cacao, is ground between mill stones. Founder Alex Whitmore first ran across … Continue reading

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Alter Eco Dark Blackout 85% Cocoa Chocolate Bar

“I’m sending you some chocolate.” – has there ever been a more wonderful message? “It’s 85% cocoa.” – maybe not so much?  I don’t like dark chocolate over 75%. That’s what I’d tell people. All of the chocolate I’d had over … Continue reading

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Happy Farms Preferred Transylvanian-Romanian Cave Cheese

I love cheese. I love Halloween.  Transylvania is on my travel bucket list. So when my local Aldi unveiled Transylvanian cheese this season, I was all over it. And I’ll be sad when this seasonal treat leaves shelves, because it’s … Continue reading

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Dunkin’ Donuts’ “Spider Donut”

‘Tis the season. When October comes ’round, lots of places get their theme on and go full ghoul. Dunkin’ Donuts is no exception … but their execution of the Halloween spirit looks like actual murder. I bring you: Spider Donut. … Continue reading

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Minding the Stockpot

Even visitors to Kinrowan Hall get put to useful work if someone such as the Kitchen staff needs a hand as Elizabeth Bear, author of such works as the White Space novels of Ancestral Nights and Machine discovered one autumnal evening… Oh, hey there. Come … Continue reading

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Diana Malouf’s Ococoa

Every so often an unexpected, and very welcome, treat shows up in my mailbox, courtesy of Cat, who’s constantly on the lookout for new chocolate-related review opportunities. This time around it was a box of bonbons from Diana Malouf’s Ococoa … Continue reading

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Bali’s Best Candies: Latte, Espresso, and Tea

It’s rare to find a beautifully designed package that actually has great product inside; less so when the subject is coffee candy and the reviewer is … well … picky as hell on both counts. But Bali’s Best Premium Collection, … Continue reading

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Vivani’s Organic Dark Chocolate Espresso

In spite of the name, Vivani Organic Dark Chocolate Espresso is made by a German company, Ludwig Weinrich GmbH, which been in the business of producing fine chocolates for a century. Like so many contemporary confectioners, Weinrich uses only organic … Continue reading

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Sirius Konsum’s Chocolate & Lakkris

I absolutely adore black licorice. Wasn’t always so.  I used to turn my nose up at it when I was Trick-or-Treating age, and my father gleefully took the offensive items out of my bag and sighed with happiness at each … Continue reading

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