h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Do I detect some nefarious nougat dealings afoot?

...only marginally nefarious

so, not mainstream full in your face (or rather, behind your back) nefariousness?

some 'behind the back' involved I admit, although primarily in the protecting of respective best interests(...hmm, I phrased that rather w ell didn't I!)

The aforementioned 'respective best interests' could be efficiently condensed to 'my interests' I take it?

The question of the amount of nougat stashed and given, however, is still unknown.

Hmm, perhaps my interests slightly moreso than his, however I think after our years of friendship I know him well enough to shall we say 'divert' certain things. In this case I 'disposed' of a chile pepper-infused , which he isn't fond of(this being a & nut confection).

I'm more your old World nougat afficianado: pink/white striped bars with a 'rice paper' base. Or those Spanish confections which are nougat-ish, the name of which totally esapes me!

Now let me go black with a delicious licorice!

Ah licorice...I had tried a nice soft organic one, I believe of Finnish origin(Scandinavian in any case). Although there is a very popular Australian one that I haven't tried...yet!

Yes Google it... http://www.panda.fi/engl ...don't ever recall seeing Panda though.

But to elaborate on my answer to your question in post #21, Swiss & Belgian are generally(I think, not that I've conducted a survey)the most popular imported . Of course French (which Kerstin http://www.kerstinscholates.com )uses in her creations has always been somewhat of a candidate for the list. However the French & Italian may have required a bit more searching out. As I said, I prefer the German-I must try a newer German bar she's brought in. Dutch has been available for years & is reasonably good. Of course there are a few ethnic groceries such as the Italian Centre http://www.italiancentre.ca -hmm, seems they're reconfiguring the site-which import a variety of products including . In fact I've had good Polish http://www.wawel.com.pl/?lang=en & eastern european - http://www.kras.hr comes to mind, from Herzegovina I believe. I have even found some Very nice Spanish within the last year or so, not recently.

*waves*

*raises cup*

In news, I have an event on the horizon that I'm eagerly awaiting. That's a Tasting(& I assume discussion, much like a tasting)of particularly 80% and higher . So venturing over to the decidedly 'dark side'. Awaiting the 19th of Nov. should be somewhat easier now that I'v stumbled on more of that Spanish . The brand name is Valor http://www.valor.es/Index.asp -consider opening in a new tab/window-& I purchased two Gran Valor bars, with a minimum 70% cocoa solids, almond paste and roasted almonds.

Sounds particularly scrumptious!

Spain? The rain you say? No mention of ?

I found(but didn't purchase all of)a good quantity of the other Spanish brand I had discovered last year - http://www.chocolates-amatller.com (again I suggest opening that in a new tab/window-those Spanish sites!)...& I had forgotten how good they are! In particular I selected two 85% min. bars made with cocoa from Ghana-I munch as I type-& one 85% min. bar using cocoa from Ecuador. I've usually seen(when noted) from; Madagascar , Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba, the island of Sao Tome & Africa's Ivory Coast. Madagascar, Sao Tome & Ghana now jostle for supremacy in my mind.Though Cuba, Ecuador & Venezuela-in that order-round out my list of preferences.

Oh & I also recently revisited a Canadian brand/product that I hadn't enjoyed in quite some time. Made on our west coast(lovely photo on the website-hover your cursor on 'Site Navigation', then 'About Us' & click on 'Denman Island'), that's http://www.denmanislandchocolate.com. In particular it was their Cocoa Loco bar I purchased, with 70% cocoa solids.