This is the Message Centre for loonycat - run out of fizz

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Post 1

j_z_d

Haven't 'spoken' since last year(couldn't resistsmiley - winkeye). How've you been?


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Post 2

j_z_d

smiley - dohYes & any interesting smiley - choc lately? I foumd some South African smiley - chochttp://www.vgchocolate.co.za with smiley - star anise, rather unique & very good!


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Post 3

loonycat - run out of fizz

smiley - wow this is a surprise! smiley - biggrin

Decent smiley - choc has been a bit thin on the ground lately, just the usual Christmas fare. smiley - erm But I did have a smiley - choc fudge sundae when we were out for dinner yesterday smiley - drool I have to get the last spoonful out even if it means tipping the glass upside down smiley - laugh

Happy new year smiley - smiley


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Post 4

j_z_d

Yes Happy New Year!smiley - biggrinsmiley - hug

Oddly enough I found that smiley - choc at what seems a rather seasonal source for smiley - choc, http://www.winners.ca (somewhat of a discount dept. store - apparently the conglomerate that owns them also owns various stores in the U.S. as well as The U.K. & Germany).


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Post 5

loonycat - run out of fizz

Sorry for keep smiley - running off!

I had a look at the corporate link - they own TK Maxx in UK, I didn't realise there is one not too far away smiley - ok

Got to go to work *sigh* Chilly there until they fix the heating!!


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Post 6

j_z_d

Oh not a problem! smiley - hug Real life has a habit of beckoning quite persistantly at times, doesn't it. smiley - erm

Ah good to know that you have a TK Maxx closeby!

smiley - yawnWith the time difference I'd best brush my teeth & get to bed, it's now smiley - yikes2:39 am!



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Post 7

loonycat - run out of fizz

I love the way you yawned there so I could see your teeth smiley - biggrin

I'm hoping real life will be a lot more straight forward this year! Just booked a couple of weeks off work during the summer smiley - ok


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Post 8

j_z_d

smiley - laugh Rested now & some Italian smiley - choc purchased a couple hours ago...quite good too!smiley - ok It's a 75% cocoa solids Tanzanian smiley - choc, from a company I'm not familiar with(but then again I don't spend any time in Italysmiley - winkeye)- Feletti http://filbertsandchocolate.blogspot.com/2008/12/feletti-dark-chocolate-tanzania.html filbertssmiley - huh Nothing but smiley - choc in the two bars I bought although that is the Exact packaging, with the elephant and the dark-skinned Atrican There is no website mentioned on the package.


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Post 9

j_z_d

I was going to mention, the summer is probably the best part of the year to have time off!smiley - ok

Something smiley - choc-related(but no surprise theresmiley - winkeye). I purchased a Patric bar the other day. They're a small American smiley - chocmaker - & I say 'maker' because they actually make the smiley - choc, in the culinary vernacular 'from scratch'.(I haven't tried the bar yet, but the anticipation is building!) Five of such enterpreneurs(sp?)have formed a smiley - chocmakers guild called the Craft Chocolate Makers of America, you can read about it at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1709894.htm . I don't know how much of their product will be widely available(Canada or The U.K.), although I have-thanks to Kerstin hersef at Kerstin's Chocolates, tried the De Vries & aside from the Patric she also imports the Amano.

smiley - dohhttp://www.patric-chocolate.com


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Post 10

loonycat - run out of fizz

You have been busy! Let me know what the Patric bar is like smiley - smiley

I've been trying to be good after the over-indulgence period smiley - blush I did find this useful little list though smiley - ok

http://www.ceder.net/chocolate/label_web_sites.php4


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Post 11

j_z_d

smiley - biggrinOohsmiley - tasmiley - hug


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Post 12

j_z_d

Hmm just scanning quickly, I've tried quite a few of those.


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Post 13

j_z_d

That said though, not even a third of the total number of brands...perhaps a quarter.


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Post 14

j_z_d

smiley - ermI wish I had something positive to report regarding the Patric bar. Perhaps it was over-anticipation or possibly I should have compared it with either Kerstin's French(she uses the Michel Cluizel in her Chocophilia bars)or the Spanish Valor bar I have. It just struck me as rather one-dimensional-a good dimension, don't get me wrong!smiley - winkeye It could also be that I need to fine-tune my palate more...that or refine/clearly define a tasting routine or process. I still have a portion of the bar left, so I'll have another go at it in a few days.


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Post 15

loonycat - run out of fizz

smiley - cheerup Shame about the Patric bar. I have a hankering for something dark and slightly spicy at the mo smiley - drool

Did I mention before that Green & Black's smiley - choc has origin's in my home town? smiley - smiley


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Post 16

j_z_d

smiley - ok Green & Black's you say?

Speaking of dark & slightly spicy, I discovered another American purveyor of smiley - choc at Winners. Called Chuao- http://www.chuaochocolatier.com , the company is located in California & owned by two Venezuelan brothers(one of them trained as a French smiley - chef). If you look at their various products via the 'Shop Online' link, you'll see that he's developed some interesting flavour combinations.smiley - smiley My dark & slightly spicy favourite is their Spicy Mayan bar-which is also available as a cocoa/hot smiley - choc powder, with both Pasilla & Cayenne chili peppers....with a few sips of smiley - redwinePort it brought a distinct but very pleasant warmth to the back/top of my throat.smiley - okThe Firecracker bar is also quite interesting, although more of a novelty imho, you know something different.


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Post 17

j_z_d

Another smiley - chocupdate - I purchased one of Anthon Berg's http://www.anthonberg.com Therapy smiley - chocs, their Wellness variety with extracts of green tea, ginger & lemon. Really quite good! The other two listed on the website(click 'International', 'Home', the 'Nordic Berries' panel & then 'Therapy'-in the margin)are Focus with extracts of schissandra berries & guava and Drive with extracts of yerba matte & papaya. They have a rather unique flat, thin & distinctly curved shape...much likesmiley - crisps.


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Post 18

j_z_d

Hmm, in relation to post# 14 & that Patric smiley - choc. I roasted some organic smiley - coffeebeans from Sumatra-to a darker Full City + roast-Fri., ground them & brewed them in the caffetiere(sp?)/french press just now. Very nice complimentary or somewhat smiley - choc-enhancing pairing imho, as the smiley - coffeehas rich smiley - choc notes. smiley - smiley


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Post 19

loonycat - run out of fizz

smiley - bigeyes I see you have been busy!

Have not been participating on the smiley - choc front lately. smiley - sadface
I did find a stray bottle of Kopparberg pear smiley - cider earlier which went down rather nicely after a roast dinner smiley - ok


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Post 20

j_z_d

Mmmmm, pear smiley - cider that Does sound good! Would very likely be just the thing to compliment the Spanish Valor smiley - choc with pear.smiley - winkeye


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