Outlet Find #2

The second chocolate shop I found just really a chocolate shop unlike Harry & David's which sells a wide range of foods.  This was the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory outlet in the Tanger Outlet Center in Williamsburg, Iowa.  As you can see in the photo to the left it was night time when we visited this outlet mall and this shop is located at the end of the eastern side of the back strip of

Hershey's Special Dark Pieces Revealed

You've heard of Reese's Pieces, I'm sure, Sisters and Brothers.  You've heard of Hershey's Special Dark chocolate bars.  Now you can get a bit of both as one of the new line of "pieces" candies from Hershey's.  I bought this with a coupon and when it was on sale.  I happen to like the Hershey's Special Dark bars though not as much as specialty dark chocolates I find it a solid choice that you can

Dark Version Health Comparison #3: Milky Way

I want to see a show of hands, or comments, Sisters and Brothers.  How many of you have had a Milky Way candy bar from Mars?  You know the "rich chocolate, creamy caramel, smooth nougat" on the label Milky Way.  How many of you have had the Milky Way Midnight Dark variation that came out a few years back just as the hype about darker chocolate being healthier was beginning?  I've had one a while

Famous Name Chocolate for Charity

Who has not heard of the actor Paul Newman?  Anyone reading this not heard of this?  Before his passing away in September 2008, he had more than 80 credits as an actor but also worked as a writer, director and producer plus over 30 awards as testament to his skill.  But he and his daughter also started a food company called Newman's Own which specialized in organic foods and donations to charity

Winner of Hot Chocolate Maker Announced

The winner of the Bonjour 32oz French Hot Chocolate Maker from CSN.com is: Cheap Ethnic Eats

I will contact her today if their email works.  If an email is not available I will randomly draw another winner and contact them until I can find someone to send this hot chocolate maker to.

Simply Divine Candy Shop

While on a trip recently, your Chocolate Priestess was on the lookout for chocolate shops and chocolatiers, and she found a lot of nothing, frankly, but that's for another post.  I did find a nice big candy shop in downtown Cedar Rapids Iowa called Simply Divine and went in for a visit.  "Pete," the shop owner, is a very vibrant lady who gave me some of their fudge to try, so I'll be revealing

White Chocolate & Peanut Butter Spread

Don't forget to enter this month's contest HERE.  Winner will be announced Sunday morning so you need to hurry.   A few months back, I reviewed a dark chocolate and peanut butter spread from Peanut Butter & Co.  Today I want to review the other chocolate and peanut butter spread I found in my local Kroger on sale one week: "White Chocolate, Wonderful" as it is called on the label.  Does it live

Earth Day & Chocolate

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day which was supposed to make us all more aware of the harm human beings can do to the planet.  As you know, Sisters and Brothers, I always mention when a company uses recycled materials, when they use chocolate and other ingredients that are produced through ecologically sounder methods, and if they support any charities through your purchases.

But today

Win Hot Chocolate Maker

Today, Sisters and Brothers and folks just looking at The Chocolate Cult, we are reviewing a product and hosting a contest for you to win a copy of this exact product for your own use.  First the review and then I'll tell you how you can win your own hot chocolate maker.

We use a lot of things in our homes ranging from barstools, to pillows, to cups, to clothing, to food.  As foodie bloggers and

Tiny Iowa Chocolatier Creates Delights

Divine Decadents in Shellsburg, Iowa, is a tiny chocolate shop, and they primarily work as a supplier to other chocolate shops and restaurants, but you can buy from them directly or stop in their store.   When I visited the store, I bought a few things, as I try to do when I physically visit a chocolatier, and they gave me some products as well.  Sacraments, as you may know, Sisters and Brothers,

South Dakota Chocolate #2

While up in Watertown, we happened to come across another local chocolatier making for two such shops in one South Dakato town.  This one is wonderfully named Sweet Memories and is downtown on East Kemp.  They don't currently have a website though the store owner, Randy H. Schliesman told me they are planning on creating one so you'll need to check out their Facebook page I've linked.  Randy is a

South Dakota Chocolate #1

On our spring trip, we found some chocolate shops in Iowa but also in South Dakato where the Milk Chocolate Acolyte's parents, brother and grandma live.  A friend of the Acolyte's owns a shop in his hometown and while they didn't have a chocolate shop of any type that we could find, he knew of one a bit north in Watertown aptly named Watertown Confectionery.  So one morning we drove up and

Iowa Chocolate #4

Simply Divine in downtown Cedar Rapids was another chocolate or candy shop your Chocolate Priestess visited during her spring trip through parts of the Midwest.  I was so disappointed by the lack of any chocolate shops all across Illinois on 74 and from the eastern edge of Iowa to my hometown of Vinton that I frankly bought too many of these -- the lady, Pete, who owns the store and helped me out

The Pleasure of Pocky

If you can remember, Sisters and Brothers, I bought a lot of different internal products for World Chocolate Day and International Chocolate day this past fall/winter.  I promised I'd review them later and today is another of those reviews.

Have you hear of Pocky?  It's a Japanese treat which is basically a 5 inch long biscuit stick, like a thin bread stick almost, that is about 5/6 covered in

Chocolate Varieties Galore

Looking for unique chocolate flavors and textures?  Then the sample we received from Life's So Sweet may be just what you are looking for.  Shipped in eco-friendly packaging was this little gold box that held a lot of chocolate, ten different flavors to be exact.  These are preservative -free, so if you order them make sure to eat them within a few weeks or store them safely in the fridge so they

Chocolate & Stress: Political Witness

Our Chocolate Coconut Acolyte recently brought the following piece of information to my attention: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned the eating dark chocolate helped her cope with the stress of trying to pass healthcare legislation.   I had not heard this NPR report but here is a copy for you to consider.

Regardless of what you think of Speaker Pelosi or healthcare reform itself, it's nice to

Book Review: "Chocolate Fads, Folklore & fantasies"

Several of the gifts your Chocolate Priestess received for her 2009 birthday were books about chocolate. Some were cookbooks which I've reviewed by now and which you can find links to along the left hand side of this blog if the books are still in print.  Some were histories or general information about books.  Today I want to review Linda K. Fuller, PhD's Chocolate Fads, Folklore; Fantasies:

Girl Scout Cookie Chocolate Options

You've probably seen the Girl Scouts out selling cookies this year.  Perhaps they stopped by your house, you neighbors' kids or your own even.  Perhaps you found them in grocery stores selling extra boxes -- that's where we bought two types of cookies which have chocolate.  Today I want to review them and let you know a bit about what your purchase of these cookies can do.

First thing to note is

Outlet Find #1

On your Chocolate Priestess' 2010 Spring Trip she found an outlet mall, to be specific, Tanger Outlets in Williamsburg, Iowa. In that mall she found two chocolate/candy shops: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, which I'll look at later, and Harry & David where I bought something and they very generously gave us several samples to try. Which means, that some time later this year they will be in

You Got Tea in My Chocolate!

Hedonist Artisan Chocolates sent us two samples to reveal on The Chocolate Cult.  Today we will try their Spring Tea collection.  They came in a simple brown box with a yellow natural ribbon tied to a business card from the company.  Inside were five flavor combinations of darker chocolate and infused tea, which you can see below.  These came with a strip of paper identifying each flavor, so it

Iowa Chocolate #3

We found Drew's Fork-Dipped Chocolates on the way home taking 80 all across the state of Iowa in the town of Dexter not that far from Des Moines the capital.  This small shop began in 1927 and the current owner let me buy some as well as gave me some samples that will be featured in a future Saturday Sacrament probably in May.  They don't have a website but I'll give you their contact information

Chocolate Cures Cancer

"Chocolate Cures Cancer"

"Chocolate Stops Strokes"

"Chocolate Diet Miracle"

April Fools!

But seriously, how many of us, Sisters and Brothers, have seen such claims online, in flyers and even in stores and on packages.  These headlines are showing up more and more these days.  A week doesn't go by that your Chocolate Priestess doesn't see see a report about a medical or scientific study about