Someone once said, “Who cares about falling in love. I’d rather fall in chocolate.”
While that person was kidding (right?!), there is a lot to be said about the aromatic, earthy goodness of refined cacao seeds. Whether dark or milk, as a candy bar or in a box of assortments, chocolate can turn an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.
There is no better time than Valentine’s to showcase the most popular confection and treat. Enjoying chocolate – as a candy, coating, syrup or drink – can be love at first taste!
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy chocolate and the Seattle purveyors that do it right.
We start with two of our region’s best-known makers of chocolate: Fran’s and Theo. They are well-established brands with a Seattle HQ and significant presence throughout the region.
Fran’s – Locations in Georgetown, downtown Seattle, University Village, Bellevue, as well as Japan and sold by retailers across the U.S. Fran’s is a traditional chocolate maker and considered among the best in the country. A visit to Europe and the world’s finest chocolates prompted Fran Bigelow to start her own business in the 1980s. She has refined and expanded her products ever since.
Theo – Looking to take it up a notch? Try the factory tour or attend a class at Theo’s Fremont home base. Theo was founded in 2005 by Joe Whinney and Jeff Fairhall – nope, no one named Theo (to my knowledge) – and is the first organic, fair trade-certified chocolate maker in North America. The business uses playful flavors in its chocolate – orange, strawberry, raspberry, licorice – to stand out from the crowd. Theo’s organic dark chocolate peanut butter cup received high marks from Consumer Reports for lower sugar and sodium content. You can find Theo in most local shops, including Bartell Drugs and food markets.
indi – This small chocolate operation at Pike Place MarketFront makes a big and lasting impression. Indi sources cacao directly from Latin American farmers and cooperatives to make small-batch dark chocolate in all forms – bars, spice rubs, as well as body-care products made from cocoa butter. The company even offers chocolate-infused mixology kits; all you need to bring is the booze! Visit the factory/shop to enjoy them all. Check out my insightful interview with the owner.
Chocolati – A mom-and-pop chocolate café, Chocolati specializes in a wide variety of handmade truffles. The genesis of the business name is from the Aztec and Mayan word “xocolati,” which means drink of the gods – a perfect description of Chocolati’s hot chocolate, available in dark and semisweet blends. A special touch: Warm, gooey syrup dipped along a portion of the mug’s rim. Yum! There are shops in Greenwood, Wallingford, Green Lake, in the downtown Seattle library, as well as the factory outlet in North Seattle.
hot cakes – For something truly different, try the made-to-order miniature chocolate cakes at hot cakes molten chocolate factory in Ballard and Capitol Hill. The most popular variety is dark decadence, made with Theo chocolate, dry-burned caramel, cocoa-nib toffee and Bluebird vanilla ice cream on the side. There are also vegan, dairy- and gluten-free cakes. I tried the strawberry, filled with warm chocolate lava, fruit pieces and jam that complement the cupcake-sized marvel like a wonderful pairing of red wine and dark chocolate. You’ll want to scrape the caked edges off the baking cup to get every morsel. This may be one place where mom won’t mind if you played with your food.
Seattle Fudge – We couldn’t leave this topic without mentioning another form of chocolate goodness – fudge. Located in the Seattle Armory, next to the Needle, Seattle Fudge offers a great selection of flavorful fudge in half-pound slices or 8 oz. portions at the shop. Rocky Road, Almond Toffee Crunch, European Dark, Peanut Butter and Mint are just a few examples of the tasty options. You can also find Seattle Fudge at the Washington State Fair.
Boehm’s – Beyond Seattle, folks on the Eastside will likely be familiar with Boehm’s Candies & Chocolates. From truffles to chewy caramels, this Issaquah mainstay has been delivering smiles for more than 80 years. I think you’ll enjoy the many forms that Boehm’s presents chocolate – wrapped around crispy rice, peanut clusters or as single treats. Visit the Edelweiss Chalet shop and factory, tour the 12th-century chapel or even enjoy a class. (Book well in advance!)
In all cases, these fine chocolatiers will ship goods anywhere in the U.S. Check their websites to learn more.
No matter what flavor or how you like to consume the tasty treat, Seattle has you covered with some of the best chocolate. Enjoy … and save some for me!