Chocolate Banquet Awards


***Chocolate Banquet/Award Winners


People often ask me "What is your favorite chocolate?" I responded by sharing lists of highlights for each year, and then further winnowed these down to annual Chocolate Banquet Award winners in different categories. Many highlighted chocolates went on to become Chocolate Banquet Award winners. I also periodically (a few times a year) do Chocolate Challenges, e.g. the most unusual chocolate truffle challenge in April 2011.


Because I taste different chocolates each year, and do not repeat (at least not on this blog), these lists are constrained by the fact that I eat a different chocolate each day. I also do not eat flour or gluten, which limits the possible chocolate tasting pool to "only" about 10,000 items.

 Chocolate Banquet Chocolate Challenge    ***CB2011

Congratulations to the winners of the April 2011 Chocolate Challenge for most unusual truffle!  Recent winners of the most unusual truffle flavors Challenge (from tasting done at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon, 4/17/2011), included Socola Chocolatier (King of Fruits Durian Easter Egg); Vice Chocolates Sadako Matcha Green Tea and Yuzu truffle; and Amano Artisan Chocolate Yemeni Sidr Honey truffle. 



Chocolate Banquet Awards    ***CB2010                                
Congratulations to this year's award winners!

Best Dark Chocolate Bar (U.S.)
1.) Patric Chocolate - 70% Rio Caribe Superior Venezuela bar - June 30, 2010
2.) Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Lover's 85% bar (Columbia) - July 4, 2010
3.) Kim's Chocolates - Cachet Peru 64% dark bar (criollo and trinitario) - Jan. 14, 2010

Best Chocolate Bar with Flavors (U.S.)
1.) Michael Mischer - Toffee and Murray River Salt bars - Sept. 22-23, 2010
2.) Chocolate Visions - Crimson Cranberry 61% dark bar - Aug. 22, 2010
3.) Alter Eco Americas - Dark Chocolate bar with crystallized orange peel - Oct. 14, 2010

Best International Chocolates (outside the U.S.)
1.) Michel Cluizel - Dark 67% Plantation Los Anacones bar - Sept. 18, 2010
2.) Momotombo - Banana Whiskey chilled chocolates; several others - Nov., 2010
3.) Hotel Chocolat, Ltd. - Purist 50% "Touch of Milk" bar from Santa Lucia - Nov. 1, 2010
4.) Rococo Chocolates - Orange and Geranium organic dark chocolate bar - March 4, 2010

Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Dessert (or beverage) in a Restaurant
1.) Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Las Vegas, NV; Grand Marnier Souffle with chocolate sauce - Oct. 13, '10
2.) Schellville Grill, Schellville, CA; Flourless Chocolate Cake - July 10, 2010
3.) The Grand Mayan Resort, Mexico; homemade hot chocolate - Aug. 31, 2010

Most Original Truffle Flavors (U.S.)
1.) Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge - Salmon Surprise and Anchovy Amour - May 14, 2010
2.) Vosges Buddha's Leaf (Pandan leaf) truffle - April 22, 2010
3.) Vice Chocolates - "Slayer" (with garlic, balsamic) - Nov. 2010
4.) The Xocolate Bar - Kalamata Olive Caramel chocolate - Aug. 7, 2010

Best Filled Chocolates (U.S.)
1.) Michael Mischer Chocolates - Barbeque filled chocolate  - Aug. 2, 2010
2.) Michael Mischer Chocolates - Espresso filled chocolate - July 21, 2010
3.) Michael Mischer Chocolates - Lavender and Honey filled chocolate - Aug. 17, 2010

Best Chocolate and Bacon Items
1.) Luca Chocolate - Chocolate dipped bacon pieces - Feb. 18, 2010
(Note: Luca Chocolate is no more; the top chef is going to vet. school.)
2.) Posh Chocolat - Bacon Caramel with Apple wood smoked salt - March 24, 2010
3.) chocri - Sizzling Bacon Breakfast bar - June 8, 2010

Best Chocolate and Fruit Items
1.) Cafe Madeleine - Chocolate covered strawberries - Feb. 14, 2010
2.) Recchiuti - Key Lime Apples - Feb. 28, 2010
3.) Poco Dolce - Raspberry Bunnies (dark) - April 4, 2010
4.) Ococoa - Cashew Apricot Cup - April 21, 2010

Best Homemade Chocolate Dessert/Mix 
1.) Amy's Kitchen Chocolate (gluten free) Cake - Aug. 16, 2010


Chocolate Banquet Awards   ***CB2009


Best Dark Chocolate Bar (U.S.)
1.) TCHO - Dark Chocolate ("Chocolatey") Ghana 70% squares

Best Chocolate Bar with Flavors (U.S.)
1.) BonBonBar - Single Malt Scotch candy bar - June 17, 2009
2.) Devil in an Apron - Pecan Pie, New Orleans-style pecan pie in 72% dark chocolate "bar" - Jan. 15, 2009
3.) Askinosie Chocolate - Soconusco, Mexico Dark Milk + Fleur de Sel; Trinitario, 52% dark milk chocolate bar (w/ goat's milk powder) - July 31, 2009
4.) MaryJane's Farm - Ginger Jive - dark 66% chocolate with crystallized ginger bar - Oct. 6, 2009
5.) BonBonBar - Caramel Nut Bar - mixed nuts, cacao nibs, buttery salted caramel - Aug. 21, 2009
6.) BonBonBar - Orange bar - orange caramel, pecan nougat - Aug. 20, 2009
7.) Byrne and Carlson Chocolatier Confectioner - Mendiant Bar; 68% cacao; French choc, dried fruits, nuts, candied violets & mint leaves - July 24, 2009
8.) Gnosis Chocolate - Coconut Almond - Handmade Raw Organic Chocolate bar - April 29, 2009

Best International Chocolates (outside the U.S.)
1.) Kshocolat (Ltd - Glasgow) - Orange and Cardomom 72% dark chocolate bar - Sept. 24, 2009
2.) Green and Black's - Hazelnut and Currant bar - Oct. 5, 2009
3.) Enric Rovira - Bombolas de pimienta rosa con chocolate negro - Nov. 9, 2009
4.) NewTree - Thym Alpha - Choc Noir au Thym (Drk Choc w/ Thyme w/ golden flax seeds - Omega 3) bar - Sept. 21, 2009
4.) Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus (Francois Pralus) - Cuba Trinitario 75% cacao bar -  July 3, 2009
5.) Caffe del Doge - TreRe Fondente - dark with hazelnuts - March 24, 2009

Best Chocolate Dessert in a Restaurant
1.) Manresa Restaurant, Los Gatos, CA - Chocolate and hazelnut feuillentine, with olive oil, with bitter chocolate sorbet with sea salt (chocolate dessert topped with chocolate sorbet) - Dec. 8, 2009
2.) Whole Foods - Vegan Chocolate Mousse (Fresh Pack Container) Choc, rice syrup, silken tofu - July 7, 2009

Most Original Truffle Flavors (U.S.) 
1.) Jacques Torres Chocolate - Grand Cru (red wine) - Aug. 17, 2009
2.) Neo Cocoa - Almond Butter topped w/ Smoked Sea Salt truffle - June 15, 2009
3.) Gateau et Ganache - La Passion, Dark Chocolate with passion fruit - June 7, 2009
4.) J. Chocolatier - Sesame - May 20, 2009
5.) Holl's Chocolates - Mint Julep truffle - May 7, 2009
6.) Old Kentucky Candies, Inc. - Bourbon Truffles (Drk Choc, Cream, Jim Beam, salt) - Jan. 23, 2009
7.) Jacques Torres Chocolate - Wicked Fun (ancho, chipotle) - Aug. 16, 2009
8.) Mignon Chocolate - Lavender (dark) - March 8, 2009

Best Filled Chocolates (U.S.)
1.) Seth Ellis Chocolatier - Nutmeg Caramel Snobinette - May 23, 2009
2.) Holl's Chocolates - Kahlua Caramel - May 7, 2009
3.) Old Kentucky Candies, Inc. - Bourbon Cherries - Jan. 25, 2009


Best Chocolate Cookies
1.) Clarine's Florentines - Sliced almond brittle on bittersweet chocolate -  Dec. 28, 2009
2.) La Biscotteria - Amaretti cookies mini chocolate dipped - Nov. 1, 2009
3.) La Biscotteria - Amaretti cookies chocolate ganache, larger cookies topped with blanched almond pieces - Oct. 31, 2009
4.) Natasha's Sweet Temptations - Vanilla-Chocolate Chip (Health Nut) Cookies (gluten-free, made with almond meal) - June 30, 2009
5.) Kee's Chocolates LLC - Rosewater Lychee and Kaffir Lime macarons - Aug. 10, 2009


Chocolate Banquet Awards   ***CB2008


Best Dark Chocolate Bar (U.S.)
1.) Scharffen berger - Finisterra 10th Anniversary Limited Series Blend (Dark)(Venezuela, Trinidad, Madagascar) 72% cacao - Oct. 3, 2008


Best Chocolate Bar with Flavors (U.S.)
1.) Scharffen berger - Milk Almond - Sea Salted Almonds, Milk Choc. (41%) - Oct. 4, 2008
2.) Dagoba - xocolatl (dark choc, chilies, cocoa nibs; 74% cacao) bar - Feb. 19, 2008
3.) The Tea Room - Green Earl Grey Dark bar (58%), organic - May 22, 2008


Best International Chocolates (outside the U.S.)

1.) SOMA chocolatemaker (Toronto) - Douglas Fir
2.) SOMA chocolatemaker (Toronto) - 8-year aged balsamic vinegar

3.) SOMA chocolatemaker (Toronto) - Green Tangerine dark chocolate
4.) Dolfin Chocolat - Fancy Lemon Feeling - Lemon and Ginger dark (Ltd Edition 2008) bar - July 20, 2008
5.) Laderach - Nougatine - hazelnut ganache under (crunchy) almond praline (top/dome) - July 17, 2008
6.) Thomas Haas (Canada) - Jamaican Rum - crunchy sugared shell, rum ganache - July 15, 2008
7.) Dolfin Chocolat - Southern Passion Apricot & Rosemary (Limtd Edition 2008) bar - July 13, 2008
8.) Marquis de Sevigne - Jasmine Tea (dark) - May 17, 2008
9.) Maglio - Cherry Marzipan (cherry, liqueur & almond paste, covrd in dark choc.) - May 10, 2008
10.) Oriol Balaguer - Mascleta, Hazelnut Praline with Tangerine Pop Rocks - Feb. 21, 2008
11.) Oriol Balaguer - Kikos, Hazelnut and Toasted Corn Nuts - Feb. 20, 2008
12.) Bovetti Artisan Chocolatier - Anis/Aniseed Milk Chocolate (32%) bar - July 11, 2008


Best Chocolate Dessert in a Restaurant
1.) Hawaiian Tropic Zone (Chef David Burke) - Warm Flourless Chocolate Souffle Cake with hazelnut ice cream, strawberry sauce - June 16, 2008
2.) Citizen Cake - Pate of Beets and chocolate, frozen arugula, port sauce - March 8, 2008
3.) Red Lotus Restaurant - Chocolate Tartufo (frozen chocolate dessert) - Feb. 23, 2008


Most Original Truffle Flavors (U.S.)
1.) Theo Chocolate - (fresh) Mint - Aug. 10, 2008
2.) XOX Truffles - Cognac truffle - March 5, 2008
3.) Shokolaat - Shokolaat (flavored with Saffron) - Jan. 17, 2008
4.) Charles Chocolates - Charcoal-Roasted Oolong, Jasmine and Lichee Tea Truffles - April 2, 2008
5.) Shokolaat - Brother Monk (flavored with Banyul) - Jan. 15, 2008
6.) Mariebelle - Caipirinha - February 29, 2008
7.) Shokolaat - Scarlet OHara (Irish creme caramel, milk choc., covered in white choc.) - July 1, 2008
8.) South 'n France - Peanut Buttah bonbon - Oct. 10, 2008
9.) Moonstruck Chocolatier - Grenada Truffle - Aug. 23, 2008
10.) Tahoe City Chocolates - Coconut Truffle - Sept. 19, 2008
11.) Chuao Chocolatier - Firecracker bon bon - Nov. 13, 2008


Best Filled/Other Individual Chocolates  (U.S.)
1.) Sahagun Chocolate Shop - Luscious Caramel (hazelnut, lightly salted caramel) - Aug. 2, 2008 
2.) Moonstruck Chocolatier - Conquistador Hazelnut Praline - Aug. 20, 2008
3.) Sahagun Chocolate Shop - Miracle Pill (prune, orange, dark chocolate) - Sept. 14, 2008
4.) Charles Chocolates - Meyer Lemon Marzipan - March 30, 2008
5.) Ethel M - Peanut Butter and Jelly chocolate - March 11, 2008
6.) Shokolaat - 24-Carat Pate de Fruit - Jan. 13, 2008
7.) Tahoe City Chocolates - Honeycomb (dark) - Sept. 25, 2008


Best Chocolate Beverage
1.) Cacao Drink Chocolate - Special Spicy Dark Drinking Chocolate - Aug. 2, 2008
2.) Peet's Coffee and Tea - Peppermint Hot Cocoa w/ small amt of whipped cream - Nov. 23, 2008
3.) Starbucks Coffee Company - Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate (Signature Hot Chocolate flavors) - Nov. 21, 2008


Best Chocolate Cookies
1.) Aunt Gussie's - Chocolate Chip (gluten-free) cookies - June 29, 2008 
2.) Glutino - Vanilla Dream Bites (vanilla cookies w/ choc centers) - June 4, 2008
3.) Edna's - Peanut Butter chocolate chip cookies (gluten-free) - Feb. 24, 2008


Best Chocolate and Fruit Combinations
1.) Jean-Philippe Patisserie - Chocolate-Covered Strawberry with Hazelnuts - June 15, 2008
2.) Chukar Cherry Company - Dark Chocolate Cabernet Cherries - Sept. 30, 2008



                  



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