Chicagoist: Ask Chicagoist: Yummy Chocolatey Smells

Monique

Mon, 15 Aug 2005 21:49:59 -0600

I teavel to Chicago a lot and I have actually toured the Blommer Factory. They are very nice people! Probably nicer when not hounded by the press :-)As far as samples, the Blommer store has many.

payton

Tue, 03 May 2005 09:36:54 -0600

YES YOU CAN SAMPLE! The store has little jars of various kinds of bulk chocolate to sample on the left wall. The bulk chocolate is especially great for making hot chocolate, baking, etc.; the untempered chips are perfect for baking and are dirt cheap. The right wall has 1/2 and full pound bags of freshly made chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, and candies, all in milk and dark varieties. No samples there. /pc

Tony Coppoletta

Sat, 30 Apr 2005 11:25:56 -0600

Actually, the World's Finest stuff is done at like 48th/Lawndale/Archer on the southwest side. They have their own big plant there. When I was in high school, it would waft over onto the school and make me hungry.

jeremiah

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:11:43 -0600

I always thought it smelled like parmesan cheese. anyway, it doesn't smell like any kind of chocolate that I would like to eat, like baker's chocolate. ick.

little me

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 15:19:47 -0600

Rance, Blommer does make milk chocolate too - a lot if it in fact. They do private label chocolate for retailers, and make "world's finest" bars that are sold by many organizations as a fundraiser.

Caryn

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 14:25:41 -0600

I called the store. It is located at 600 W Kinzie. They are open 9-5 M-F and 9-1 Sat

dbt

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 14:18:41 -0600

The factory outlet is still there. I was there about a year ago. Working at the corner of N Wacker and W Wacker, I should wander up there sometime.

Rance

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 14:17:53 -0600

jen: You probably wouldn't by buying from Blommer even if they were polite. -- the sell to the baking industry. You used to be able to buy 10 pound bars of baking chocolate at the company store, back in the 80's. I don't know if you still can or not.

Crissy from Honolulu

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:52:25 -0600

Depending on what else is in the air -- and in River North, it can vary! -- that smell can turn rather rancid at times, I've noticed, especially on Ohio. Still, it's better than being in a number of other big cities, where the prevailing scent would be something more like sewage odor.

rachelle

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:19:53 -0600

this chocolate smell tortures me on a daily basis!!!!

little me

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:46:30 -0600

you used to be able to buy broken and deformed chocolate by the pound very inexpensively at thier factory store, not sure if you still can, haven't been in a couple of years.

m

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:45:21 -0600

I wrote a song once about Blommer Chocolate: We used to make all kinds of things here These days we don't make them anymore Times have changed our world got bigger People moved out factories shut their doors A few places have managed to hang on In fact there's one just down the street from me It brings a silly smile to my face every single day It's the red brick Blommer Chocolate factory It's a cold and gray midwestern morning I grit my teeth and stagger through the snow They're cooking up a batch to warm my spirit At Jefferson and Kinzie, six-oh-six-one-oh Progress dumped out Grandma's old gray icebox And the coal hole's sealed up in the basement wall The sweet scent in the air always reminds me We're not long for this world at all

sam

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:43:55 -0600

i ride my bike by there everyday, and while it might smell good to the casual observer, when the wind is blowing right in your face and your pedaling your ass off going uphill... that is probably the worst smell in the world...

jen

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:23:22 -0600

receptionist hung up on you?!?!? aah, hometown chocolate with no manners, i will not be buying you!