Results tagged “chocolate”

Mars Inc. is closing five of its six Illinois Ethel's Chocolate locations by the end of the month. Fans of Mars's haute chocolate salon will have to travel to Skokie to get their fix. [Crain's]

Biting into a peanut butter bonbon from Vosges Haut-Chocolat can be a transcendent experience. So, evidently, can being in the Chaturanga position. Combine the two and you’re well on your way to inner bliss at the Chocolate and Book Signing by David Romanelli at Vosges’ Armitage location.

• How to make bacon cups (H/T, McSkippy) [Merriment Design]
• Alpana Singh has some wine and dessert pairings for Valentine's Day. [WWAD]
• Also in time for Valentine's Day, Taste of Peru's sopa de viagra reminds us that we need to get up there and formally review our favorite Peruvian restaurant. [Sun-Times]

The Grainger Ballroom at Symphony Center will be the site for taste TV's inaugural Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon Sunday from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Over two dozen chocolatiers, confectioners and chocolate-related companies will be showcasing their products, offering tastings and chefs demonstrations, and panel discussions with confectioners and authors. The salon will also feature a judged competition.

This is just to tease inspire you. A couple months ago when we shared our recipe for banana bread we asked what sort of extras you like to mix in. This weekend we made banana bread again and stirred in a half cup each of dark chocolate chips and chopped hazelnuts. And then we sprinkled some of each on the top before popping the pan into the oven. We had family visiting later on and they destroyed the loaf. So great as a morning coffee cake or even as an after-lunch dessert, since it's pretty sweet.

On a recent trip out East, a family member convinced us to reconsider the chocolate covered pretzel. We were not convinced that anyone had finally struck the fine balance between salty and sweet, crunchy and smooth. Into our mouth went a pretzel, lightly coated with milk chocolate and small red candied dots. Chew, chew, chew,…hmm, salty and sweet but with a kick. It was a Mexican hot chocolate pretzel. Who knew they came like this? Next, we tried a pretzel with Chai spice infused chocolate. Then dark chocolate with a hint of mint. These were not the heavily coated, waxy chocolate covered pretzels we’d tried before. These pretzels were crisp and the light coat of chocolate let the saltiness of the pretzel stand out. The different flavors added a great and unique component to the treat.

Moonstruck Chocolate Company, a national purveyor of cute and tasty chocolate treats, is closing its Chicago location today. Crain's Chicago Business reports that the company simply couldn’t cope with competition from the variety of both coffee shops and chocolatiers in the neighborhood, most notably Vosges and Ethels. [.] Their chocolates had received an incredible amount of press (including being picked by Oprah as one of her "favorite things") but this apparently didn't generate enough walk-in business.

Ruben Zarate attempted to rob a muffler shop on the Northwest Side yesterday, but employees told him only their boss could open the safe, and he wasn't there. So Zarate gave them his phone number and told them to call when the boss got in. They called the police instead. Police wound up shooting Zarate when he returned to the store; he survived and is being charged with attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault of a police officer. [Trib]

We're going to be doing a special Valentine's Day version of the Buffet next week. Until then, here are some events to tie you over.

If your Valentine has a sweet tooth and you're looking for something special to make for him or her on the big day, this chocolate-dipped shortbread may be just the thing. These cookies only have six ingredients, all of which we had in our kitchen already. Score! Love it when that happens.

A truck hauling chocolate overturned on the northbound Skyway this morning, spilling diesel fuel but none of its precious cargo. The semi, carrying 4,000 gallons of liquid chocolate, crashed near 71st Street. Three people suffered minor injuries, and we're left to fantasize about the nastiest, biggest fondue party that could have been. We're still trying to figure out why chocolate would be transported in its liquid state and where exactly it was headed.

Our winter just became more tolerable with the news that chocolate maker Barry Callebaut A.G. is opening a chocolate academy in Chicago. The academy, slated to open in June, will be in Callebaut's local headquarters in the Montgomery Ward building on West Chicago in River West and fulfills the company's desire to have an academy in the United States.

This classic peanut butter and chocolate combination is simple to make and will impress your friends because who doesn't like chocolate and peanut butter together? More than one Chicagoist has made this recipe and we all give it the thumbs up. Try it for yourself.

Certain holiday cookies evoke memories of childhood. Chocolate Crinkles are one particular cookie that does that for Chicagoist. They're kind of like a cookie brownie, if you can imagine. [Ed note: Oh, can I.] Join us, won't you, as we whip up a batch. What You Need 1 cup cocoa 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 cups granulated sugar 4 eggs 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt Combine ingredients,...