Happy Monday to you! I hope your weekend was a fun one in your corner of the world. I’ve been enjoying my “staycation” in the kitchen and today’s my last day to savor some free time. This week, I’m giving readers an opportunity to savor something too!
Who loves chocolate? Well for this week’s Foodie Freebie Friday, I’m giving away some very special chocolates… Vosges! Vosges is a chocolate boutique here in Chicago that I frequent often since it’s within walking distance from me. It’s hard to resist their delicious and exotic chocolate bars because the unique flavors are so intriguing. If you’ve heard of Chocolate Covered Bacon, Vosges is a company that was one of the firsts to offer this sweet and salty confection. Read on to learn more about Vosges and Katrina Markoff who started this amazing chocolate boutique…
About Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Katrina Markoff utilizes the original methods of French confectionery artistry which she learned during her training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Having graduated with the Grand Diplùme from Le Cordon Bleu and having worked extensively in France, Spain, Italy, Southeast Asia and Australia her collections of haut-chocolats have great, worldly inspirations. Inspired by her global apprenticeships, Vosges truffles have exotic influences of an “East meets West” theme.An Indiana native with Macedonian roots, Markoff has that rare combination of artist and entrepreneur who’s able to take unlikely ingredients and turn them into gold. Owner and creative force behind Vosges Haut-Chocolat, is a 1995 graduate of Vanderbilt University with degrees in Psychology and Chemistry. Three days following graduation Markoff left to pursue her dream of culinary arts in Paris. She studied for one year at Le Cordon Bleu and graduated with Le Grand Diplome in Cuisine and Pastry as well as degrees in Basic and Advanced Oenology.
From Paris, Markoff embarked on an 8 month tour around the world studying food. She worked from place to place, studying the indigenous cuisines of France, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Australia and Hawaii.
She apprenticed at restaurants including the Hotel Crillon in Paris, France, El Bulli in Rosas, Spain, as well as Arzak, and Martin Berasategui both located in San Sebastian, Spain. She graduated from The Thai Cooking School at the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, and Chiva Som School in Hua Hin, Thailand. During her travels through Asia she was inspired by the local spice and food markets.
Based on these international experiences, she developed the concept of ‘exotic truffles.’ Fusing a gamut of indigenous spices, flowers, roots, herbs and liqueurs with premium chocolate, she created a unique tasting experience with each truffle. Beckoning consumers to step into the now, she crafted her culinary experience to embrace each sense of smell, taste, hear, touch and sight with every bite.
So this week, a lucky reader will receive a Mini Exotic Candy Bar Vosges Chocolate gift set! This gift set is a library of Mini Exotic Candy Bars that includes nine .5 oz. mini bars:
Black Pearl ginger + wasabi + black sesame seeds + dark chocolate
Red Fire
Mexican ancho & chipotle chillies + Ceylon cinnamon + dark chocolate
Gianduja
almonds + caramelized hazelnut paste + deep milk chocolate
Naga
sweet Indian curry + coconut + deep milk chocolate
Creole
New Orleans chicory coffee + cocoa nibs + Sao Thome bittersweet chocolate
Barcelona
hickory smoked almonds + Fleur de Sel grey sea salt + deep milk chocolate
Oaxaca
Oaxacan guajillo & pasilla chillies + Tanzanian bittersweet chocolate
Woolloomooloo
Roasted & salted macadamia nuts + Indonesian coconut
Matcha
Japanese matcha green tea + deep milk chocolate
Read on for your chance to get this amazing set of deliciously unique chocolates!
– Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States – my apologies to my international readers!
– You must have a valid email address (within your comment or blog link) so that you can be contacted if you win.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:
– What flavors do you like with chocolate? Caramel? Nougat? Bacon? Peanut Butter? Nuts? Chile? I’d love to hear what sweet or savory chocolate combos you like!
Deadline: Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
ONE WINNER will be randomly chosen by Random. Org’s Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, August 7, 2009. Good luck!
I love chocolate and chile pepper. Also chocolate and sea salt. Ok, maybe add in chocolate and curry or chocolate and five-spice powder. Those are my favs!!
I love how the fresh floral scent of lavender pairs with chocolate! My 2nd favorite combo would have to be chiles with chocolate…
Of course chocolate and peanut butter! Or chocolate and caramel. Ooooh, and chocolate and BANANA!
I love the taste of chocolate combined with anything that is salty (bacon, nuts, etc…)
I love caramel and chocolate together! 🙂
Some of my favorite chocolate combos are:
chocolate and peanut butter
chocolate and banana
chocolate and caramel
chocolate and hazelnuts
ALL of those chocolate bars look AMAZING!
OMG – I am such a chocoholic and would love to win this! I love chocolate with mint or raspberry.
evitawylie at hotmail dot com
I'm not proud I'll admit that last year at the MN state fair one of the biggest food attractions was Chocolate covered bacon-and it was delicous!! Their line was longer than anybody elses and I am hoping they will return this year also. I don't try this at home-It could get dangerous lol!
I love chilies, coconut and orange with chocolate. Yum!
I love sweet and salty things together. So peanut butter is one of my fav combos. Caramel would be a close second.
I love dark chocolate with orange flavoring – it's so refreshing! My second favorite combo would probably be chocolate with caramel and nuts.
chocolate and peanut butter!
I love the salty-sweet combination, so I adore Chocolate-Covered Pretzels! The crunch-factor from the pretzels is great too.
I'm a dark chocolate and hot chile fan myself, although I love a non-nut crunch in it too.
i love love love love peanut butter and chocolate…mmmmm
Trader Joe's has these dark chocolate salted caramels that I just LOVE!
I love chocolate and mint (especially in ice cream form) and I always add cocoa to my chili. I also had a love for the Chicago Chocolate Factory's Mexican hot chocolate where they added a bit of cinnamon and chili.
If I just have to have chocolate I like it with caramel or peanut butter.
I really like the chile & chocolate flavor in mole sauces, the sweet & spicy sensation can't be beat! From a pure sweet perspective, I do enjoy caramel & chocolate, too.
Usually I like the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but when given the chance, my ultimate favorite is dark chocolate with chilies!
I love chocolate with bananas, strawberry, carmel, pretzels, potato chips, mint, nuts, peanut butter, coconut….. I could go on and on!
What a cool giveaway, the flavor combos are all inspiring. I have to go with the classic favorite though, peanut butter!
I love dark chocolate and almonds.
You are having me drool profusely over this giveaway. I love chocolate with anything! I think the best combination in the world is dark chocolate and raspberry. Mmm!
shen[dot]margaret[at]gmail[dot]com
I absolutely love the combo of chocolate and peanut butter, as well as chocolate with a hint of salt – like the sea salt brownies from Trader Joe's.
My fave would be a good hazelnut or a real rich creamy milk chocolate.
My fav snack ever is Raisinets (chocolate covered raisins) and popcorn. I just love salty-sweet combo.
Salt! I love the sweet-salty thing – a really good piece of chocolate with some sea salt on top is the perfect combo.
mmm, great giveaway! i like chocolate and caramel best, with chocolate and mint running a very close second.
Chocolate covered almonds or peanuts (salted of course!).
I've had Vosges truffles- and their combinations are truly inspiring! I love a good salty sweet combo- pretzels = 🙂
Mmmm, I LOVE Vosges bacon chocolate bar. I've also had the green tea one. They may still offer this… if you buy something in their shop and don't use one of their bags to carry your items, they will give you a free truffle! Nice!
I love chocolate. Growing up dessert always revolved around chocolate.
I love a sweet & salty combination and chocolate & nuts
So in no particular order
1) Chocolate & Bacon
2) Chocalate, Carmel & Sea Salt
3) Chocolate & Almonds
4) Chocolate & Hazel nuts
5) Chocolate & wasabi
6) Chcocolate & Curry
7) Chocolate & red pepper mixes
I like chocolate with peanut butter, orange, raspberry, and just about any other sweet flavor. I don't really like chocolate with savory things – never liked peanut M&Ms.
Chocolate covered caramel (and I'm talking really good caramel, here). There is just nothing like it.
I love chocolate with anything! But if I had to choose a favorite combo, it would be chocolate with peanut butter.
The Black Pearl is my favorite! I also love chili with chocolate… a huge fan of the spice! 🙂
ginnygetsfloury [at] gmail [dot] com
I have a hard time picking one, maybe caramel. Coffee, almond, strawberries, cherries and vanilla are all good choices too.
chocolate and peanut butter!
I've never tried crazy chocolate combinations. I prefer chocolate and peanut butter or chocolate and caramel. Chocolate covered fruit is pretty good too!
Chocolate and coffee is my favorite! Like a true New Orleans girl I also love it with chicory.
My favorite combination is chocolate and salt…weird, I know, but true :).
I love chocolate with the usual caramel and even hazelnuts, but put it in a mole…heaven!
I love the combo of dark chocolate and sea salt. Vosges' Barcelona bar (which also has smoked almonds) is fantastic!
Chocolate and coconut!
ania dot taylor@gmail.com
For me.. it's Chocolate Raspberry!! OH My gosh.. Now I am gonna Crave it! ahah
Thanks for a GREAT Giveaway!!!
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/
The Black Pearl and the Barcelona are the most tantalizing of all to me….hope I get to confirm that :<) Personally, I love Dark Chocolate / fruit combos like mango & raspberry, in particular. And chocolate / salt combos.
I love Vosges Chocolate! I especially like chocolate paired with sea salt or their bar with the bacon! Yum – thanks for the contest!
I have come to LOVE chili pepper and chocolate. I practically always have a bar in my house now to nibble on. I love hazelnut, caramel as well as peanut butter with chocolate too.
I don't think there's anything I DON'T like with my chocolate!! 😉
I like chocolate, nuts, salt and carmel.
mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net
I was just at the Vosges boutique here in Vegas – it's so pretty.
My favorite combo is definitely pb and chocolate. No question.
I'm pretty much a fan of anything chocolate! I definitely enjoy anything chocolate and peanut butter—my favorite combo.
I absolutely LOVE Vosges chocolate!! My favorite chocolate combos are with grey salt, peanut butter or caramel.
I love chocolate with pretzels, peanut butter, and caramel. That's probably why Take 5 is my favorite candy bar.
I'm a confirmed chocoholic, so I'll eat nearly anything with chocolate in/on it. But some of my favorite combinations are chocolate with caramel & sea salt, dark chocolate with cherries and chocolate with orange.
chocolate and coconut…..can''t get enough.
orange, banana, marzipan and salt are definitely my favorite chocolate pairings.
I love chocolate and salty…mmm!
I'm pretty dull when it comes to pairing chocolate – I love it combined with hazelnut, peanut butter, and any kind of chile pepper (although not all at once).
My favorite flavors to pair with chocolate are caramel, peanut butter, toffee, and coffee, but I like trying new combinations. I've tried this brand of chocolate before, and it was very good. Thank you for the great giveaway!
I've had some of the Vosges chocolates! I really like a bit of heat with my chocolate, a pinch of cayenne or, even better, chipotle.
My favorite is chocolate with almonds, but coconut and mint aren't too far behind!
I will most likely eat chocolate in any way, shape or form – from the traditional combinations with strawberries, peanut butter or mint, to more slightly whacky pairs like lime, pumpkin, or goat cheese 🙂
Hm, choices. I like chocolate with peanut butter, of course. Toffee is another favorie. MMM, Heath. As well as nuts.
The Naga and Barcelona bars sound heavenly!
I love the sound of some of those combinations. I love caramel with my chocolate.
I do not think its possible to choose a favorite Chocolate combination! Although I do love Chocolate and Peanut Butter!
I love chocolate with salted nuts and salted caramel – excellent taste experience, especially homemade.
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