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...
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: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.
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!!
ReplyDeleteI'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!
ReplyDeleteOMG - I am such a chocoholic and would love to win this! I love chocolate with mint or raspberry.
ReplyDeleteevitawylie at hotmail dot com
Some of my favorite chocolate combos are:
ReplyDeletechocolate and peanut butter
chocolate and banana
chocolate and caramel
chocolate and hazelnuts
ALL of those chocolate bars look AMAZING!
I love caramel and chocolate together! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the taste of chocolate combined with anything that is salty (bacon, nuts, etc...)
ReplyDeleteOf course chocolate and peanut butter! Or chocolate and caramel. Ooooh, and chocolate and BANANA!
ReplyDeleteI love how the fresh floral scent of lavender pairs with chocolate! My 2nd favorite combo would have to be chiles with chocolate...
ReplyDeleteI love sweet and salty things together. So peanut butter is one of my fav combos. Caramel would be a close second.
ReplyDeleteI love chilies, coconut and orange with chocolate. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI love dark chocolate with orange flavoring - it's so refreshing! My second favorite combo would probably be chocolate with caramel and nuts.
ReplyDeletechocolate and peanut butter!
ReplyDeleteI'm a dark chocolate and hot chile fan myself, although I love a non-nut crunch in it too.
ReplyDeleteI love the salty-sweet combination, so I adore Chocolate-Covered Pretzels! The crunch-factor from the pretzels is great too.
ReplyDeleteThe Black Pearl is my favorite! I also love chili with chocolate... a huge fan of the spice! :)
ReplyDeleteginnygetsfloury [at] gmail [dot] com
I love chocolate with anything! But if I had to choose a favorite combo, it would be chocolate with peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteChocolate covered caramel (and I'm talking really good caramel, here). There is just nothing like it.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate. Growing up dessert always revolved around chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI 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
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!
ReplyDeleteI've had Vosges truffles- and their combinations are truly inspiring! I love a good salty sweet combo- pretzels = :)
ReplyDeleteChocolate covered almonds or peanuts (salted of course!).
ReplyDeletemmm, great giveaway! i like chocolate and caramel best, with chocolate and mint running a very close second.
ReplyDeleteSalt! I love the sweet-salty thing - a really good piece of chocolate with some sea salt on top is the perfect combo.
ReplyDeleteMy fav snack ever is Raisinets (chocolate covered raisins) and popcorn. I just love salty-sweet combo.
ReplyDeleteMy fave would be a good hazelnut or a real rich creamy milk chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteYou 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!
ReplyDeleteshen[dot]margaret[at]gmail[dot]com
I love dark chocolate and almonds.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool giveaway, the flavor combos are all inspiring. I have to go with the classic favorite though, peanut butter!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate with bananas, strawberry, carmel, pretzels, potato chips, mint, nuts, peanut butter, coconut..... I could go on and on!
ReplyDeleteUsually I like the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but when given the chance, my ultimate favorite is dark chocolate with chilies!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteIf I just have to have chocolate I like it with caramel or peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteTrader Joe's has these dark chocolate salted caramels that I just LOVE!
ReplyDeletei love love love love peanut butter and chocolate...mmmmm
ReplyDeleteI've never tried crazy chocolate combinations. I prefer chocolate and peanut butter or chocolate and caramel. Chocolate covered fruit is pretty good too!
ReplyDeletechocolate and peanut butter!
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time picking one, maybe caramel. Coffee, almond, strawberries, cherries and vanilla are all good choices too.
ReplyDeleteFor me.. it's Chocolate Raspberry!! OH My gosh.. Now I am gonna Crave it! ahah
ReplyDeleteThanks for a GREAT Giveaway!!!
Leslie
[email protected]
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/
Chocolate and coconut!
ReplyDeleteania dot [email protected]
I love the combo of dark chocolate and sea salt. Vosges' Barcelona bar (which also has smoked almonds) is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate with the usual caramel and even hazelnuts, but put it in a mole...heaven!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite combination is chocolate and salt...weird, I know, but true :).
ReplyDeleteChocolate and coffee is my favorite! Like a true New Orleans girl I also love it with chicory.
ReplyDeleteI was just at the Vosges boutique here in Vegas - it's so pretty.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite combo is definitely pb and chocolate. No question.
I like chocolate, nuts, salt and carmel.
ReplyDelete[email protected]
I don't think there's anything I DON'T like with my chocolate!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI love Vosges Chocolate! I especially like chocolate paired with sea salt or their bar with the bacon! Yum - thanks for the contest!
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate with pretzels, peanut butter, and caramel. That's probably why Take 5 is my favorite candy bar.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE Vosges chocolate!! My favorite chocolate combos are with grey salt, peanut butter or caramel.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty much a fan of anything chocolate! I definitely enjoy anything chocolate and peanut butter---my favorite combo.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
ReplyDeletechocolate and coconut.....can''t get enough.
ReplyDeleteorange, banana, marzipan and salt are definitely my favorite chocolate pairings.
ReplyDeleteI'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).
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate and salty...mmm!
ReplyDeleteMy 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!
ReplyDeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is chocolate with almonds, but coconut and mint aren't too far behind!
ReplyDeleteI 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 :)
ReplyDeleteHm, choices. I like chocolate with peanut butter, of course. Toffee is another favorie. MMM, Heath. As well as nuts.
ReplyDeleteThe Naga and Barcelona bars sound heavenly!
I love the sound of some of those combinations. I love caramel with my chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI do not think its possible to choose a favorite Chocolate combination! Although I do love Chocolate and Peanut Butter!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate with salted nuts and salted caramel - excellent taste experience, especially homemade.
ReplyDeleteI'm helping the folks at Matcha Source Green Tea (www.matchasource.com) introduce their products to bloggers. I really enjoyed your post, which is why I contacted you. If you send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected], we can consider sending some complimentary products. A blog post about us would really be much appreciated. Thanks again for all your help
ReplyDelete--Lewis
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