February and Chocolate

Happy February!

This time of year there is always a lot of focus on Chocolate, particularly good and fancy Chocolate, and here I am to add to it. Having just recently finished Nina Planks great book , Real Food: What to Eat and Why, (Everyone should read it)I was inspired to pass on what she has to say about Chocolate. Click Here to check out Nina's own blog and specifically her valuable information on chocolate. I also like her suggestion of using the nutritionally valuable chocolate Nibs in place of chocolate chips in some of your culinary pursuits. Treat yourself to some delicious, and nutritious chocolates this season, and don't look back!
For local creators of chocolate confections check out ....
1. Chocolate Cravings : ( I personally recommend their dark chocolate bark with smoked almonds and sea salt). A regular Market Vendor at the Lakeside Farmers market, their sturdier items such as the chocolate barks are available at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Gift Shop. She also offers such items as Guniess Brownies, Fancy Boxed Truffles, and Chocolate Tarts.
2. Seven Hills Confections : This is a new branch of Seven Hills Market on Forest Hill Ave. A regular vendor at the South of the James Market, Seven Hills seems to specialize in boxes (6 piece or 12 piece) of specialty chocolate truffles.
3. Gearhart's Chocolates : In Charlottesville, this is a well known local producer of fancy chocolate confections of all sorts.
4. Cocoa Mill Chocolatiers : In Lexington Va... apparently the Wall Street Journal selected their Heart shaped box of truffles as "best over all."
And Here is another good resource for quality chocolate.
Know of any other local chocolatiers that specialize in fresh, hand made chocolates? Let us know!