budget chocolate

[KitchenQueen]

It hasn't hit me yet (thank God) , but it has for some foodie friends. Not saying it won't be me next month.

Job layoffs and and serious budget tightening. A particular friend simply cannot afford the top brands she's used in abundance for years.

If you love to bake and chocolate is your thing, is there a brand that costs less than the top ones we know well? Or is it simply 'you get what you pay for' ?

Or do you use inferior stuff or stop baking till your finances improve?

Are there sites where one can order online for less ?

I'd just gift her with some (while I can afford it) but that's too transparent.

Any ideas?

[ejw50]

It hasn't hit me yet (thank God) , but it has for some foodie friends. Not saying it won't be me next month.

Job layoffs and and serious budget tightening. A particular friend simply cannot afford the top brands she's used in abundance for years.

If you love to bake and chocolate is your thing, is there a brand that costs less than the top ones we know well? Or is it simply 'you get what you pay for' ?

Or do you use inferior stuff or stop baking till your finances improve?

Are there sites where one can order online for less ?

I'd just gift her with some (while I can afford it) but that's too transparent.

Any ideas?

←

Callebaut in 11 blocks is ~$4 a lb not including shipping.

Van Leer is slightly less (for dark chocolate only),

but less available.

For small quanitites of dark chocolate, Ghirardelli is pretty good IMO.

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, they have cheap Belgian chocolate

that is decent, the pound plus or whatever it is called. ~$3.50 a lb.

Edited February 9, 2009 by ejw50 (log)

[LindaK]

I would second the Trader Joe's recommendation. I don't remember the exact price, but the "pound plus" (17.5 oz) bar of 72% Belgian chocolate has quickly become my favorite bargain chocolate. To my taste, better than the Ghirardelli and less expensive.

[KitchenQueen]

Callebaut in 11 blocks is ~$4 a lb not including shipping.

Van Leer is slightly less (for dark chocolate only),

but less available.

For small quanitites of dark chocolate, Ghirardelli is pretty good IMO.

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, they have cheap Belgian chocolate

that is decent, the pound plus or whatever it is called.  ~$3.50 a lb.

←

I've never seen Callebaut priced that low for the 11lb blocks. Where are you getting it?

And not a Trader Joe's for a million miles from south Texas, is there?

One big prob is that no one will ship chocolate here for most of the year.

Too hot.

Chocolate soup in the mailbox. They won't even do overnight Fedex.