Godiva Platinum Collection

[Gifted Gourmet]

Luxist: source of information

Not as exotic as last year’s G Collection, the Platinum Collection is 15 pieces including three mousses, four signature pralines, two caramels, three bold fruits and four intense ganaches.  Some of the individual pieces include the V.S. Comtesse, a dark chocolate ganache laced with brandy, the Razabelle, a raspberry layered with vanilla caramel and dark chocolate, and the Mielodie, a honeyed almond butter praline in white chocolate. The one pound box which contains 60 pieces sells for $80.

Anyone tried these lately?

Does the variety sound enticing?

Does the Godiva name on luxury chocolates still have panache and allure?

Anything seem equivalent or even better?

Washington Post on chocolate is, of course, a much more substantial story ...

"Chocolate is a 'feel' business."

That may be why readers of December's Vogue opened the magazine to find a gorgeous model giving a come-hither look -- to a piece of Godiva chocolate. Godiva wants customers to feel like divas, a play on the company's name and the focus of an advertising campaign that began last year targeting women ages 25 to 40. That demographic is the most likely to buy chocolate, consuming roughly eight servings each month, according to a report on premium chocolate by consumer-research firm Mintel.

That demographic is the most likely to buy chocolate?? To those of us who are chronologically challenged (read that as "old"), we seem to consume our share of chocolate without regret ...

[Zucchini Mama]

Mars Inc., best known for candies such as M&M's and Snickers, has developed a "chocolate lounge" to showcase its new line of gourmet confections.

The lounges, known as ethel's Chocolate Lounges after the Mars company's matriarch, are decorated in pink and brown. Staff members are called "chocolate consultants." The menu features five chocolate collections, including one filled with creme liqueur in flavors such as mojito and "chocolapolitan." There are seven locations in Chicago, and the company is planning to open additional lounges across the country.

I'd like to be a "chocolate consultant", but can I work from home?

The women they surveyed are lying. Women eat way more chocolate than eight servings a month-come on! Try between 30-60. And if they think I'm going to stop eating that much after I turn forty they're crazy.

I think chocolates are going artisanal. In Vancouver the locally made chocolates just get better and better every year. Amazing quality and amazing value. There was an article in the Globe and Mail last weekend that made a big deal about artisanal chocolates made in Vermont. That's what excites me way more than Godiva.

Zuke

Edited to add chocolate porn from Vermont and the ultimate from British Columbia: DC Duby.

I hope Santa lurks here.

Edited December 4, 2005 by Zucchini Mama (log)

[Gifted Gourmet]

Edited to add chocolate porn from Vermont and the ultimate from British Columbia: DC Duby.

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Those links are to die for!!

Never heard of Duby until now ... I am particularly interested in the Chocowine Collections, particularly this one:

GeléeWine Estate Series

A sensuous wine and supporting fruits purée gelée topped with a sinfully smooth 100% pure hazelnut butter nougat perfectly perfumed with aromatic oil infusions.

Yes, I have to agree with you about Godiva being passé .. the artisanal stuff wins hands down!!

Thanks, Zuke, for this info!

[Gifted Gourmet]

While it wasn't terrifically different from some of their other offerings, the Platinum Collection is rather good .. simply not unique ...

[M.X.Hassett]

The platinum line is not bad for Godiva, I was suprised at the quility of the G line last year considering it's Godiva and not artisanal. Although they went a little crazy with the pricing, in the Lennox mall last season I saw a wood box G line limited set for 450 dollars

Edited December 18, 2005 by M.X.Hassett (log)

[docsconz]

I wouldn't refuse Godiva, but I wouldn't go out of my for it in any form. The chocolates that I had recently that were truly outstanding were from Kee's Chocolates in Soho, NYC. This is truly a small artisanal shop with great quality. Check out the PDF of the menu linked to on the coming web-site. I particularly enjoyed the black sesame and yuzu bon-bons.

[M.X.Hassett]

I wouldn't refuse Godiva, but I wouldn't go out of my for it in any form. The cholotaes that I had recently that were truly outstanding were from Kee's Chocolates in Soho, NYC. This is truly a small artisanal shop with great quality. Check out the PDF of the menu linked to on the coming web-site. I particularly enjoyed the black sesame and yuzu bon-bons.

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I agree both were received as gifts. Wow Kee's looks great I am going to have to pop in there tmwr before I say farewell to NYC for a week or so.

[cathrynapple]

the platinum collection is pretty, kind of. not spectacular. we recently got a shipment of godiva pop chocolates. cranberry orange and a raspberry. they have a form of pop rocks (remembe rthose?) in them. they fizz in your mouth. awesome.

[docsconz]

the platinum collection is pretty, kind of. not spectacular. we recently got a shipment of godiva pop chocolates. cranberry orange and a raspberry. they have a form of pop rocks (remembe rthose?) in them. they fizz in your mouth. awesome.

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They got that idea from Oriol Balaguer in Barcelona. Whether he originated the idea is another question. It is a cool feeling.