364703 Fri Jan 26 18:08:48 -0800 2007 11 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2231732 I was in CPWM this afternoon and noticed that they have expanded their selection of premium chocolate bars, notably adding lines of New Tree and Vintage Plantations. Vivani was also new there, some other brands that were new to me, and Bernard Castelain might be new to CPWM (I don't recall if they carried them before). They still carry significant players like Hachez, Valhrona, El Rey, Santander, Weiss and (I think) Venchi and some others, and of course carry the full line of Lindt-Sprüngli and Ghirardelli as they have in the past. In addition to the existing display at the back of the store, they have put most of their new offerings on display near the front. They seem to be emphasizing organic lines, and have priced most of the bars at $3.99 for 100g (3.5 oz.) Fri Jan 26 18:08:48 -0800 2007 10255 Gary Soup 1 2231905 Why pay Fog City News prices just so people can tell you what the chocolate tastes like, when you can try them for yourself for half the price!? As I've said before, I strongly recommend the Vintage Plantations line. Fri Jan 26 19:04:50 -0800 2007 2231732 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 2231962 Ditto on FC News I picked up the VP 100% bar today; will try it after dinner. Fri Jan 26 19:24:08 -0800 2007 2231732 10255 Gary Soup 1 2232286 I love the Santander 70%. Fri Jan 26 22:23:56 -0800 2007 2231732 11940 DezzerSF 1 2232699 I forgot to add that Chicagoans can rejoice because CPWM also has added a line of Vosge bars. Sat Jan 27 07:26:52 -0800 2007 2231732 10255 Gary Soup 1 2233823 If you like Vosges and really want to rejoice, you can now get most (but not all) of their flavors under Lake Champlain branding for a much lower pricepoint, and they're identical. (LC manufactures all the Vosges bars...) Sat Jan 27 16:00:01 -0800 2007 2231732 12831 fqalzai 2 2233938 I don't know Vosges (or Lake Champlain) chocolates except by reputation. Frankly, I won't buy any chocolate unless I know the chocolate's origin, and AFAIK Lake Champlain doesn't indulge this. Sat Jan 27 16:54:34 -0800 2007 2233823 10255 Gary Soup 1 2236806 Lake Champlain is a major US remelter, and all their sourcing is through Callebaut. By extension, anyone they manufacture for is also Callebaut.... Same for Chocolove and any number of other US brands. FWIW Sun Jan 28 20:23:22 -0800 2007 2231732 12831 fqalzai 2 2236939 And Barry-Callebaut by its own admission uses Ivory Coast Chocolate as part of their mix. It's therefore on my AVOID list. In fact, I won't touch anything that says it's "Belgian" because that usually means B-C. Dagoba and some other US companies do their own sourcing, or identify the origins of their (single origin) products. Sun Jan 28 21:20:56 -0800 2007 2236806 10255 Gary Soup 1 2330948 Really? I was at the Oakland World Market last week and they definitely had the Vintage Plantations (I bought some) and quite a few others -- right by the checkstands. Mon Feb 26 12:57:18 -0800 2007 2330770 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 2331182 I like how World Market has a good selection but mine (east bay) has a lot less than you guys are talking about. We have probably 4 companies and only 2 of those are high quality and they only carry their basic bars...I have been talking with this company to try to expand their line but at least San Fran has a nice selection... -Chocolate Connoisseur Mon Feb 26 13:48:02 -0800 2007 2231732 77989 aguynamedrobert 2 2331404 The one in Fremont has all those brands IIRC. Mon Feb 26 14:39:56 -0800 2007 2331182 11940 DezzerSF