417094 Mon Jul 02 08:16:55 -0700 2007 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2712763 I have liked some of the bars I have bought from Charles Chocolates, and heard about the fleur de sel caramels so was excited to try them. My husband bought me a box of those and the pate de fruit from a local store in Palo Alto - and I am wondering if I just got a bad box? The chocolate is tacky, like it is just barely in temper. Perhaps this is the intention, so it melts in your mouth quickly - it is a lighter chocolate than I prefer. The caramel is grainy, and I could only detect a bit of salt by really paying attention in one of the 5 I have tried (from lots of places in the box). Perhpas charles makes his caramels very subtle, or did my box not have any of the fleur de sel? If this isn't representative of the product, I would rather try it in its prime state - perhaps it wasn't stored well at the retail outlet? The pate de fruit are fine. Some much better than others of course - a bit tacky, but I would expect that from buying from a retail outlet. I haven't had much exposure to pate de fruit, so I don't have much to compare too. I LOVE Rechuitti fleur de sel - smooth caramel, dark coveture and real salt aftertaste. I also like Lillie Belle Farms Lavendar Caramels. Yummm... Mon Jul 02 08:16:55 -0700 2007 15001 jsaimd 1 2713442 I'm not sure if I've tried the Charles Chocolates fleur de sel caramels, but I can recommend the peanut butter butterflies. I purchased a box of them from Whole Foods and loved the slightly crunchy texture of the finely ground nuts and sugar in the filling. I found the pate de fruit bland and too soft. Perhaps I've been spoiled by the Citizen Cake pate de fruit. Mon Jul 02 11:23:29 -0700 2007 2712763 23009 urseberry 1 2713675 I like Charles' chocolates but agree, their fleur de sels are disappointing. I got them in the chocolate box and loved eating the box. The chocolate-covered almonds and the mocha bars are still my favorites. Mon Jul 02 12:25:24 -0700 2007 2712763 10966 Windy 1 2714422 I agree with your overall observation that Charles chocolates are more subtle in taste. But me not being a big chocolate fan, that's actually nice for me. I think like every other premium brands, it really depends on the particular flavor. Maybe the caramel might not be the best choice, but any of the butterflies like urseberry mentioned is pretty good. And this may be a personal taste, but I loved loved loved their mojito-infused chocolate with that bright fresh minty liquore. That's definitely a favorite of minds, and definitely has a big flavor punch. By the way, I forgot to mention that you can buy direct at their factory in Emeryville in their retail store. The staff is really friendly and they'll let you taste test some of their chocolates so maybe that way you can find something you like. (I would say not to waste your time with the tea-infused chocolates. Again, that's just my taste but I wasn't very wowed by any of them.) http://www.charleschocolates.com/store Mon Jul 02 16:10:23 -0700 2007 2712763 43882 singleguychef 1 2714446 Teusher if I spell it correctly, I do stop by there from time to time. I beleive they are on Post@ grant around Union square. They have a sublime Champagne truffle that you can get either Dark chocolate or a milk chocolate version. Maybe I should log out and run over there... Mon Jul 02 16:18:45 -0700 2007 2712763 109308 hildasf 1 2714450 Triple Dipped nuts are amazing. He toasts own nuts so they're extra fresh and crunchy. I also like the series of Tea Infused chocolates (that also come in a chocolate box). I enjoyed the pate de fruit, but I think part of that was the smoothness, they weren't as "jammy" as some others that I've tried. I like the peanut butter butterflies - I think he does a praline for the peanut butter filling, which is part of what makes it rather different. Of the chocolate bars I was pretty fond of the Hazelnut & Orange and I was really pleased with both varieties of Marzipan (though I don't like traditional amaretto-y marzipan). I also wasn't as fond of the caramels as some other folks have been, though I thought they were tasty, just not the smooth and chewy texture I love (Fran's does nice ones as do See's). Mon Jul 02 16:21:10 -0700 2007 2712763 18842 typetive