Gourmet Caramel in Philadelphia?

[Philly Ray]

Where can I get some good caramels locally? My wife is dropping hints like napalm that she wants some good caramel for Valentine's Day. Someone told me about a monastery in Iowa that makes really good stuff, but shipping costs half as much as the product so that's why I'm trying to find something local.

Any suggestions?

[DJMarilyn]

Di Bruno Bros. carries Bequet Caramels as has been previously mentioned. They are doing a sampling of Bequet Caramels this week at their Ardmore Store. Bequet is officially launching a new flavor - Green Apple Caramel - there this week - a full month before anybody else. So go try some. YUM!

[ssturn]

Antoine Amrani in East Norriton was mentioned earlier in this thread. My husband and I visited once a couple of years ago - the people were awesome and the chocolate AMAZING. I fear it has closed though - there hasn't been any activity from their facebook page and last time I drove by, it was dark. Anyone know what's going on? If they did close, I wish I had visited more than once. :-(

[Philly Ray]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I ended up getting her some salted caramels from Bequet and she loved them. I also ordered some of their chipotle caramels for myself.

As for my wife, she got me a box from John & Kira's.

[bluehensfan]

Glad you liked them!

[Curious Al]

Amazing salted caramels in Doylestown, PA and hand made chocolates. Oakland Street, one block off Main Street. I think it is called Raymer's. As good as Fran's (well, almost) in Seattle,

[JanR]

Thanks Al. Got some of Raymer's salted caramels today. They are wonderful.

[lone369]

I made these salted caramel from a recipr posted on CH. They were great and people were asking where I bought them.

http://www.chow.com/recipes/29065-cho...

[foobooz]

I'd suggest the caramels made by Market Day Canelle. They are available at a variety of farmers' markets and other locations listed on their Facebook page. The proprietor is understandably known for his canelle but I am blown away by his caramels. Here's the facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/marketdaycanele

[mmgth]

You could always get yourself a candy thermometer and give it a shothttp://allrecipes.com//Recipe/caramels/Detail.aspx.

[Philly Ray]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I'm looking for just plain caramel (nothing with chocolate on it). If I beef up the order from the monastery, the shipping might be worth it.

[Displaced California Foodie]

http://www.bequetconfections.com/pres...

Check out these caramels at Bequet Confections. Reasonably priced with great reviews on their website- one from Chowhound!!

[malkazanie]

Bequet Caramels are AWESOME. They're not local - I believe the mother and daughter team are from Montana? - but they are a small company worth supporting with an awesome product. Their Celtic Sea Salt and Chipotle caramels are my favorite - please do check them out. They sell them locally at Di Bruno's... not sure where else in the area.

[bluehensfan]

These are really good (especially the sea salt ones). They have them at DiBrono's in Rittenhouse and Jonathan Best at Reading Terminal has them but I'm not sure if they have them in big bags there.

[LPhila]

+1 for Bequet caramels... the sea salt ones are amazing!

[vicarious]

Eclat in West Chester has won awards for its caramels. The Painted Truffle (weekends in Stockton, NJ or order on-line) also has a few flavors of caramel-filled truffles.

[Liz K]

Eclat has GREAT caramel chocolates, if that's what you are looking for. We also bought John & Kira's chocolate covered toffee, and enjoyed it, if that sounds "different".

[ilovesummer]

Antoine Amrani in East Norriton....he used to be pastry chef at le bec fin...never had his caramels...but all his other offerings are wonderful....right on germantown pike

http://shop.aachocolates.com/Caramels...

[Displaced California Foodie]

He was a pastry chef...at Le Bec Fin? I went to his shop soon after it first opened, he was raving about his bake at home chocolate souffle - so I bought several for a dinner party, it was waxy on the outside, with an almost flavorless, bland chocolate. It was truly disappointing that it was not a higher quality chocolate. I have not returned and am surprised that it is still open.

[ilovesummer]

wow....never tried the souffle....but have often purchased his truffles...dipped oranges....barks,...etc and have never been disappointed!!!
also jonandkira chocolates are wonderful....

[ilovesummer]

here is info:That same spirit of creating and sharing European chocolates is our daily inspiration at AAchocolates
George Perrier, the world-renowned French chef and owner of the legendary, 5-Star dining, Le Bec Fin, first recognized the unique talent of our chocolatier early on. It was at Le Bec Fin, where the recipes where perfected, during his tenure as Executive Pastry Chef. At AAchocolates, our European-style chocolate recipes are the basis for creating superlative chocolate confections. Dark Chocolate truffles, luxurious, jewel-like chocolate bon bons and palets, handmade caramels, dark chocolate covered fruits and nuts. According to Chef Perrier "At Le Bec Fin, we only accepted one thing. The finest. AAchocolates delivers beyond that expectation...with their exquisite line of chocolates."

[Displaced California Foodie]

YES! John & Kira's. Their business was previously called "Jubilee". Their chocolates are award winning and they use local organic ingredients.
Philly Ray- your wife will love these chocolates...you cannot go wrong with these chocolates!!!

[Philly Ray]

Have been doing John & Kira's for a few years now. I agree that they are great, but just looking for something a little different this time.

[joluvscards]

The pennsylvania store at the Reading Terminal has fabulous plain caramels. They are made locally and individually wrapped. They are soft but not too, chewy but not too, perfect. They also have caramel covered marshmallows. They are located right next to the checkout. When I visit out of town family I must take a box or they won't let me in.

[thehungrything]

We just had a box of their dark chocolate caramel filled hearts and they are exquisite. The caramel is liquid and has the most unbelievably good flavor of burned sugar and butter.
They are quite expensive.

[Bashful3]

Not local, but Esther Price chocolates, somewhere in Ohio, ships wonderful, reasonable chocolates, whatever you might wish. I'm sure their caramels are excellent also, and they have assortments of 100% caramels among others. Try Estherprice.com, or something lilke that. We've been ordering from them for quite a few years now.