ISO: Great Quality Bulk Chocolate for a Decent Price

[threedogs]

I searched the archives & did the google thing but came up w/little. Also would prefer this to be T accessible, but I can get a ride if all else fails. This is for my Christmas baskets I'm making for family members, so I don't want chocolate chips (read they add something to the chips). Anyway, I used to make chocolate bark & stuff like that, so I want to repeat this for part of the baskets.

Marty's in Newton had decent prices for a great brand (last I went was before Easter - forgot the brand but I ended up eating the chocolate instead of using it in desserts as planned) - it's kind of a pain to get there w/out a car (but I'll get there if I have to!). Hoping some Chowhounds might know some other places.

[StriperGuy]

I think the TJs Belgian stuff in the 1 pound bars is pretty good. The 70% cacao makes a killer chocolate pudding.

[threedogs]

I'm heading out to TJ's soon. I plan to make cover some orange skins I'll candy myself (I hate the citrus stuff they sell) and might do up some lemon peel the same way. Some I'll leave w/out the chocolate for my Christmas bread. Trying to decide between stollen, babka - which I used to make yrs ago - or, if I'm really brave, panetonne. Since I don't have the individual papers for the panetonne, I think I'll cross that idea off my list. And I *still* have to find the tomatoes for my Christmas gravy/sauce!

[StriperGuy]

Chocolate Babka oh my. My knees just went weak.

I might give Callebaut a slight edge over the TJs product but not that much better.

[threedogs]

Well, StriperGuy, I can't be too far from you (I'm in Watertown). If you like, shoot me an email (I have it in my profile). I'll let you know when they're done & I'll give you one. No problem.

I think what I decided to do is go w/the babka idea, but with some I'm adding my own candied orange & lemon peel, & some almonds. Different family members like different things - one hates nuts, etc. All will love the chocolate... I adore almond paste, but I might let that pass for now. I've made my own almond paste in the past, but my food processor broke - I have a fantastic stick blender - a bamix - but I don't know if that would work.

For me, citrus & citrus peels really signify the holidays (but I don't think my kids share my love there).

[opinionatedchef]

i just made a BIG batch (12 cups) of clementine peel for panforte and brownies etc; i put the recipe on homecooking thread. if you need some, just let me know.got plenty!

[gourmaniac]

hi three dogs: MacKinnons in Davis Square had cans of San Marzano tomatoes for 1.88 a while ago. Not usre if the have case quantities but i've bought 6 cans easily. Excellent product at a great price and T accessible. I usually get mine at Russo/s for a slightly higher price.

[bear]

threedogs, I saw #10 cans of Pastene for $4.99 at either the Chelsea MB or the Burlington MB (can't remember which) a couple of months ago. I didn't post since you said you can't often get to the stores. Now I wish I had.

[Chocomom]

the Chelsea MB had it last wk when I went.

[threedogs]

When I was there I couldn't carry them back, so I didn't check the #10 cans. But I almost fell when I saw a stack of the smaller, kitchen ready ones for $1.79 each! Ouch.

I went to McKinnon's in Davis Sq yesterday & got chicken cutlets already sliced for $1.99 a lb! What a discovery THAT was - my son broke my only good (well, not really good, but the best I had) knife last wk. I had a bunch that seems to have disappeared with my move a yr ago, too. :( Anyway, McKinnon's only had some small cans of unfamiliar tomatoes for $2.49 a can, I think it was.

Right now I'm exhausted & sore fr yesterday's shopping (and, I think, the weather change) so I can't even think of where I should go next. I think I'd get the best price at Restaurant Depot, but I'm not sure if I can get another day pass - or if they have a brand I'd use.

[opinionatedchef]

3, i hate to think of you lugging those wicked heavy cans on a bus. can't you think of a day w/ a zipcar and load up at a box store and TrJ and whatever?

[threedogs]

Oh, I'm getting a ride, believe me!! I just want to make sure they have what i need first. Like yesterday - I got a ride back fr McKinnon's (I just about bought up their store in meats, lol). Even w/that, though, I'm exhausted. Taking a lazy day today to rest up.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Trader Joe's. their Pound Plus bars are relabeled Callebaut, and the price works out to $4.69/lb.

[bear]

Yes, I was going to suggest the TJ's Pound Plus. Really a good deal, and T-accessible in several locations.

Also, for munching, the bittersweet with almonds or peanuts are really delicious and easy to break into small squares.

[threedogs]

I never have any problem breaking chocolate into pieces.... ;)

[threedogs]

I didn't know that the pound plus are actually Callebaut! I've still been mourning the loss of the big chunks (must have been Callebaut - can't remember, but it was the best quality chocolate I ever ate) they used to sell.

Marty's sold what I remember to be Callebaut in plastic containers - small pieces like chocolate chips. Don't know if they still have it - or if the price is the same as before Easter, but I paid about $6 a pound for it. Of course, very little got into my desserts (since I needed to sample repeatedly to assure myself of the quality... ahem...)

Looks like I'll be heading out to Trader Joe's one day this week! Thanks so much!

[opinionatedchef]

i have always been a caillebaut bittersweet (72%) girl and i was so psyched yrs ago to learn that caillebaut is the TrJ house brand. Thjat's what i've used for yrs. I was going to post asking if anyone had noticed it seeming a bit sweeter recently (although it's certainly possible that it's me and my increasing intolerance of very sweet choco.)

[threedogs]

I hope they haven't changed suppliers! (but if the only difference is sweetness, I can live w/that for my Christmas gifts... I don't think anyone will notice the difference).

My son bought a box of Russell Stover chocolates & I almost choked on the sweetness (not to mention the poor quality of chocolate..) Ugh! And to think this was considered the best by my mom & her family when I was growing up (like a thousand years ago). Horrible, horrible waste of calories.

[cocoabrioche]

I thought it was sweeter, too - but then I've been doing low-carb so everything tastes icky sweet when I do have a bite. Several years ago, I took a chocolate course at Barry Callebaut just outside of Montreal - they make chocolate for a lot of companies, and mentioned changing formulas over the year.
I've used TJ's for years, too! (except for that great buy on Scharffenberger at Ocean State a couple of years ago and the Valrhona unsweetened I got for $2.00/lb at Williams Sonoma - still in date, by a few months...)

[goodhealthgourmet]

Marty's sold what I remember to be Callebaut in plastic containers - small pieces like chocolate chips.
~~~~~~~~
probably callets - were they round & smooth like this?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I...

[threedogs]

I think so. It was amazingly delicious. I never liked dark chocolate before buying this!

Ate most of it by sampling a tiny bit every night... Marty's price (if it's the same) is SO much cheaper than buying a bar of Lindt or another gourmet chocolate, even when on sale at CVS!

[opinionatedchef]

Hey ghg! i confused; i thought you were in CA!? did you used to live here?

[goodhealthgourmet]

i never lived in Boston, i just know you have TJ's there and i love those Pound Plus bars :) i *did* live in CA, but family issues brought me back to NJ a few months ago, and i'm going to stick around.

[opinionatedchef]

ohhhh, i see. i thought the marty's reference was yours. but you were just quoting another poster; i get it. i'm used to seeing <.......... > around a reference quote!

[kobuta]

It's a bit of crap shoot for supplies, but if you have an Ocean State job lot near you with a decent food section, they have sometimes offered really nice quality chocolate at bargain prices. But yes, stock and selection varies greatly. It's worth at least a pit stop before you hit a Whole Foods or other bigger retail shop.

[threedogs]

I thought of Ocean State Job Lot & was even considering giving it a try. There's one near Wellington in Medford, but when I thought about the time involved to get back & forth (I live in Watertown), along with not being sure if they had any - I figured it wasn't worth it. Love that store, though.

[missbidon]

I'll save you a trip. I was there yesterday at the Ocan State Job Lot in Medford. Nothing. Only ghirardelli chocolate chips at $2.99 (not a bargain...)
A friend of mine said she bought some guittard chocolate chips (they must be the pellets/drop kind as I didn't think guittard made chocolate chip per say) at the one in Saugus. Saugus is too far for me just for OSJL...

[threedogs]

Oh, thank you! They advertised the Guittard - maybe they ran out. Saugus isn't possible for me, either. Anyway, Trader Joe's is easier for me to get to. Still need the tomatoes for my sauce & boy, am I sore today after yesterday's shopping. [not getting old, not getting old, NOT getting old...]

[misscucina]

Guittard does make chocolate chips. WF usually has them. They are fantastic, but $4 or $5 a bag.

[misscucina]

I ended up getting Valrhona and Callebaut chunks of white and 70% dark at Whole Foods on River St. in Cambridge today. There were several cacao levels (33 - 70) and in various sizes, so you have to dig around for the size you need. The Valrhona dark was $18.99 a lb and the Callebaut white was $9.99 a lb -- not a bargain, obviously, but I didn't need bulk quantities.

[treb]

You are correct, chips have a stablizer added to them.

[threedogs]

I found out about that the hard way.

[tweetie]

If you can find a friend with a Restaurant Depot card, they sell 11lb bars of Callebaut bittersweet, milk and white chocolate. Bittersweet and milk are about $35 per block, and the white about $45. Market Basket had the same blocks for $77 this week and smaller chunks for $6.99 lb. Roche Brothers and WF also sell the same stuff in chunks at $7.99 and 8.99 respectively.

Almost as much fun as getting such a bargain at RD is chopping up the block once you get home, all those little chunks and slivers to eat in the process!

[threedogs]

Great price - and I got a temporary pass awhile back & I'm sure I could get one again. Only I can't use up 11lbs and I can't trust myself having that much chocolate 'hiding' in the freezer (problem is, I won't forget where I hid it). No way...

I do love shopping there & that's an incredible price though. It's very tempting!

[threedogs]

I'm *almost* tempted to go to Restaurant Depot for that Callebaut!! I just got back fr BJ's & was horrified to discover that they had none of the giant cans of Pastene tomatoes!! Went earlier to McKinnon's to buy the meats for our Christmas gravy (sauce) and THEY had none. The Chelsea MB was charging a whopping $1.79 a can (the smaller, standard size) when I was there the other day. This won't do!

Restaurant Depot had 7/11 tomatoes (previous experience w/them was v.good) a few months ago. If I do go out there, I'm calling ahead to make sure. I didn't expect this problem!

Ah, I know what I'll do - fill my family up with chocolate so they have no room for the dinner, hahaha!!

[Chocomom]

Not sure if you have a car but Perkins in Taunton have a retail outlet next to their warehouse that is open to the public. Since the supply to restaurants and institutions, they have everything. They previously brought out Famoso so there is great Italian selections. Recently they brought out Cirelli so they have a decent meat selection. I'd usually get my San Marzano tomatoes by the case there since Restaurant Depot don't carry them.

I actually have a 11lb block of the Callebaut bittersweet and white chocolate that needs to be broken-which is a chore to me but at the prices at RD you can't beat the savings.

www.Perkins1.com

[threedogs]

No, I don't have a car. I took a look at their site anyway - gasped when I saw that they have '00' pizza flour! No, no, no - I have to get back to dieting after Christmas (my daughter is getting married in March - so I have to look good for those photos!!) Besides... it's too far, anyway... sigh... this sounds like the sort of place where I'd go crazy!

If you don't mind me asking - how much do you pay for the San Marzano tomatoes (not that I can even get there!)?

[Chocomom]

I believed the case of 28oz cans cost me around $30 but this was in the beginning of the summer. I used it alot on top of my grilled pizzas that we have all summer long.
The prices fluctuates like all things. The price is for someone just walking off the street. If you have an account with them its cheap, that's what I was told.

[Jpan99]

Wow, that's a great price for Callebaut. I order online and pay twice that price, plus shipping! I checked the website and don't qualify for a membership. Is there any other way to get into Restaurant Depot if you don't know someone in the business?

[StriperGuy]

All you really need is a tax ID # which is not too hard to get.

[threedogs]

The way I got my temporary pass (never got around to applying for the permanent one) - I applied for a federal tax ID a long time ago (plans to start my own business never worked), so I used that. I was going to go back this wk, but I realized my info is on my sick iMac - which I'm not turning on until I can afford to have someone look at it (I foolishly didn't back up my work & all my photos are on this!! stupid, stupid...)

If you apply for membership AT the store (not online), it's better - they'll give you a temp pass for that one day. I didn't have any of the proof they require for the perm pass.