Sunday, February 19, 2012

Amore Chocolates

Assorted Amore Chocolate TrufflesAll photographs ©
Ron Dunlap Photography
Like love, Amore Chocolates has something for everyone. Decadent. opulent truffles? Check. Filled with made from scratch buttercream fillings, ganache and homemade caramel? Check. The classics just as you remember them in your best dreams? Check. Adventurous fillings made with ingredients that would please even a Portlandia foodie? Check.

The only thing is, if you don't like rich, silky, decadent chocolates, then Amore Chocolates is not for you. Thankfully, that's not me.

Amore chocolates arrived on my doorstep in a unassuming box. But when the lid was removed, it revealed a center chock full of tempting truffles and a rapturous chocolate aroma filled the room. Amore Chocolates sells by the pound and they don't skimp when they are packing. The box was literally packed to it's gills. And so when they say a 1, 2 or 3lb box they really mean it.

Amore Chocolate Box
As an homage to Jeremy Lin we devoured the Chinese 5
Spice first. Chinese 5 Spice is a combination of star anise, fennel, cinnamon, Szechuan Peppercorns, and Cloves. It is used in many dishes including interestingly Mao Tse Tung's favorite pork dish (which incidentally is also my husband's favorite pork dish). But for those who might worry this spice may be more compatable with savory than sweet - fear not. It is works perfectly with chocolate. And, for any of you chocolate lovers who were early adapters to gourmet Chocolate with Chili - this is the Chocolate with Chili, Chocolate and you would must try it!

I fell off the wagon with Amore Chocolates'truffles filled with beer, wine and spirit ganaches. The Balsamic Cabernet, Bourbon and German Wheat Beer were simply divine. The dark, velvety and complex ganache mingled with the snappy chocolate exterior perfectly. After they were all imbibed, I felt like belting out "Baby Please Don't Go" but everyone was glad when I didn't.

Amore Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Chiffon

After slipping into a chocolate coma for a few hours, we decided to tackle the white chocolates next: Eggnog and Pumpkin Spice. Each center was especially creamy and sinfully rich - probably because their secret ingredient is butter. The Pumpkin Spice was absolutely, irrevocably delicious. It's the kind of truffle you can eat all day and all night until you need to invest in some "I've been eating too much chocolate" jeans - not that anyone is suggesting you can ever eat too much chocolate.

Amore Chocolate Coconut
For purists, there is a wonderful selection as well. Dark chocolate lovers, make sure you include at least one Seriously Dark, Amore Chocolates' most popular truffle and a Mudslide in Dark in your box. And for those who have a sweeter tooth, Mudslide comes in Mud (milk chocolate as well) and be sure to ask for a Coconut Chiffon.

I would be remiss not mentioning the Cinnamon Espresso. This chocolate was developed by a reknowned surgeon and very, very serious chocoholic, known to horrify his dinner companions by downing four pot de crème in one sitting, Dr. Alan Rothblatt. It is a perfectly balanced little treasure of a chocolate and a superb example on how Amore Chocolates collaborates with their customers. So if you have a special diet; require a gluten free, vegan or kosher chocolate, Amore Chocolates can work with you to create gems of your own.

Amore Chocolate Box


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