Chocolate Talk

Dear Diary,

I was chatting to my new fren, Tong lee abt chocolates (I cant remember how we got on to the topic)...not that he's a chocolate fanatic but i was..ha...talking about chocolate..juz perk me up..hahahah...So decided to intro some nice chocolates to my blog readers...as well as all chocolate freaks like me..ha..



Care for a sweet tooth? Here comes some photos to wet ur appetite first...

Of course Chocolates like after 8, cabury etc u find in the cold storage or NTUC and they all tasted great...i love them too..but they are jus the 'normal' cocolates...not pure..and they make u fat..!!! Pure, good quality chocolate dun make u fat...and is good for health. (I'll update some articles about chocolate later, some articles from the chocolate festival my food club has done)

My favourite chocolate so far goes to Royce chocolate...all thanks to the recommendation of my best fren eileen. Unfortunately, I have only eaten once..the treat from Shawn...Thanks..*Hugs*

U know...once u have tasted Royce Nama Chocolate....No other chocolate can fight it..ha...The taste still remain fresh in my memory...WOnt forget...!!! *Drooling*

Surprisingly, the best chocolate I have tasted is not those from Europe which everyone wld expect... Maybe there are people that disagree with me..but this is my liking...but if u haven't try Royce Chocolates, try before u tell me...U just can't get enough this Japanese brand of chocolates.

Royce, a company based in Sapporo, makes all sorts of chocolate-based products-from chocolates, cookies, mini cakes, coffee and even chocolate-based skin care productsThe chocs are made in Hokkaido, which also produces fantastic cheeses and butters (stake out Meidi-Ya for them). If you haven't discovered them, seek them out while you're out shopping at the Great Singapore Sale.

My favourite is Bitter Nama or fresh chocolate that comes in 11 vareity..it's simply superb.The chocolates are smooth, rich and best fit the description "melt in your mouth." Fresh cream is a main ingredient so these chocolates come with a cooling gel pack to ensure that the required temperature is maintained and the chocolates remain intact from the shop to your home. Yum....

Each box comes with a tiny plastic fork to spear the pieces of chocolate with. The chocolate has to be refrigerated but the store will pack it in dry ice that will last five hours. Each piece - sort of a rectangular truffle - is a taste of heaven: dark chocolate, buttery and smooth, spiked with cognac.

Just Look at those....Yummy....

Their Earl Grey Cube Chocolate tasted great too. These tiny squares pack a flavourful bergamot punch and you will end up eating them compulsively.

I heard their ultimate weird munchie - chocolate covered potato chips is good too but i have yet to taste it before. The ridged chips are coated on one side with a milk-dark chocolate combo. It's salty, it's sweet - in short, utterly irresistible.

Royce'Bitter Nama Chocolate, $12.60
140g;Earl Grey Cube Chocolate, $10.50
160g; Chocolate Covered Potato Chips, $12.60 for 190g

Main shop:
01-142 Suntec City MallOpening hours - 11am to 9.30pm, tel: 6738-0153.
Branch:
B2 Takashimaya Department Store, Ngee Ann CityOpening hours - 10am to 9.30pm, tel: 6737-4977.

U can visit their web-site if u know how to read Japanese :
http://www.e-royce.com/index.html

For your infomation, Royce chocolate other than in their origins Japan can only be found in Singapore and Hongkong. Dear fellow Singaporeans, Go try it..it's a little more expensice than normal chocolates but it's worth the money!!! (for your info, i'm not getting any money for writing this..it's purely because i love Royce)

For chocolate lovers, below are some other chocolate outlets for some nice chocolate..(I found on the web, I been to some of them too...so u can trust it..)

The Chocolate Gallery
#B1-01 China Square Central, tel: 6327-4008
This showcase of chocolates from countries around the world, including Australia, Vienna and Spain, also offers Irish truffles and sugar-free chocolates from Belgium.
Handmade pralines are popular buys, especially the dark truffles and almond sticks. Try some with the on-going gift boxes promotion. A Pera-nakan plate with any two types of praline is now $13.80, the Golden Boy/ Girl Chopstick Holder with any two pralines is $11.80. Or simply pur-chase 150g of pralines and receive an additional 50g free.

Godiva Chocolatier
#B2-00 Ngee Ann City, tel: 6738-2306; #01-77 Millenia Walk, tel: 6338-3528; #B1-49 CityLink Mall, tel: 6238-0819
These gourmet chocolates from Hong Kong are made from only fresh, natural ingredients that promise a scrumptious taste with every bite. Priding themselves on their craftsmanship, Godiva is renowned for their unique praline flavour.

Hot buys are the Truffle Traditional and Truffles Fine Champagne, which are coated with dark cocoa and filled with milk chocolate, butter cream and fine champagne. From now till June 6, enjoy a special offer of four assorted chocolates for only $10 at the Takashimaya counter or CityLink outlet. Or purchase the 17-piece truffle box at $72 and get two pieces free from the Millenia Walk outlet.

SINS
Centrepoint Level 1 Atrium, tel: 6734-3469
Singapore’s largest chain of designer chocolatiers has almost 40 different varieties of pralines. Made with premium Swiss ingredients and shaped with exacting moulds and trained hands, their signature piece is a dark truffle called Total Eclipse.
Other truffle favourites such as the D Cup is laced with rum, while Weaknee Spear is made with luscious milk chocolate and Baileys Cream. Another popular choice is Menage à Trois, a heavenly combination of whole hazelnuts with hazelnut paste. With saucy names like these, how can you resist? Spend $30 on any regular priced pralines and receive a complimentary Zen Box of five pralines.

The Cocoa Trees
#B1-19 Tanglin Mall, tel: 6734-1326
Carrying famous brands like M&M’s for kids to premium choices such as Feodora and Neuhaus for chocolate connoisseurs, this is every chocolate-lover’s dream come true. Opened in 1992 to meet the demand for chocolates, The Cocoa Trees has eight outlets in town and two shops at Changi Airport for your pre- and post-flight nibbles. From now till July 25, buy any three pieces and get one free.

Confisetie Newton Leonidas
#01-12B Orchard Hotel Shopping Arcade, tel: 6836-6317
Coffee, rice crispies or hazelnut filling? At $12 per 100g, this Belgian brand has over 80 different varieties to suit everyone’s tastebuds.

Some of the best sellers include the Gianduja, a pure praline with hazelnuts, almonds and milk chocolate. It is very smooth and a hot favourite with milk chocolate lovers. Another is Manon Café, a white-coated fresh cream chocolate with coffee flavour, a thin layer of praline and finished with a hazelnut. This piece is said to be copied by other stores but never equalled.

Royce Confect
#01-142 Suntec City Mall, Tel: 6738-0153
From Japan, Royce is famous for its Nama/Rare chocolates which are created by combining high-grade chocolate couverture with fresh cream and a tinge of liqueur. The secret behind this almost mousse-like confection lies in the chocolate’s moisture. Each cube is velvety smooth and simply melts in your mouth. Royce currently has six regular Nama chocolates in store — the Au Lait or milk chocolate, Champagne, White Chocolate, Bitter Chocolate, Mild Cocoa and the seasonal Green Tea and Banana. The Potato Chips Chocolate makes for a tasty and irresistible afternoon snack.

Thos S.B
#01-01/03 Raffles Hotel, tel: 6412-1148
With an award-winning chocolatier at work, you’ll find some unusual flavours here, like Asian-inspired Szechuan Pepper, Wild Lemon Basil and Pandan Kaya. Other popular buys include house truffles coated in Valrhona cocoa power, the Orangette which is crystallised orange peel dipped in chocolate and the Thai Banana, where pieces of the fruit are blended and cooked in chocolate. Spend $120 this sales season and be entitled to a box of 12 assorted chocolates worth $24.

Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland
#01-07A Palais Renaissance, tel: 6732-2235
Selected by Möet et Chandon as one of the few “ultimate” premium items to represent luxury, the chocolates are flown in fresh each week. Teuscher’s most famous item is the champagne truffle. Made with a milk chocolate shell and an inner layering of dark chocolate and cream laced with Dom Perignon champagne, this is definitely a decadent temptation.

Dark chocolate connoisseurs will love the cocoa bars. In four different cocoa compositions, the 99 per cent is bitter and raw, making it the perfect companion to red wine. Now, with any three chocolate bars purchased, a choice of either a chilli or pepper bar will be given away.

The Chocolate Box
#B1-02 Raffles City Shopping Centre, tel: 6338-9707
Chocolate Box’s handcrafted pralines from the world-famous Lindt chocolate couverture are made from quality ingredients under chocolatier Monsieur Reto Marzari who has over 40 years of experience. With a wide range of fillings such as nougat fruity ganache and liqueur, specialities include mango yoghurt, durian paste and the champagne truffle.


That's about it...Enjoy your chocolate...Look out for the article on the history and benefits of chocolate soon.....