The always winning combination of salt and chocolate is the kind of thing that makes me extra sad for everyone that's passed on before it was invented… While I'm sure that I'm wrong and it's safe to assume that the two ingredients have probably been used together to great effect for centuries by wiser cultures, I feel like this flavor combo only hit the US in the past few years.
My mom sent me a bar of Target's store brand, Choxie's, take on the trend with added almonds – yummy!
One of the joys of living in Greenpoint is that you can pass by a shop and see this pastel and flower surrounded little angel (who will, no doubt be blaring club music and revving his engine in a few years time) staring back at you enticing you to buy chocolates for… communion? (having no ability to read Polish nor much knowledge about Catholicism, that's just a guess).
It's really just a shell hiding a normal box of “La Stella” chocolates, but I have to say, in a world of increasingly more elaborate and expensive options, a six dollar box that holds a nicely bitter pistachio creme candy is a welcome treat.
This tasty bar of “bread and dark chocolate” called Phinney 3400 comes from Theo, a company devoted to making the world better. According to their site, they do this by:
Using only pure ingredients that are grown sustainably. We source our ingredients locally whenever possible.
Partnering with our growers by ensuring they earn a living wage and have access to education for their families.
Honoring and respecting our employees and suppliers. This is possible due to the unique fact that we control every step of our own manufacturing process.
Using green energy sources to power our factory.
Using sustainable packaging and printing methods.
Educating about social and environmental accountability 7 days a week through public tours of our artisan factory.
Available at Whole Foods, the chocolate is excellent. Aside from the crispy bready flavor, which tastes like a less crispy and much better Kit Kat, we oohed and aahed over their mild Coconut Curry Milk Chocolate.
Since then, two new flavors have emerged: Fig, Fennel & Almond Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Crunch Milk Chocolate, yummm!