Fire and Chocolate

You all know how I love the chocolate from the folks at Lake Champlain Chocolates. They make some really , really great stuff. But I have to admit that I am less than thrilled by the prospect of trying their newest bar.  For some reason they have partnered with some rock and rollers - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - to make a new bar - Grace Under Fire.

http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/Chocolate/Chocolate-Candy-Bars/Grace-Potter-Chocolate.aspx

It's a dark chocolate bar with pistachio and red pepper.  That's the part that makes me less than thrilled.  I just don't like pepper in my chocolate.

As always, the dark chocolate is delicious.  The pepper has a kick, especially the aftertaste.  Those of you who like hot flavors in your chocolate should definitely try this bar.  Me - I would much rather have the dark chocolate and pistachio without the red pepper.

I actually prefer Vosges' bar in this category:

It also has the hot factor - here it is Mexican ancho y chipotle chillies (Voges can never include a simple ingredient) but in this dark chocolate bar the pepper is paired with cinnamon, (oh, sorry -  Ceylon cinnamon).  I prefer the sweetness of the cinnamon in this combo.  In the Lake Champlain bar, the pistachio is good at first, but is quickly overwhelmed by the pepper.  In fact, I had to eat some Hershey's macadamia nut Kisses to get that hot pepper taste out of my mouth.  Love those macadamia nut Kisses!

I love Lake Champlain chocolates, but not the Grace Under Fire bar. I clearly have no grace under fire and just rush to cram Hershey's Kisses in my mouth.

As a side note - I have to tell you that if you haven't tried the new Peanut Butter Chocolate Bugles - YOU HAVE GOT TO GET SOME!!!  I found them at Target and ate them all - I have to go get more to photograph for the blog. 

Lessons?

Partnering with a rock band doesn't always make it better.  Has it ever?  I'm not sure.

Adding peanut butter always does make it better.  Before you argue, try the Bugles.

They don't add hot pepper to ice cream!  Sometimes staying in the box is a good thing.  Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should.

But I love creativity, so rock on, Lake Champlain!