The Savvy Gourmet

Producers in the Spotlight – Cluizel (France)

Since 1948, Cluizel has been one of the rare chocolate manufacturers to process cocoa beans himself. Cluizel creates exceptional chocolates in its Normandy (France) workshops, employing 240 people.

Strong relationships established over the years with cocoa planters have reinforced his position as a cocoa expert, thus ensuring clear traceability for his chocolates.

Cluizel chocolates have won several prestigious awards in international competitions. For example:

2011. Golden Bean award for the Noir au Café chocolate bar, Academy of Chocolate Awards, United Kingdom.

2011. Bronze medal for the Noir 85 % chocolate bar, Academy of Chocolate Awards, United Kingdom.

2010. Winner of the Confectionery category for the Bio Los Anconès 67 % chocolate bar, 22nd Edition of the Soil Association Organic Food Awards, United Kingdom.

2009. Silver Medal for the Grand lait 45 % chocolate bar, Academy of Chocolate Awards, United Kingdom.

2008. Gold Star for the Grand lait 45 % chocolate bar, Great Taste Awards, United Kingdom.

Amedei Chocolates are Back

After a short period of difficulty obtaining supplies of these exceptional chocolates, Amedei chocolates are now back in force and attractively priced.

Chocolates from this Italian producer have received several prestigious international awards, acclaimed by experts for their exceptional quality.

Chocolate lovers can use them as a benchmark for subtle flavours and rich taste, a standard by which to judge other chocolates on the market.

Some of their outstanding awards:

2008 - The Academy of the Italian Cuisine awarded Cecilia Tessieri, CEO and maitre chocolatier of Amedei, the prestigious prize "Dino Villani".

2008 - Cecilia Tessieri won the Academy of Chocolate "Golden Bean" Award.

Producers in the Spotlight - Saxon Chocolates

Based in Toronto, Saxon Chocolates is a manufacturer of first-rate Belgian chocolate.

In 1994, Johan De Greef, born in Antwerp, Belgium, founded Saxon Chocolates with the desire to bring gourmet chocolate made in the Belgian tradition to the North American market.

Using only the very best ingredients available, Saxon Chocolates produce collections of high quality chocolate treats that are sold through high-end retailers in Canada and the United States.

Producers in the Spotlight – Ah!, as in Amedei!

Alessio and Cecilia had a dream and in the late eighties, driven by passion and enthusiasm, they started to make that dream a reality, discovering the world of cocoa.

Together they experimented with new ideas, creating an exclusive chocolate which they launched worldwide. They wanted to break with tradition and become the artisans of a veritable renaissance in taste. Since 1990, Alessio and Cecilia have committed themselves to the search for a perfect harmony of tastes, which takes the form of an exquisite chocolate bar, a Neapolitan or the soft roundness of a praline.

The entire production process is managed with skill and care for craftsmanship, from the selection of cocoa seeds (personally done by Alessio in the countries of origin) to the manufacturing of the chocolate in the Pontedera laboratory under the attentive supervision of Cecilia, Amedei’s maitre chocolatier.

Awards:

2009 - Cecilia Tessieri won the Academy of Chocolate "Golden Bean" Award for the 4th year in a row.

2008 - The Academy of the Italian Cuisine awarded Cecilia Tessieri, CEO and maitre chocolatier of Amedei, the prestigious "Dino Villani" prize.

2008 - Cecilia Tessieri won the Academy of Chocolate "Golden Bean" Award.