(Editor”™s note: Easter ”“ Sunday, April 9 ”“ is arguably the biggest holiday for chocolate, regularly beating out Halloween, Valentine”™s Day and Christmas, which has been inching up in the chocolate sweepstakes. Just in time for Peter Cottontail to come hippity hoppity down the bunny trail, Westfair luxury travel and beauty writer, and self-described chocoholic, Debbi K. Kickham weighs in with this report on her favorite way to choco-frolic : )
I”™ve been in the travel writing business for more than 30 years, and, as a chocolate-lover, I”™ve tasted varieties from all over the world ”“ everything from artisanal brands in Switzerland to the French Valrhona, and they are all wonderful.”¯ But you know what my favorite brand is?”¯It”™s Munson”™s, an award-winning chocolatier based in Bolton, Connecticut.”¯ I thrill to them once a week, on Saturday night, when I allow myself to have a treat and savor two pieces mindfully. My favorite?”¯ The triple-chocolate layered truffles ($11.98 a box), which consist of three squares of chocolate with dark, milk and filbert praline.”¯ If you love the taste of chocolate-hazelnut in Nutella, this is the top truffle for you. I can”™t live without them.
Right now is the time to pick up your Easter goodies. One of the best sellers is the peanut butter-filled eggs. With a laugh, company Vice President Jim Florence told me, “We have to make extra, because the employees eat so much of it, it”™s that good.” But you must, must, must consider the seasonally-made camouflage bunnies in green and pink. The pink camo bunny, for example, is called Lieutenant Nibbles. Each rabbit is truly a work of art, with each mold delicately “painted” with colored chocolate and then filled with milk chocolate. The finished product is just as delicious as it look. As Florence said, “Easter is all about the bunnies.”
What”™s even better? We learned that 20% of the sale of each Camo Easter Bunny directly benefits”¯Dog Star Rescue, ”¯ a nonprofit that”¯matches honorably discharged U.S. armed forces veterans with homeless dogs.
Munson”™s has eight locations in Connecticut ”“ including Avon, Glastonbury, Newington, Mystic, Orange, South Windsor and West Hartford along with Bolton ”“ and even makes personalized chocolate bars for the University of Connecticut.”¯ Company President Karen Munson said that the triple-chocolate layered truffles top the list, along with turtles with amazing almond toffee-butter crunch and tasty bark containing whole, jumbo almonds and cashews.”¯ “People just love it,” Munson said”¯ “It”™s wildly popular.” There”™s also a chocolate-cherry bark that I”™m dying to try. Your sweet tooth will also be satisfied with chocolate-covered potato chips and raisins, Heavenly Hash bark, peppermint patties and simple boxes of assorted chocolates. I have to say:”¯ The chocolate-covered raisins are the best you will ever eat, while the bark is divine and melt-in-your mouth dreamy.
Munson”™s was started in 1946 by Munson”™s grandparents, who founded the company with their sugar rations at the end of World War II.”¯ Now in its third generation as a family-run business, Munson”™s”¯ has received “every award in the industry,” Munson said.”¯ “We”™ve been in first position ever since the ”˜Best Of”™ the state was instituted, and we never take it for granted. We fight for that top position.””¯ Even a chocolate trade association has lauded and awarded Munson”™s with accolades, for products, packagin and “our confections in general.”
Why is Munson”™s so fabulous?”¯ “Every dairy item comes from a local farm”¦.It makes a difference.”¯ We pick up the containers of milk, cream and butter from the dairy farm just a mile from our factory.” I can vouch for the fact that Munson”™s is tempt-your-tastebuds creamy and delicious, and the company still uses the same formulas that were created when the company was founded.
It also does a huge business as wedding”¯and bridal shower favors, with yummy chocolate bars in personalized, creative wrapping. Added Munson: “We offer chocolates from baby to bridal and everything in between.””¯ The average price per pound? About $23.
So forget about your next trip to Brussels for some of the world”™s best chocolate.”¯ You can stay local and experience confection perfection with Munson”™s.
Follow me on Instagram at @DebbiKickham.
