Sweet surprises

After yesterday's snow, you should try these chocolates to warm you up and give you that melt-y feeling. Chuao (pronounced chew-wow) Chocolatiers are a local company specializing in Venezuelan chocolate. Last night, four of us had a little tasting of some of their signature flavors: Spicy Maya - chocolate with pasilla chile and cayenne pepper, Chevere - dark chocolate with goat cheese, buttercream and black pepper, Modena - dark chocolate with caramel, strawberry pulp, and balsamic vinegar, and Earl Grey infused milk chocolate. We all had a different favorite, but overall each piece was a sweet layered surprise. I think their latest creation, the Firecracker bonbon with pop rocks, is symbolic of their products overall - my brother said it "brought the fun back to chocolate". P.S.: Thanks to Karen at Chuao for letting me take photos and for helping me pick from over 30 bonbon choices!