The are locations outside of Chicago. Ohio has a number, for example.
[QUOTE=SilverStar830, post:19, topic:269351]
I’ve had Guy Debbas’ chocolates several times over the years. My mother used to buy the wine-filled chocolates and some of his other chocolates every holiday season.
His various chocolates and chocolate truffles are… awesome.
On a side note, here’s a brief summary of his story from his website. Mr. Debbas has been through much, and I wish him much success in his endeavors.
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After seeing the site, I’m in for one.
Are these hydrogenated? Can we see an ingredient list?
I’m always really wary of buying any food products that don’t list the ingredients up front. It makes me think there’s something to hide. I couldn’t find anything on the website, either.
I was so bummed, btw, to receive my bacon salt and find out it contains hydrogenated oils. 
Woot should avoid selling trans-fat containing products considering the stuff’s immense toxicity.
That said, I probably wouldn’t jump on these even if they were trans-fat-free, because I dislike milk chocolate the flavours sound pedestrian at best, cheap at worst.
I’m spoiled by Vosges and my latest favourite chocolatier - Socola.
I have to agree. I love the fillings and the variety and general creativity, and the caramels and toffees are to die for, but the actual chocolate itself is not my fave.
Although…I had a sugar-free Barcelona Bar (sea salt and smoked almonds) in milk chocolate (gasp! yes, I know I said I don’t like it, but Vosges is dark enough that I will) and it was outstanding. I’m guessing it’s the salt. Salt and chocolate is such a fantastic combination.
Since I’m now obsessed with special salts (ever since that artisan salt offering which led me to a site that sells a set of 24 different little salts), I’ve considered make a ton of truffles or caramels flavoured with 20 different types of salt, to compare how they do in sweets.
This should be on par with quality of Socola’s even though I haven’t tried them.
No hydrogenated oils, but wasn’t it kind of obvious bacon salt was made with chemicals if it is vegan and kosher and contains no real bacon. The flavor has to come from something.
Actually the flavors are above standard, available in the top tier Godiva Chocolates
The heart shaped box is where the cheap stuff is.
Yes there are some in Ohio too, and some other surrounding states like Wisconsin. Sorry my mistake.
[QUOTE=fairnymph, post:24, topic:269351]
I have to agree. I love the fillings and the variety and general creativity, and the caramels and toffees are to die for, but the actual chocolate itself is not my fave.
Although…I had a sugar-free Barcelona Bar (sea salt and smoked almonds) in milk chocolate (gasp! yes, I know I said I don’t like it, but Vosges is dark enough that I will) and it was outstanding. I’m guessing it’s the salt. Salt and chocolate is such a fantastic combination.
Since I’m now obsessed with special salts (ever since that artisan salt offering which led me to a site that sells a set of 24 different little salts), I’ve considered make a ton of truffles or caramels flavoured with 20 different types of salt, to compare how they do in sweets.
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the barcelona bar is one of the better ones. and i do have to say that vosges’ white chocolate truffles are delicious–the christmas truffle offering this year was also great.
i found a link to the ingredient list for a different g debbas chocolate product that may be an indication of the types of ingredients one could expect. the g debbas website does note that the creator proactively uses only natural ingredients, so hopefully, the truffles in the woot sets are similar in simplicity…
Oh yeah. I forgot to add in my earlier post that I gifted one to Mom for Valentines Day… blast from the past!
I know she’ll love em and she’ll get a kick out of having them again after all these years even though it’s not necessarily the holidays anymore.
[QUOTE=Catbertthegreat, post:25, topic:269351]
This should be on par with quality of Socola’s even though I haven’t tried them.
No hydrogenated oils, but wasn’t it kind of obvious bacon salt was made with chemicals if it is vegan and kosher and contains no real bacon. The flavor has to come from something.
Actually the flavors are above standard, available in the top tier Godiva Chocolates
The heart shaped box is where the cheap stuff is.
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How do you know they aren’t hydrogenated?
Well, I did assume the bacon salt was unlikely to be ‘all-natural’, but hydrogenated oil doesn’t impart flavour os it’s not necessary.
Godiva’s chocolates (at least many of them) ARE hydrogenated and IMO Godiva makes poor-quality, overpriced, over-hyped products.
I don’t love any mass-produced chocolate, though Lindt is the least bad IMO.
Socola makes the best bonbons/truffles I have ever tasted. And they use organic Strauss dairy and really high quality, truly all natural ingredients.
Charles’ Chocolates is also really good though I have trouble finding it out here - I had this dark chocolate, cherry, and sea salt roasted pecan bar that was probably the best chocolate bar I’ve ever eaten.
ETA: I went over to check out your link to the chocolates on deal.woot and I’m wondering if you know how random the assortment is? I posted a comment there.
I had a box of his signature truffles(different flavor selection) a few years ago from a woot side deal before wine.woot existed. After tasting the centers I regretted that I had purchased only one box. I’ve resisted these for the last 30 minutes while trying to help my wallet. But my resistance has now faded and I will be placing an order for a few this time.
I’m indifferent regarding the outer chocolate.
“Each box of hand crafted chocolate truffles includes a map to find each of these flavors”
Thank goodness! I hate having to guess what flavor is where. Unless you have only one flavor of chocolate, and magic secret decoder is a requirement!
[QUOTE=fairnymph, post:30, topic:269351]
How do you know they aren’t hydrogenated?
Well, I did assume the bacon salt was unlikely to be ‘all-natural’, but hydrogenated oil doesn’t impart flavour os it’s not necessary.
Godiva’s chocolates (at least many of them) ARE hydrogenated and IMO Godiva makes poor-quality, overpriced, over-hyped products.
I don’t love any mass-produced chocolate, though Lindt is the least bad IMO.
Socola makes the best bonbons/truffles I have ever tasted. And they use organic Strauss dairy and really high quality, truly all natural ingredients.
Charles’ Chocolates is also really good though I have trouble finding it out here - I had this dark chocolate, cherry, and sea salt roasted pecan bar that was probably the best chocolate bar I’ve ever eaten.
ETA: I went over to check out your link to the chocolates on deal.woot and I’m wondering if you know how random the assortment is? I posted a comment there.
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Godiva makes a line called the G collection. It is really good but not worth what they charge for it. They have a regular and then an American Pie flavor set. That is what I refer to as their top tier and some of the flavors here are similar. It is probably made with hydrogenated oils too, but I never really care about that sort of thing or organic for that matter.
Chuao isn’t made with hydrogenated oils, I went to one of their chocolate making classes, so I know how they make their chocolates.
I also answered your question on deals.
If I am not mistaken this is only $20 on the G Debbas website, take a look for yourself:
Anyone else notice the image for the G Debbas truffles box says ‘11 pieces’?
It is twelve, the funny font they use and the image size makes the 2 look like a 1.
[QUOTE=fairnymph, post:23, topic:269351]
Are these hydrogenated? Can we see an ingredient list?
I’m always really wary of buying any food products that don’t list the ingredients up front. It makes me think there’s something to hide. I couldn’t find anything on the website, either.
I was so bummed, btw, to receive my bacon salt and find out it contains hydrogenated oils. 
Woot should avoid selling trans-fat containing products considering the stuff’s immense toxicity.
That said, I probably wouldn’t jump on these even if they were trans-fat-free, because I dislike milk chocolate the flavours sound pedestrian at best, cheap at worst.
I’m spoiled by Vosges and my latest favourite chocolatier - Socola.
[/quote]
I feel the same way, I’d like to see ingredient lists as well.
Hey I used to work this chocolate co. when I was like 18. Crazy
Thanks, that’s a good sign. If we use that as a baseline it’s a pretty impressive list in this world of refined industrial junk.
[QUOTE=SilverStar830, post:29, topic:269351]
Oh yeah. I forgot to add in my earlier post that I gifted one to Mom for Valentines Day…
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Being from the UK where we only really send valentines cards and gifts to people we’re actually romantically interested in - this just seems wrong.