Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me A Chocolate Harvest
Thu, August 24th of 2006
5:20 pm
I have recently come into an obscene amount of chocolate. When I say “come into,” I don’t mean that I inherited it from a recently deceased relative. No, I actually bought all this chocolate.
It started when I was in Los Angeles last March. I had bought three pounds of Valrhona and Callebaut unsweetened chocolate as well as a 30-ounce (851 grams) bag of Ghirardelli White Chocolate chips. Because my luggage (and I!) were severely over the weight limit, I had to have the chocolates shipped.
this chocolate has “bloomed,” but it won’t matter once it’s melted
So while waiting for my chocolates to arrive, I flirted with the idea of splurging on 3 kilos of 70% Valrhona Guanaja chocolate, and then promptly gave in. I forked over P2,700 plus an additional P680 for some Valrhona Tropillas, little nuggets resembling our local Ricoa Flat Tops. I’m told that the Tropillas are actually the edges of the chocolate blocks that are melted down and then re-formed. Clever! I was already thinking of chopping some up for super-sophisticated chocolate chip cookies or melting them down when I’m too lazy to chop a chocolate block.
a chip-off face-off
That was just last month. Then my chocolate shipment from Los Angeles arrives last week, which adds to my chocolate cornucopia. Feeling incredibly lush, I play with the idea of melting all the chocolate in my bathtub and bathing in it. Unreal, I tell you. Of course I’ll never engage in such extravagance but I’m feeling giddy with all this chocolate, and this is even before I’ve put any of it into my mouth!
Then yesterday my good friend Toby says, “They’ve got a whole new bunch of chocolate at Rustan’s Supermarket. I even saw some Hershey’s Butterscotch Chips.” That was all it took – before either of us could blink, I’d whisked us off to Rustan’s.
First thing to be swallowed up by my cart was a bar of Ghirardelli Intense Dark Toffee Interlude (P159.50), quickly followed by one Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts and Cranberries (P110). Both are from the respective companies’ Extra Dark chocolate lines, exuding both mystery and smokiness with their slick black packaging.
Moving on to the confectionery section, I squeal with delight when Toby points out the Mega M&M’s (P228.50/12.6 oz). I scoop up a bag in succession with the M-Azing M&M chocolate bar (P39.50) – one each of the Crunchy and Peanut Butter. Rounding the corner, my favorite Dove chocolate (P39.50) greets me. Into the cart goes a single bar each of the milk chocolate and the dark.
this is the chocolate I eat in bed before going to sleep — sweet dreams!
“But I thought you didn’t like dark chocolate,” Toby tells me, a quiet witness until now of this insane chocolate hoarding. “I didn’t think I did either,” I reply as I determinedly course my shopping cart to the next aisle.
It’s in the baking section where I lose all control, however – for there before me is an awe-inducing, drool-forming, magnificence-personified array of Ghirardelli and Hershey’s baking chocolates and chips. With eyes and mouth as wide as saucers, I watch my hands as they frantically grip and grab bags of Hershey’s Butterscotch Chips and Special Dark Chocolate Chips (P152.75 each). Catching my breath, I caress the smooth, shiny wrapper of the Ghirardelli 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Bar (P159) before hurling a handful into my cart. Toby is watching me silently. He is agog I’d like to think, but there’s a queer expression on his face, somewhere between amusement and fright at this uncontrolled display of giddy delirium. He’s never seen me like this, or so he thinks.
All told, Toby has to escort me out of Rustan’s Supermarket in fear of me depleting the store’s chocolate stocks. But not before I’ve spent P2,700 on chocolate. Madness, I tell you! But somehow I feel all the richer for it.
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wow lori! amazing! i gotta have some m-azing MMs
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Comment by ana — August 24, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
This is a bad bad time to have a sore throat! Waaah.
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Comment by ria — August 24, 2006 @ 6:00 pm
HOOOOLY… * eyes inflate to dinner plate proportions *
I do hope the Rustan’s supermarket here in Shangri-La, carries all of those too!!!
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Comment by Abster — August 24, 2006 @ 6:02 pm
YUMMY!!! I love chocolates, too.
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Comment by Lani — August 24, 2006 @ 6:40 pm
MUST go to Rustan’s Supermarket now…..
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Comment by Ian — August 24, 2006 @ 7:42 pm
I am as giddy as you are over these finds! On the way to Tagaytay last Saturday, my friend & I stopped by Rustan’s Fresh and saw the amazing new stocks! We must have stayed in that spot for over fifteen minutes deciding what to get. Must.go.back.soon!
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Comment by c — August 24, 2006 @ 9:57 pm
wow! i wish i had that much chocolate haha.
the only unique chip i could find in manila is reese’s peanut butter chips in gaisano market market.
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Comment by Crissy — August 24, 2006 @ 10:12 pm
im jealous!! :O *steals all your chocolates*
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Comment by micca — August 24, 2006 @ 10:41 pm
I’m glad you agree with my philosophy that there is never too much chocolate. I just bought some Ghiardelli, also, that I’m very anxious to bake into something yummy.
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Comment by Jennifer — August 24, 2006 @ 11:10 pm
Lori,
When you are in the mood to splurge, I urge you (rhyme wasn’t intentional) to try a box of Charbonnel et Walker pink champagne truffles. Milk chocolate with champagne and wild strawberries to put it over the top. I have never experienced anything so smooth and sinfully decadent in my life. I was at a loss for words when I ate the truffles for the first time and that’s pretty hard to do! Now I’ve given the secret away to what can actually make me shut up…..
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Comment by tina, perpetually recovering ex-new yorker — August 24, 2006 @ 11:48 pm
yey!! they have the mega MM’s already!! my sister brought me several bags last may when she came here for a visit with her family. i love MM’s and dark chocolates! am just wondering what to do with 2 BIG bags of chocolate chips aside from chocochip and choco-oatmeal cookies.. any suggestions? i sooo envy you with all those goodies!
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Comment by bytchgoddess — August 25, 2006 @ 3:42 am
thanks for the info Lori!!!
i’ve been searching for hershey’s white chocolate chips and butterscotch chips for months now. I’ve seen these products advertised (imported magazines that is) but i can’t seem to get a hold of them in any of our supermarkets.
can’t wait to go to Rustan’s! i need to go NOW. =)
-mars
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Comment by Anonymous — August 25, 2006 @ 9:09 am
wow! i can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with. i’ll just have to feast my eyes on the pictures and your mouth-watering, vivid descriptions, and wish upon a star i get to move to a place with an oven.
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Comment by ragamuffin girl — August 25, 2006 @ 9:25 am
hey! I did something similar to that last weekend! Although I indulged (read: panic buy [and eat]) on the Milky Way-s (both the original and midnight) and the Dove dark chocolate. I looove milky way and was shattered when it suddenly disappeared from the retail scene. hence my delight in seeing lots of then at Rustan’s!!!
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Comment by china — August 25, 2006 @ 11:41 am
What a cornucopia of chocolate, it’s enough to drive a girl mad! I have been wanting to try the Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate that comes with the specical mix-ins, are they wonderful?
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Comment by UnGourmetGal — August 25, 2006 @ 1:25 pm
Welcome to the dark chocolate side!
And bathing in chocolate, now that’s what I call a spa event. Am going to have to go to Rustans supermarket as soon as humanely possible.
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Comment by Mila Tan — August 25, 2006 @ 4:07 pm
I saw those last weekend by chance. Dark chocolate is my favorite thing to put in my mouth, bar none, so it literally took every single ounce of the little self-control I have to drag myself away from the shelf. HOWEVER, I am really scheduled to return tomorrow for something else, so I may not be able to resist next time…
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Comment by Katrina — August 25, 2006 @ 7:44 pm
wow! all those gorgeous chocolates!!!! I’m on my way to rustan’s! sucks! I didn’t know that there are soooo many choices readly available. time to get my chocolate book out and experiment!
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Comment by SimplePleasures — August 26, 2006 @ 4:57 pm
Lori you’re killing me! I did not need to know there was more temptation out there so easily available! Sigh, I need a serious dose of will power…
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Comment by christine — August 27, 2006 @ 3:45 am
While I was shopping in Ralph’s here in San Diego, Ca last month, I happened to see those Hershey’s Chocolate bars with different flavours. It was on sale and I bought 50 bars for just $1.00 each. I also happened to go to Victoria Secret Store in Horton Plaza and they are on sale. I got their body splash for $3.00 each. So now I’m worried if the US Customs will take away all my sweet goodies when I go home in October.
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Comment by Danney League — August 27, 2006 @ 7:49 am
Ha ha! While I was reading the beginning of your article, I made a mental note to tell you about the new choc stocks in Rustans. Then i read on and found out you had discovered it as well already! And we ended up buying the same stuff, ha ha! I love the Ghirardelli semi sweet chips. Even their choc chip cookie ready mix is pretty good. I went gaga over the Milky Way Midnight bars too, since I haven’t seen them in a while (now if they would only bring in more 3 Musketeers; John Hay’s commisary has ran out of them). There was some healthy type of Chips Ahoy too (whole wheat or sugar free, or something like that). And of course, I had to grab a pint of Ben & Jerry’s too. If you’re ever in the area of Market Market, check out their Metro Supermarket too. They’ve got some pretty good finds, esp imported items you can’t find elsewhere. Got myself a box of a new type of chocolate Pop Tarts – they’re like bars, called Go Tarts. And now I’m waiting for my care mkg from the States too, containing my Nestle Toll House chocolate chunks (they’re extra large choc chips) – can’t wait to bake them!
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Comment by Rina — August 27, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
oooh lori, dark dark dark chocolates (callebaut) now there’s more oxidants for you to indulge in
less sugar, less milk, more cocoa!
you did harvested alot! hehe
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Comment by chefsy — August 27, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
i dropped by rustan’s for some healthy food (aka salad), but then i remembered your post. so i stocked up on ghirardelli dark too. so much for the salad… but that ghirardelli was goooood stuff!
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Comment by Deepa — August 28, 2006 @ 10:27 am
I saw the chocolates at Rustan’s too! I stood in front of the chocolates for about a minute and just stared wide eyed and amazed! I couldn’t believe they had the dark chocolates here already! To think i had to beg friends in the US to bring me home some dark chocolates hihihi. Ah chocolate heaven!!
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Comment by bancroft *_* — August 28, 2006 @ 10:28 am
Lori! I have been looking for the butterscotch chips since forever!! Thank god you found it! I’ll scoot down to Rustan’s!!
Had so much fun last Saturday!
Thanks for sharing with us your knowledge and expertise!! 
Loved it!!
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Comment by canDIshhh — August 28, 2006 @ 11:21 am
wow, that’s a load, lori!
i’m sure my wife would really love those esp those dark ones! off to rustan’s now…
by the way, have you tasted hershey’s kisses rich dark sweet chocolates and their choco candy with almonds – sugar free? am not sure if it is already available in supermarkets. bought it at puregold clark.
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Comment by our awesome planet — August 28, 2006 @ 5:08 pm
Looked like it was a really successful demo, lori! great stuff! hope you have another one.
jenn
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Comment by jenn uy — August 29, 2006 @ 8:12 am
wow, i will hunt each of them down…wonderful chocolate…yumm
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Comment by dee — August 29, 2006 @ 11:56 am
ooh lala! your photos are really great! and tobi is your partner in crime???? hahahah! those chocolates are really something! lori, i’ve been trying to stay away from the chocolates section of rustan for quite sometime now. knowing what they have to offer makes me want to go there right now and check! aggggggggggh!!!
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Comment by schushop — August 30, 2006 @ 11:36 am
hi! OMG those pictures and descriptions were torturing me!!! can you please tell me where you bought those chocolates from LA? I’m a new reader of your blog ehehehehe but I’m loving every entry ahahahaha
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Comment by Anonymous — August 31, 2006 @ 9:26 am
i want those chocolates! yum yum!
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Comment by Jax — September 1, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Did you ever try Milky Way Midnight? It’s sooooo good! I probably bought at least 10 bars until Rustan’s stock ran out! I hope they order more soon. I am totally addicted to MW Midnight! YUM.YUM.YUM
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Comment by Anonymous — September 12, 2006 @ 5:56 pm
Hi All!
Aside from Rustan’s, what store or supermarket sells Ghirardelli Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips? Ever since Price Smart closed, my sister refuses to bake her delicious Triple Chocolate chip cookies without any Ghirardelli SSweet CCs. Rustan’s has some but it’s almost twice the price of Price Smart.
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Comment by Papichulo168 — September 18, 2006 @ 3:09 pm
You know what I miss? These raspberry chocolate chips they used to sell locally in the late 90s. The bite of the raspberry added a great flavor to chocolate chip cookies. =)
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Comment by wysgal — October 10, 2006 @ 8:40 pm
have you tried lindt chocolates
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Comment by Anonymous — October 19, 2006 @ 1:22 pm
hi,i’ve been looking for MW for a while now. Im planning to give it to my good friend who’d be having her debut on the 7th..do you have any ideas as to where i can avail it?i already tried candy corner but it seems like they dont have it in stock. I’d really appreciate the help. Thanks in advance!
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Comment by yanni — December 22, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Dark chocolate is produced by adding fat and sugar to cacao. It is chocolate without milk as an additive. It is sometimes called “plain chocolate”. The U.S. Government has no definition for dark chocolate, only “sweet chocolate”, which requires a 15% concentration of chocolate liquor. Sweet chocolate is not necessarily dark chocolate as there is no restriction of milk in it. European rules specify a minimum of 35% cocoa solids.
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Comment by Harsh Ranjan — February 28, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
Where can I get butterscotch chips these days?
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Comment by monique — May 23, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
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Comment by loribee — May 25, 2009 @ 10:09 am