[mraines]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

We were driving down Hwy 44, right before you get to Hwy 301, and we saw this huge building. When we went inside it was like we were kids in a candy store.

We went to the ice cream counter and we ordered each a cup with one scoop. They gave us a HUGE scoop of ice cream!

After we finished we went back in and looked around. There was a room on the east side of the building and we went in there to see what was up. They had an enormous assortment of chocolates, all priced extremely low. They had really big assortments to use for ??? They also had “bloopers” which had various chocolates that had the papers on them messed up but they said that the quality of the chocolates were unaffected. And they were priced 80% off.

Then we went to the main side and saw every kind chocolate you could imagine. I swear I gained a couple of pounds just walking in and smelling everything.

We asserted some serious self control and walked out with just a bag of Jelly Belly’s. But what a place!

I knew that place was there but have never been inside. I don't know how much restraint I would have.

[Regorp]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

We were driving down Hwy 44, right before you get to Hwy 301, and we saw this huge building. When we went inside it was like we were kids in a candy store.

We went to the ice cream counter and we ordered each a cup with one scoop. They gave us a HUGE scoop of ice cream!

After we finished we went back in and looked around. There was a room on the east side of the building and we went in there to see what was up. They had an enormous assortment of chocolates, all priced extremely low. They had really big assortments to use for ??? They also had “bloopers” which had various chocolates that had the papers on them messed up but they said that the quality of the chocolates were unaffected. And they were priced 80% off.

Then we went to the main side and saw every kind chocolate you could imagine. I swear I gained a couple of pounds just walking in and smelling everything.

We asserted some serious self control and walked out with just a bag of Jelly Belly’s. But what a place!

In 2 1/2 years in TV, we have gone there 6 times. Loving every minute of it! Next door is Lamar's Bus Tours, so after a trip it's time for ice cream sundaes and chocolate. Tastes great to me always!!

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Timtalk

Nice. Way to discount original posters excitement for finding something new that excited her. Make you feel better trashing her post?

Originally Posted by Dotneko

Are you new here? Many posters get their jollies raining on others parades.
I just saw your post count lol - you ARE new here. Heads up, there are some grumpy gus posters that are best to ignore.

It’s all theater — much like real life. There will always be those who try to make themselves feel better by trying to make others feel worse. (While I am enjoying learning about other people’s favorite chocolate in this thread, there is no reason to bash someone else’s.)


In real life, I know someone I call “The One-Upper.” Any time I mention something I like or plan to do or have done, she makes it known that she has a “much better” choice or plan or experience than anything I could ever possibly come up with.

If I made her constant one-upping into a drinking game, and downed a shot every time she did her routine, I would be on the floor within a very short time. She also begins a lot of sentences with “I”…..She too often makes me feel like I am in some ridiculous competition I did not sign up for.

There are only so many standard personality types we run across in life or in literature — and on TOTV, too. It’s all theater — as we “strut and fret our hour upon the stage” — as said Shakespeare.

Hang around TOTV long enough — or too long (blush) — and you will see sometimes that things play out as if they have been scripted.

Boomer (and scene. )

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

We were driving down Hwy 44, right before you get to Hwy 301, and we saw this huge building. When we went inside it was like we were kids in a candy store.

We went to the ice cream counter and we ordered each a cup with one scoop. They gave us a HUGE scoop of ice cream!

After we finished we went back in and looked around. There was a room on the east side of the building and we went in there to see what was up. They had an enormous assortment of chocolates, all priced extremely low. They had really big assortments to use for ??? They also had “bloopers” which had various chocolates that had the papers on them messed up but they said that the quality of the chocolates were unaffected. And they were priced 80% off.

Then we went to the main side and saw every kind chocolate you could imagine. I swear I gained a couple of pounds just walking in and smelling everything.

We asserted some serious self control and walked out with just a bag of Jelly Belly’s. But what a place!

Yep, been there. We take the grandchildren there just before we send them home. You know so they are stocked up. 😏

[Pixelpups]

My husband and I refuse to go into Russel Stover, because we have no resistance. The bloopers are a great price and we have succumbed now and then. (I'm not sure I'm happy to be reminded of their existence!) However, Sees never tasted as good as Fannie May to me - and I lived in CA for 39 years. Hands down, chocolate candy bought from local shops in Europe are exceptional, but I'm not there very often. Peterbrooke and Kilwins are yummy and pricey.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Boomer

In real life, I know someone I call “The One-Upper.” Any time I mention something I like or plan to do or have done, she makes it known that she has a “much better” choice or plan or experience than anything I could ever possibly come up with.

Boomer (and scene. )

We have a "one upper" right here on this forum.

[Danube]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I'm not Artic Fox but I'll chime in with my own HO:

Peterbrooke in Sumter Landing Town Square
Kilwin's in Spanish Springs Town Square

Lindt and Godiva are better than Russel Stover's, but neither has their own store anywhere around here. Hershey's Kisses are better than Russel Stover's solid milk chocolates but again - no Hershey's store here, you'd have to settle for buying them in Walmart.

See's Candies are not available anywhere except from their own stores/mall kiosks, or ordering online, and there aren't any stores near the Villages. But their chocolate covered toffee (tins of what they call Toffee-ettes) is to die for.

Also - trivial factoid: "Belgian chocolate" has no legal distinction outside of Belgium. But within Belgium, "Belgian chocolate" has specific standards in order to get the label. But anyone outside of Belgium can make their chocolates using the same standard, there's nothing unique about "Belgian chocolate" since they get their raw cacao from the same places everyone else gets them (cocoa doesn't grow in Belgium): Africa, Central America, and South America.

We used to live near a large chocolate factory that was in a big tilt-up building in an industrial park in Chino, California. They had an outlet store and they made chocolates for many different "boutique" companies and Godiva and Ethel M (now part of Mars Corp). It was all the same chocolate, just packaged for different companies. We would buy Godiva turtles with a mis-shapen leg or a stray lump by the bag for a small fraction the retail price. It was all very good stuff but people love to pay extra $$$ for brand names / bragging rights.

They did not make See's, which is excellent.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Oh now artic fox, sir, Bad candy is like bad..............ANYTHING.

Better than nothin'.

We can't have a Belgian Chocolate factory near us so I am glad for ole' Russell Stover.

I prefer Swedish chocolate.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

We were driving down Hwy 44, right before you get to Hwy 301, and we saw this huge building. When we went inside it was like we were kids in a candy store.

We went to the ice cream counter and we ordered each a cup with one scoop. They gave us a HUGE scoop of ice cream!

After we finished we went back in and looked around. There was a room on the east side of the building and we went in there to see what was up. They had an enormous assortment of chocolates, all priced extremely low. They had really big assortments to use for ??? They also had “bloopers” which had various chocolates that had the papers on them messed up but they said that the quality of the chocolates were unaffected. And they were priced 80% off.

Then we went to the main side and saw every kind chocolate you could imagine. I swear I gained a couple of pounds just walking in and smelling everything.

We asserted some serious self control and walked out with just a bag of Jelly Belly’s. But what a place!

Ben by there but never stopped in. My lost I guess?

[SoCalGal]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

IMHO Russell Stover makes the worst chocolates on Earth.

You took the words right off my keyboard. Not worth the calories.

[Dotneko]

Originally Posted by Danube

We used to live near a large chocolate factory that was in a big tilt-up building in an industrial park in Chino, California. They had an outlet store and they made chocolates for many different "boutique" companies and Godiva and Ethel M (now part of Mars Corp). It was all the same chocolate, just packaged for different companies. We would buy Godiva turtles with a mis-shapen leg or a stray lump by the bag for a small fraction the retail price. It was all very good stuff but people love to pay extra $$$ for brand names / bragging rights.

They did not make See's, which is excellent.

Really? I have been into the EthelM chocolate factory in Las Vegas and it looked like they were actually making them there.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Don’t get me wrong I LOVE See’s candy. (When we moved out here we went by See’s and bought numerous boxes) But See’s doesn’t have a store around here; RS does.

[SoCalGal]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

...or be handy to one of the gazillions of See's candy stores in Southern California.

I currently live in southern CA. There are six in my county (Orange). They will give you one piece of candy free (their choice) when you drop in and ask. There used to be a store within walking distance but I used willpower (most times). Yes, it's high-quality chocolate, but expensive (IMO). Next best thing is Cadbury's--especially their mini-eggs, available at Easter time only. Surprisingly, Dove chocolates are pretty good, too, and available by the bag.

[kp11364]

This sounds like a wonderful trip, although I have to admit I have self-control problems when it comes to chocolate... and ice cream! When I was much younger, I'd break out in hives if I had too much chocolate, but I grew out out of that!

Russell Stover always reminds me of me of my grandma - we'd always get a special box for the holidays. It's good chocolate - maybe not THE BEST, but always enjoyable.

Back when I worked in NYC, there were two high-end chocolatiers right near me - Kron (Swedish) and Leonidas.

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

We were driving down Hwy 44, right before you get to Hwy 301, and we saw this huge building. When we went inside it was like we were kids in a candy store.

We went to the ice cream counter and we ordered each a cup with one scoop. They gave us a HUGE scoop of ice cream!

After we finished we went back in and looked around. There was a room on the east side of the building and we went in there to see what was up. They had an enormous assortment of chocolates, all priced extremely low. They had really big assortments to use for ??? They also had “bloopers” which had various chocolates that had the papers on them messed up but they said that the quality of the chocolates were unaffected. And they were priced 80% off.

Then we went to the main side and saw every kind chocolate you could imagine. I swear I gained a couple of pounds just walking in and smelling everything.

We asserted some serious self control and walked out with just a bag of Jelly Belly’s. But what a place!

[SoCalGal]

While there isn't a single, definitive "national competition" in the United States where chocolate lovers can vote on their favorite chocolate, there are several events and competitions that involve public voting or consumer choice elements in the realm of chocolate:

International Chocolate Awards: This competition is more about recognizing excellence in chocolate making rather than public voting. This award has become a benchmark for quality in the chocolate world, fostering a community of chocolate enthusiasts, makers, and judges dedicated to recognizing and promoting fine chocolate.

Cadbury's Inventor Competition: Cadbury has run consumer-driven competitions like the one in 2019, where the public voted on new flavors for Dairy Milk, but this is more about inventing new flavors than choosing from existing ones. This competition allows consumers to participate in choosing new products but isn't a regular annual event focused solely on existing chocolates.

Posts on X (formerly known as Twitter): There have been mentions of chocolate competitions like the "World Cup of Chocolate" where voting plays a role, though these are often more informal or themed events rather than formal national competitions. These are not official, regulated competitions but can capture the interest of chocolate lovers.

In summary, while there are competitions that involve chocolate in the U.S., they often focus more on the craft of chocolate making rather than a broad public vote to determine "the best chocolate." Events like those mentioned might include elements of consumer voting or preference, but they are not structured as a national competition explicitly for chocolate lovers to vote on their favorite chocolate. (Source: GrokAI)

Personally, I love "Ice Cubes"--a childhood favorite. They melt in your mouth.

Robot or human?