High Quality Chocolate for Truffles?

My best friend is getting married in October and wants to give out truffles as her favor. I am contemplating making them for her (providing free labor - she's gonna have to provide the ingredients!). Do you have any suggestions for good quality (and if possible somewhat affordable chocolate) that I can get my hands on? We're looking at making 600, so we'll need a good amount.

Thanks!

I think the key is going to to find somewhere you can buy a good amount in bulk (you'll save more money). You're probably going to need a lot of chocolate to make 600 truffles (I'm guessing around 15 lbs.)

I know that Belgian Chocolatier Piron in Evanston sells large blocks of the chocolate he uses (Callebaut, I believe). I'm unaware of his pricing.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd probably source it online and have it shipped. Callebaut would probably be my first choice based on price and quality.

Belgian Chocolatier Piron
509-A Main Street
Evanston, IL 60202
847-864-5504
http://www.belgchocpiron.com/

Best,
Michael

My number one choice for chocolate is Scharffenberger, but it's pricey and hard to find in bulk unless you purchase directly from their website. If you have a membership (or know someone who does) to Restaurant Depot, they carry blocks of Callebaut (11 lbs.). As a less expensive alternative (while sacrificing minimal quality), Chicago Game carries Chocovic bittersweet and semi sweet chocolate drops (22 lb packages) that you can pick up right at their place.

Jetro Restaurant Depot
1030 W. Division, Chicago (another location in Des Plaines too)
312-255-0403

Chicago Game & Gourmet
350 N. Ogden, Chicago
312-455-1800

I'll second the recommendation for Callebaut and also suggest you go with their "callets." The small discs of chocolate come in bags, melt evenly, and save you the time and labor of chopping all that chocolate. Here's one on-line source for purchasing them: http://www.worldwidechocolate.com/shop_callebaut.html