Looking for Chicago Chocolate for wedding

Hello there LTH. My fiance and I are getting married Oct. 1st and we've come up with an idea for our wedding favors. We're going to buy a different box of chocolates for each table in the wedding (about 25 tables) each box will be from a different Chicago chocolateer. We'll include a note that encourages people to share between tables (graze) that way people will get up and talk to each other (hopefully). So now the task is to find around 25 different chocolate stores. This is what I've got so far.

Voseges, Moonstruck, Ghirardelli, Margie's, Canady Le Chocolatier, Vanille, Belgian Chocolatier Piron, Marly Chocolates, Ethel's Chocolate Lounge, See's Candies, Marshal Field's Frangos, Fanny May Pixies

I know some of those aren't based in Chicago but it's a start.

Thanks for the help!
Ben Lang

HI,

Marly's in Evanston closed. In this location will be an Ethel's.

Not in Chicago, not even near, though in Illinois is Ruben's

Look forward to seeing the final list.

Regards,

Here's a few:

Sweet's
260 E. Deerpath Rd.
Lake Forest Il
847-295-1111
I love their english toffee


Long Grove Confectionery
35 W. Wacker
Chicago
312- 443-1440
Also in some malls

Leonidas Chocolates
231 S. Lasalle
Chicago
My favorite

House of Fine Chocolates
3109 N. Broadway
Chicago
312-525-8338

Windy City Sweets
3308 N. Broadway
Chicago

Hope this helps.

A few years ago on the other board poster Joan mentioned this truffle producer:

Chocolate Potpourri Limited
1816 Johns Drive
Glenview, IL 60025
http://www.chocolatetruffles.com
richard@chocolatetruffles.com
847-729-8878

Chocolate Potpourri Limited
3908 Kiess Drive
Glenview, IL 60026
847-562-8667

Other:

Chocolates by Bernard Callebaut
1970 Tower Drive
Glenview, IL 60026
847-998-9680

Confection Connection
504 Central Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035
847-432-3080

Great idea. I bet we can come up with 25.

In fact, this link may nearly get you there. Some of these you already have; most I don't know about. I found it Googling the site for Mr. Kite's Candies at Division and State. I'm not sure how many chocolates they actually make on site, but I believe they do some.

I would also suggest Blue Cat Candy.

And if you're open to non-Chicago choices, Fox and Obel usually has a few different selections, including my favorite, Christopher Norman.

If I were at the table with the Vosges, I wouldn't make too many friends that night.

I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned Fannie May. No group of "Chicago Chocolates" could possibly be complete without including some Fannie May (even though it's no longer made here, and the chocolates are coated with a slightly heavier hand then they used to be). Also, Margie's Ice Cream has chocolates as well. I'm not sure if they still make them in house, or if the quality is as good as some of the other suggestons, but if you need 25 different kinds of chocolate Margie's should probably make the list. Are you going to do some kind of tasting to pick those that will be included? That should be lot's of fun, and a potential LTH event.

Margie's
1960 N. Western
Chicago, IL
773-384-1035

Wow! I'm shocked that there are two vintage Chicago chocolatiers that still haven't been mentioned. (FYI, Leonidas mentioned above is not a Chicago company. They're a Belgian chocolatier that has locations all around the world).

Blommer's chocolate aromas still cover the loop and points west almost daily. They have a factory store where you can pick up all types of chocolate:

Blommer's
600 West Kinzie St.
Chicago, IL
http://www.blommerstore.com/index.htm

World's Finest Chocolate is a Chicago fundraising tradition. For over half of my childhood in the public schools here, I sold their chocolate bars to family and strangers alike. I still buy a bar every now and then when a co-worker's kid is selling them.

World's Finest Chocolate
4801 S. Lawndale
Chicago, IL 60632
1-888-821-8452
http://www.worldsfinestchocolate.com/

And why stop at chocolate? Why not throw in other kinds of Chicago candy (Brach's, Ferrara Pan, etc.)

Best,
Michael / EC

Canady Le Chocolatier, South Loop

824 South Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
312-212-1270

See link for further info and photos:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3026

Antonius

Hi,

Steve - the original post had Margies, FAnnie May and even Canady, I assumed they wanted candy from origins yet unknown.

EC - Blommer's Chocolate I put into the category of chocolate purchased by wholesale candy producers to melt and make into other candies. Worlds Famous Chocolate I put into fundraiser candy category. I'm sure they both do more than I just described, but that's how they've long been pigeon holed in my brain and I'm sure I'm not alone.

IN any case, lot of new producers has been unearthed in this thread.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:EC - Blommer's Chocolate I put into the category of chocolate purchased by wholesale candy producers to melt and make into other candies. Worlds Famous Chocolate I put into fundraiser candy category. I'm sure they both do more than I just described, but that's how they've long been pigeon holed in my brain and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Without a doubt, you are correct. But if I were composing a list or tasting of Chicago chocolatiers, I think you would be remiss to omit them.

langbenj wrote:Hello there LTH. My fiance and I are getting married Oct. 1st and we've come up with an idea for our wedding favors. We're going to buy a different box of chocolates for each table in the wedding (about 25 tables) each box will be from a different Chicago chocolateer. We'll include a note that encourages people to share between tables (graze) that way people will get up and talk to each other (hopefully). So now the task is to find around 25 different chocolate stores. This is what I've got so far.

Voseges, Moonstruck, Ghirardelli, Margie's, Canady Le Chocolatier, Vanille, Belgian Chocolatier Piron, Marly Chocolates, Ethel's Chocolate Lounge, See's Candies, Marshal Field's Frangos, Fanny May Pixies

I know some of those aren't based in Chicago but it's a start.

Thanks for the help!
Ben Lang

You could easily do what you wanna do without once hitting interlopers like Moonstruck and See's. I'm sorry I'm too lazy this morning to find you addresses, but here's a bunch of local still-making-candy places:

Cupid Candies (few locations SW of Chicago)

Cunis Candies (S. Holland)

Gayety (Lansing -- Special plug 'cause I go the tour)

Old Fashioned Candy (Berywn -- I was just there the other night, so I can vouch for its continued deliciousness)

Bittersweet Bakery on Belmont has a limited selection, but it is all excellent.

You should probably throw in a couple of tootsie rolls!

Rob

Thank you all so much. I'll let you guys know the final list of choclate suppliers that we decide on. Also any idea how long before the wedding I could buy them without them going bad and what the proper storage method would be? Don't want to be running to 90 stores the day before my wedding
Ben

If you're interested in an organic chocolate, you could check with newcomer Michelle Garcia whose all organic online bakery, Bleeding Heart Bakery, has recently opened. I know that she has done candies for weddings. Her website is www.bleedingheartbakery.com.

I would also recommend Mitchell's Ice Cream and Candies in Homewood.

Also, if you are interested in using the south suburban chocolates listed here, I could probably be induced to run around and pick them up for you and meet you in the city for a drop-off. Anything for love!!

Hi,

If you look on the Ruben's Chocolatier under FAQ they comment on chocolate storage.

Regards,

The Bleeding Heart Bakery can be found at
www.thebleedingheartbakery.com (the the was missing)

Organic Chocolate Galore!

Blue Cat was mentioned, but deserves another go.

A bit off topic from chocolate, but we very much enjoyed Bleeding Heart's scones on a recent Saturday morning at Kitchen Chicago cafe.

Tasty homemade truffles at the following in Roscoe Village:

Suckers Candy, Inc.
3256 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618

773-549-1706

http://www.suckerscandyinc.com/products.htm

Chocolate Cafe is the new spot on Randolph. I have not sampled anything (yet), but it looks interesting!

Since you are open to including See's, I will also recommend Australian Homemade. I think the chocolates are quite tasty.

Is the Long Grove Confectionary still in business? It's in the suburbs, and I remember going there when I was a kid. If memory serves, it's good stuff.

Chocolate Cafe
847 W. Randolph St.
312-738-0888

Australian Homemade
3425 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago

Australian Homemade
111 N. State St.
Chicago

Hi,

In the realm of Illinois made candies, you don't have to always go high end. Someone mentioned Tootsie Rolls, but do consider Mars and Heath Bars as Illinois products which you can buy almost anywhere!

Heath was sold some years ago. It may not be made here any longer but it very definitely originated in Illinois. The Chicago Tribune had an article by Wes Smith, I always read his articles, about Heath family quarrels trickling into board meetings. The family had owned an ice cream parlor. One sibling screamed at another at every meeting how she always had to pay for her ice cream sodas. After many years, he finally handed her $50 to compensate her expenses and it never was spoken of again. I've been a big Heath bar fan ever since reading that article, of course I just love any kind of toffee. I love the story behind the food just as much as the bar itself.

Happy wedding! Do advise later what ended up in the final selection of chocolates and did it work as a mixer?

Regards,

Three additional choices for Illinois toffee lovers:

Terry's Toffees
1117 West Grand
Chicago
312-733-2700

Pemberton Candies
13455 W. Pawnee Lane
Lockport, IL
708-301-4238

Hollingsworth Toffee
922 S. State Street
Lockport, IL
815-838-2275

Pemberton also makes other kinds of chocolates; I'm not sure about the other two. But a trip out to Lockport is surely worthwhile!

You must go to Bon Bon on Clark St. in Andersonville (between Foster and Bryn Mawr). They make beautiful chocolates there. Some are infused with lavender, some with spices, some are ganache filled. Some in the shape of a Buddha. I get their chocolates for gifts for friends and everyone swoons. If you're feeling at all risque, they make Kama Sutra chocolates in the shape of some of the positions of the KS.

I would strongly like to recommend Anderson's Candy Shop in far N Richmond. Last Christmas I was visiting my family in the W 'burbs and we made a day trip to Lake Geneva...on the way we drove through downtown Richmond and drove right by this old place and knew i had heard about it somewhere. Turns out I had read about in the Los Angeles Times about 5 years ago as one of the best chocolate shops in the USA.

Really good chocolates at non-ripoff prices. THe people at the store AND online are wonderful..I've even gotten notes and replies from one of the Anderson's themselves from my orders.

http://www.andersonscandyshop.com/

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Steve - the original post had Margies, FAnnie May and even Canady, I assumed they wanted candy from origins yet unknown.

EC - Blommer's Chocolate I put into the category of chocolate purchased by wholesale candy producers to melt and make into other candies. Worlds Famous Chocolate I put into fundraiser candy category. I'm sure they both do more than I just described, but that's how they've long been pigeon holed in my brain and I'm sure I'm not alone.

IN any case, lot of new producers has been unearthed in this thread.

Regards,

I used to work for Worlds Finest Chocolate. They have all kinds of items including choc covered almonds, pecans, cashews along with their caramel whirls, mintmeltaways. They also have mini choc bars.

Coco Rouge. Very high-end in a Vosges kind of way. Looks a lot like Vosges, but with very different flavors.

http://www.savoringchicago.com/excerpts.html

Available at Pastoral Artisan on Broadway south of Wellington. I met the husband/wife team at a tasting and they are very nice!

Please consider:

http://www.customcandydesign.com/

Really special, local, handmade candies, finest ingredients. They do a lot of weddings and their decorative work is excellent. Kosher kitchen, outstanding.

I'd also like to put in a vote for House of Fine Chocolates on Broadway -- if you haven't visited, do so. They put their candies on the outside of cakes. What a fabulous idea ... !

GAF wrote:Three additional choices for Illinois toffee lovers:

Terry's Toffees
1117 West Grand
Chicago
312-733-2700

Pemberton Candies
13455 W. Pawnee Lane
Lockport, IL
708-301-4238

Hollingsworth Toffee
922 S. State Street
Lockport, IL
815-838-2275

Pemberton also makes other kinds of chocolates; I'm not sure about the other two. But a trip out to Lockport is surely worthwhile!

I tried one of the Lockport places, can't remember which one, but it was plenty good. Lockport's a fun place, but anyways, Terry's I did try as part of my Fox & Obel spree that the CQ got me for Father's Day, and that is definately great stuff.

Rob

Bonbon is on Clark in the Andersonville neighborhood. Not bad, but not great either. Blommers makes Godiva from what I've heard. Another pastry shop that makes it's own chocolates is Dessert Gourmet in Glenview.

Bonbon
5410 North Clark
Chicago, IL

Dessert Gourmet
2300 Lehigh Ave
Glenview, IL 60026

I don't think Blommers makes the chocolate for Godiva. When I worked for World's Finest Chocolates, they made products for Dove and Hershey's but Dove and Hershy's would ship in their own chocolate.