bittersweet chocolate chips

Hi,

Anyone have a Chicago source for decent quality bittersweet chocolate chips? I need about 5 lbs.

Thanks!

grace

The blommer factory store (600 W Kinzie, at Milwaukee) has them, I'm fairly sure. I think they're $3-4/lb.

Hours are M-F 9-5 and Saturday 9-1.

I'd call ahead just in case. 312.492.1336.

I just called.... they sell bittersweet chocolate in bar form for $4.74.

Thank you!

Grace

Costco?

stevez wrote:Costco?

The costco on clybourn only sells nestle semi-sweet in (i think) 3lb bags. Of course, the distinction between bittersweet and semi-sweet is pretty fine.

Grace, we have a 10lb bar of the Revere bittersweet from Blommer, and it's great stuff. Really deep, rich chocolate flavor. However, in, say, cookies, it doesn't hold up as well as a semi-sweet Nestle morsel. A lot more melting and spreading.

That doesn't stop us from using the revere in the cookies, though

ghirardelli (sp?) sells bittersweet chips at the regular grocery store. They were voted the best supermarket brand of chocolate to bake with by Cook's Illustrated, and I pretty much agree.

Stole my reply (except to say that they're on sale at Jewel last I checked, and they're sneakily packaged in 11 oz bags)

I THINK they're labled "double chocolate" They make a killer ganache, let me tell you.

See, ghirarararadelli got my hopes up with their product locator. According to them, the Galewood Jewels had their 60% bittersweet chocolate chips. A phone call to da jewels indicated otherwise.

http://www.ghirardelli.com/products/chips.aspx

I've also been told 10-lb. bars of Callebaut chocolate can be found at Jetro/Restaurant Depot. I'll check there tonight.

Thanks all,
grace

I'm surprised - they're a staple here on the north side. As I mentioned, at Jewel, they're labeled double chocolate and not bittersweet; maybe the guys who answered the phone weren't savvy to this.

Bummer, man - until somebody makes a 70% chip, they're my favorite chocolate chip out there.

nestle is now making them as well -- 62%. saw them today at jewel

http://www.verybestbaking.com/promotions/free/coupon/chocolatier_1.aspx?hbx=vbboctpc

check out the link for a $1 off coupon -- glad I didn't buy them today!

I also buy the Ghiradelli chips. Cost Plus tends to sell bigger bags at good prices.

Thanks to all that responded. I bought an 11 lb. bar of Callebaut at Jetro (you need a business license to shop there) for $35. They had 2 versions of dark chocolate; "refined" and "bitter", I went for bitter which was 60%.

I have a catering/concession business and the Callebaut went into a mexican-style hot chocolate. Very good stuff.

Here's a recipe:
1 gallon whole milk
6 cups water
8 tbs. instant coffee or espresso
8 tsp. cinnamon
3 tsp. secret bbq spice rub (a mix of salt, ancho, chipotle, cayenne, etc.)
1-1/2 cups white sugar
1-1/4 lbs. bittersweet chocolate

Boil water and dissolve spices and coffee. Chunk up the chocolate and add. Keep stirring until it's melted. Add milk and bring to a simmer. Don't boil. There you go. Makes about 14 12 oz. servings. A customer told me Captain Morgan's spiced rum was great in it, I liked a bit of Jameson in mine.

Next time I'll try Blommer's. We like using local stuff.

grace

FYI, all of blommer's chocolate types can be bought in 10 pound bars for about $40. The callebaut is cheaper, and might be better. I dunno. But you apparently get more variety at Blommer.