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| - Not many people are familiar with craft chocolate, but I am hoping that will change. Part of that is getting over any fears of "dark chocolate." First off, most of what you have had in the past is probably "bad" dark chocolate that has been produced at scale and stripped of any defining elements. If you're a coffee drinker, it is something like over-roasting the beans and can result in a consistent, albeit somewhat bitter, experience.
The chocolates made at Zak's are "three-ingredient" chocolates, although you could argue that it is two since they use cacao beans and sugar as the primary ingredients (the third is some extra cocoa butter to enhance the texture). With so few ingredients, there is nothing in the way of the true flavor of the chocolate, so you get to experience all of the nuances of flavor in the beans from the different regions. If you are accustomed to "big chocolate" and don't believe that you can taste differences, you're in for a real treat!
We have been to some other craft chocolate shops and have been on tours before, so we were somewhat familiar with the process. I signed the family up for one of their chocolate making classes and we spent the evening with Jim and, periodically, Maureen, who popped in to make sure we stayed on track :D
Seriously, though, it was a rare opportunity to ask questions and experience the process first-hand: we created chocolate from the raw cacao beans and sugar. I had a great time, and my kids even enjoyed participating in the bean-to-bar process. Like many things, the process is straightforward, but the attention to details along the way can greatly affect the finished product. The passion and attention to these details is something that makes Zak's stand out in my mind.
From a chocolate perspective, my family prefers dark chocolates, and I really enjoy *just* chocolate, with maybe some roasted almonds. I'm a fan of the plain chocolate bars, but they do offer a wide variety of truffles and such that Maureen crafts in-house using local ingredients. Tip: the brownies are amazing. We were fortunate to get them while they were still warm, and I can only imagine one with a cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk.
If you're at all interested in the process, sign up for one of their $10 tours. If you are a food geek, or just REALLY like chocolate, the $75 (3-hour) class is worth it and includes that tour.
I think I would be here all the time if I didn't live so far away. As it is, I am planning my next visit so that I can stock up!
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