Seattle's is amazing. I'm a bit jealous about the broken bin. Hershey's and Nestle can go suck a bag of dildos. They wanted to change the laws to allow candy to be labeled chocolate if it contained no cocoa butter, and instead was made of vegetable oils. Fuck those guys
You'd probably dig the hell out of Theo. It was started by a cancer researcher at Fred Hutchinson who decided he wanted to make some chocolate (it's named after theobromine, not a dude). They've got about 6,000 sqft where beans become bars. They never separate the cocoa butter from the solids. Their bars are in the grocery store here for $2.99. In LA they're in the Whole Foods for $5.99.
The lead chocolatier at Theo - Autumn Martin - went on to open a specialty store called Seattle HotCakes, which are unbelievably decadent, delicious, and JUST THE RIGHT SIZE. Oh my freaking god does she know her chocolate! My old circus used to occupy one half of the Theo Chocolate Factory building in Fremont (Seattle), and we would be rehearsing to the smell of chocolate... and every day, after they closed for tours, they'd bring the leftover chocolate to us. Our aerialists started running away with their fingers in their ears when they'd see Autumn come through the doors with fresh samples, broken bars, etc!!! So much good chocolate...
Theo is amazing but I'm amazed they're still in business with how they operate. Have a friend who has been working there for a couple of years now - wouldn't mind making a move over there at some point. The chocolate rules and he has boxes of free chocolate because it was broken or had cosmetic defects. Now about this Seattle Chocolates bin you're talking about...
Ohhhhhhhhh. Neat. I've not ordered from them before, I may have to make an order before it gets too hot. Voges is one of the companies that supplies Trader Joe's' so I can get at least some decent stuff out here without paying shipping. I love the bacon bars, BTW. I'd suggest you try one, honest. I personally liked the milk bar better than the dark bar, and all of my friends loved the smoke and stout bar. Otherwise Lindt is now in the local mega marts and is a good starter bar for people wanting something that tastes good, is not too expensive and is available locally. Green and Black's chili bar is also worth a taste. I fully expected to hate this one, but it was interesting. Not bad at all. But I normally go for the plain chocolate bars in the 60-80% dark range. Definitely going to try that Theo stuff next month when I get the craving.
Vosges is awright. If I'm buying at that grade I'll generally go with the endangered species bars; they have a better balance. Generally green and black over Vosges, just 'cuz it's a better value. My wife won't eat Lindt. Too waxy. I dunno... I'm not entirely sold on Swiss chocolate. Theo does this. It's not... well, it's not what you'd expect. And it's something you eat a crumble at a time.