Chocolate of Choice: Twix Caramel Cookie Bar

 L.A. blogger Carren Jao and her fiance Carlos Pineda sharing a Twix Caramel Cookie Bar. Sweet!

Name Carren Jao
Hometown Manila, Philippines
Occupation Job-hunter, L.A. blogger
Chocolate of Choice Twix Caramel Cookie Bar

I'm actually not much of a caramel fan, but Twix found the perfect kind of caramel sweet for me. The added biscuit crunch at the end is also very satisfying. The best thing about it? It's made for sharing. Sending you a picture of me and my fiance, Carlos Pineda, sharing the same Twix.

- Carren, Los Angeles
Read all about Carren's adventures in Hollywoodland at uncoverLA

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Chocolate IS meant for sharing! 

What's your favorite chocolate? Send me a picture of you and your chocolate BFF at marriedtochocolate@gmail.com for a chance to be published on the blog. It'll be fun! - Kris
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Coming up next: Married to Chocolate gets a tan!

Stay tuned for drool-worthy dessert finds in Honolulu, Hawaii. Get excited.

Chocolate of Choice: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Interior designer and budding make-up artist Kim Pendergast won't share her Reese's

Name Kim Pendergast

Hometown/Location San Francisco Bay Area

Profession Interior designer and make-up artist

Chocolate of Choice Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

"I’ve always had a love affair with Reese’s. Classic REESE’S is the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter in a rich milk chocolate cup. I’ve eaten so many different kinds of chocolate around the world, but still, there’s something about Reese’s. I love how it’s so flexible - I can pair it with vanilla ice cream, a warm cookie and even cold milk. I love experimenting. It’s not dark and surely not white. I love it classic because it never fails to give me pleasure with every bite. Some say sharing is a nice gesture. STUPID, but nice."

- Kim, 23, San Francisco
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What chocolate won't you share? You know you have one. Pose with it, take a photo, and send it to marriedtochocolate@gmail.com for a chance to be featured on the blog! I'm waiting. - Kris

Chocolate of Choice: Ko-Ed's Sponge Candy

 Newspaper Editor and Big Buffalo Fan SJ Velasquez swears by Ko-Ed's Sponge Candy 

Name S.J. Velasquez

Location Syracuse, N.Y.

Occupation Newspaper copy editor, blogger on Religionisms

Chocolate of Choice Ko-Ed Candies' sponge candy

I've moved around quite a bit in the last four years, squatting in places like El Salvador, London, Manhattan and eventually Syracuse. No matter where I go, I crave food from my hometown, Buffalo, N.Y. Even though I now live only two hours from Buffalo, I still can't get standard Buffalo cuisine.

Exhibit A: SPONGE CANDY!This chocolate-covered crunchy toffee candy with a sponge-like appearance can only be made in certain climates. You might find variations of sponge candy in some parts of the world, but it always has a different name and a slightly different list of ingredients (see the Wikipedia article for more info). I eat Buffalo sponge candy exclusively. During my last trip home, I bought a half pound of the chocolate-dipped confectionery oddity and hoovered nearly every piece. Want to try some legit sponge candy? I suggest having it shipped to you directly from Ko-ed Candies' site.

- SJ

Check out her take on Buddhism and Tiger Woods' karma on Religionisms. This is one lady to look out for!
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Psst, does your hometown have a specialty chocolate shop you want to brag about? Send me a picture and a few words about why you like it and show some hometown love! - Kris

Chocolate of Choice: Chocolate Mochi

Manila-based writer Karla Rey and chocolate mochi

Name Karla Rey
Location Mandaluyong City, Philippines (as of the writing)
Occupation writer, marketing coordinator, landscape contractor
Chocolate of Choice Kozui's Chocolate Mochi

I never really bothered asking what it is made of until I had to. Apparently, it's chocolate with rum gnache at the core of chewy chocolate mochi finished with fine cocoa powder. The size is perfect,
too! Sometimes I would eat it bit by bit and then on other times, I would pop the whole piece into my mouth. The layers mix differently with every bite so the intensity of the chocolate and the, hmmm, "other flavor" vary. (Come to think of it, I haven't tried not chewing so I'm not sure if it can melt away like most chocolates).

 - Karla, Manila
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Pssst, make it at home! Here's a chocolate mochi recipe.

Did a chocolate make you smile today? Send me a picture of you and your favorite chocolate at marriedtochocolate@gmail.com and tell me why you like it. I want to meet you! - Kris
 
PS
Hey, Manila! Have you been to Kozui yet? It's this really cool, must-eat Japanese tea place in Tomas Morato. Read my review here (blast from the past, all the way from 2007!), and if you haven't been, do yourself a favor and GO.

Chocolate of Choice: Chocolate Lava

 

MTV maven Anuya Jakatdar raves about chocolate lava

Name Anuya Jakatdar
Location Mumbai, India
Occupation Assistant Manager, Digital, MTV India
Chocolate of Choice Candies' Chocolate Lava

It's called Chocolate Lava, from an adorable place called Candies in the suburb of Bandra, Mumbai.  It's flaky at the top and all melty within. You feel like a child eating chocolate for the first time, and you'll also look like one when you're done; it will be smeared all over your face, and probably on the tip of your nose. You won't even stop to clean, it's that delicious. Especially with some vanilla ice cream...

- Anuya, 23, India 

Psst, make it at home!  

..Speaking of such awesomeness, Alton Brown of Good Eats has a sweet chocolate lava muffin recipe you should get your hands on. It scored 5-star reviews from the Food Network crowd! Curious? - Kris

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Did a chocolate make you smile today?

Shoot me an e-mail at marriedtochocolate@gmail.com with a photo of you and your favorite chocolate (or dessert) plus a few words on why you like it. You know you want to.

Chocolate of Choice: Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

Jewelry designer Jessy de Borja says heaven is dark chocolate ice cream

Name Jessy de Borja

Location Hong Kong

Occupation Dear Bearcat jewelry designer, freelance travel writer

Chocolate of Choice Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

"Dark chocolate has always been my most favourite kind of chocolate. Ice cream is also a big temptation, so the two of them put together is my idea of heaven. Sure, i love brownies and sour candies, but nothing compares to a healthy scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. There's an ice cream shop in Hong Kong and Singapore called 'awfully chocolate' that has the best dark chocolate ice cream I've ever tasted. it's light and satisfying without being too sweet and overwhelming--almost like frozen dark chocolate shavings. If i could, I'd have a scoop of that everyday!"

- Jessy, Hong Kong

Take a peek at her her funky fashion blog, I Want Always Gets, or check out her Dear Bearcat jewelry line on Etsy (that octopus necklace she's wearing is on sale!).

Chocolate of Choice: Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter

Blogger Katie Nowak pairs chocolate with peanut butter

Name Katie Nowak
Hometown/Location Rochester, NY
Occupation Freelance writer/editor, blogger at Catch the Sparks

Chocolate of Choice Hershey’s milk chocolate bar and peanut butter

I’m an equal opportunity dessert lover, so this was a tough decision. I’m a huge fan of blueberry pie, or pie of any sort, really, especially when topped with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of French vanilla ice cream. But when it comes to simplicity, and the feeling of complete, total satisfaction both during and post consumption, the combination of Hershey’s and peanut butter wins every time. 

I love peanut butter on anything and everything – with jam, bananas, even tuna fish when I was younger – but nothing beats pairing it with those perfect little rectangles. Something about snapping apart the bar and smothering each individual section with PB gives me endless pleasure.

Maybe it’s the control I can take over this dessert. I choose how much PB, how many rectangles. I can bargain with myself if I’m feeling guilty about how much I’ve eaten. “It’s just one more rectangle,” I’ll tell myself. Then, “It’s just a block of three.” Pretty soon, “It’s only half the bar.” Then the bar is gone. Oops.

Alright, so it’s actually pretty difficult to control. Deliciousness can have that effect. Let’s look at this tasty treat another way, then: there’s minimal effort involved. For someone who can be a bit of a miserable monster when baking doesn’t go my way (like when I attempted raspberry-white chocolate-almond bars at my boyfriend’s hand mixer-free apartment this weekend), the ease of snap, spread, pop in my mouth is heaven.

There are many classic couples out there: ice cream and sprinkles, pancakes and syrup, cookies and milk. But for me, chocolate and peanut butter is the sweetest marriage of them all.

- Katie, 24, New York 

Keep up with Katie as she blogs about music, TV, and everything pop culture at Catch the Sparks

Chocolate of Choice: Valhrona Milk Choco-Hazelnut Tart

Chocoholic Kriska Joaquin shares her favorite chocolate... of the week.

Name Kriska Joaquin

Hometown/Location Manila, Philippines

Occupation Med Student, Dancer

Her Chocolate of Choice Valhrona Milk Choco-Hazelnut Tart from Sonja's Cupcakes

Well this was my one of my birthday treats, and its my favorite chocolate of the week. I am married to chocolate, but to several of them. This one in particular, is a favorite because it suits my everyday mood swings- it is sweet, a little bitter, nutty and caramelized (just like your average girl). If you need to know what's in it (if the name isn't a giveaway enough) - Milk chocolate-hazelnut cream in a chocolate sweet tart crust topped with dark chocolate glaze and caramelized hazelnut.

- Kriska, 23, Manila

Chocolate of Choice: Ghirardelli's Dark Chocolate with Mint

Wedding Photographer Megan Lange chomps on minty Ghirardelli squares

Name Megan Lange
Location / Hometown Muskegon, MI
Occupation Wedding Photographer
Her Chocolate of Choice Ghirardelli's Dark Chocolate with White Mint Filling

Since I can only pick one (?!)...Ghiradelli's Dark Chocolate with White Mint Filling always cures my chocolate craving.  These are best stored in the freezer and enjoyed for an after-dinner snack...or any time of the day.  I love these chocolate squares because they are the perfect balance of something sweet and refreshing (and I don't feel bad eating it because it is dark chocolate haha).

- Megan, 22

Check out her wicked wedding portfolio at Lime Green Photography. It's crazy gorgeous!

Chocolate of Choice: Kinder Schokolade

Travel Writer FSY says Kinder Schokolade is Better Than Sex

Name FSY

Location / Hometown Buenos Aires, Argentina

Occupation Journalist

Her Chocolate of Choice Kinder Schokolade

That little box that I’m holding there is empty. Why? Because as soon as I bought the thing, the contents of it were devoured within minutes. I suppose “devour” is the wrong word because you don’t eat Kinder Schokolade. It enters your mouth, like most foods, with the exception that when it does, a miracle occurs. That’s right, I said a miracle, that thing most people associate with Jesus I associate with Kinder. It enters and suddenly dissolves immediately into a warm thick ocean of butter, cocoa, and milk, just cascading around in your mouth until it’s gone and your fingers are stuck in that little box reaching for another one, undressing it like a lover and repeating the experience until there are none left. 

Kinder is not chocolate, it is an experience, like falling in love, like watching the sun rise out of the ocean at dawn, like kissing the hottest man you have ever seen. Yeah, it’s sexual, but then again most good things in life are. Kinder Schokolade is better than sex and the company that owns it is Italian, what else can I say? Delicious chocolate, sex, and Italians. Go buy some. 

-Feride, travel writer and blogger
Read all about her adventures with meat and men on Proximity
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I want to know what you're eating!

Did a chocolate make you smile today? Shoot me an e-mail with a photo of you and your favorite chocolate plus a few words on why you like it. Why? cause we chocoholics gotta share the looooove.

Chocolate of Choice: Ghirardelli

Globetrotter Kat Reambillo loves Ghirardelli

Name Kat Reambillo
Location/Hometown Manila, Philippines
Occupation ministry volunteer and ex-flight attendant
Chocolate of Choice: Ghirardelli

I love Ghirardelli because it covers all areas of a chocolate lover’s world. Apart from their chocolate squares, I’m a big fan of their baking chips, hot cocoa powder, and instant brownie mixes. Your friends will think you’re a baking genius, it almost feels like cheating. And their World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae? I have no words.

- Kat, 25, Manila 
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I want to know what you're eating!

Have you ever had chocolate that tasted so good you wanted to stand on rooftops and scream its name? No? Just me? Anyway. Shoot me an e-mail with a photo of you and your favorite chocolate plus a few words on why you like it. Why? Just cause.