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You are here: Home / Archives for chocolate

Valentine’s Gifts for You and Yours

A bottle of rose sits next to a heart shaped candle, two bottles of nail polish, and two mineral bath packets.

Show your Valentine, your Galentine, and yourself some love this Valentine’s Day with unique gifts, wine, flowers, chocolate, and more from the Community Food Co-op. We’ve curated some loving inspiration to make your Valentine’s Day special. 

Heart Pillar from Big Dipper Wax Works

Bask in the warm glow of this 100% pure beeswax pillar made by hand in Seattle. Beeswax is the purest of all candle waxes with an exceptionally long burning time. This red, heart-shaped pillar will burn bright for an impressive 40 hours.

Someone holds a red mug while wearing pink nail polish outside in front of grass.

Red Mug from Danica Heirloom Mugs 

Show your love of coffee with handmade Danica Heirloom mugs. They are sourced with care and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Do good while you enjoy your hot beverages; a percentage of all Danica profits is donated to Education without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk children in South Africa and Canada.

Classic Red or Fresh Water Pearl Pink Nail Polish from Gabriel Cosmetics 

Get ready for your Valentine's Day date with a classic red or pink nail polish. The Co-op has a wide variety of colors if red or pink aren’t in your color palette. All Gabriel Cosmetics products are made from 100% natural ingredients with no synthetic chemicals or animal by-products.

Two bath packets and two nail polish sit on a marble counter.
Pomegranate caramels with hearts on them and a rose raspberry chocolate bar from Tony's Chocolonely.

Valentine’s Day Chocolate 

The Co-op has one of the best chocolate selections in Bellingham. Two Valentine’s Day favorites are the ValenTony heart-shaped bar with pieces of rose fudge and raspberry from Tony’s Chocolonely, and the locally-made Pomegranate Caramels from Chocolate Necessities.

Aromatherapy Bath Packets from Aura Cacia 

Bathe in luxury with Aura Cacia’s mineral bath and aromatherapy bath packets. Your body and senses will delight in patchouli, sweet orange, geranium, ylang ylang, or relaxing lavender. Aura Cacia bath packets are on sale until February 15. If you buy one, you get one free.

Four bath packets sit on a marble counter. Two foam bath and two mineral bath for aromatherapy.

Rainforest Alliance and Flor Ecuador Certified Roses

Roses are the quintessential symbol of Valentine’s Day. The Co-op has beautiful and fragrant mixed bouquets that are Rainforest Alliance and Flor Ecuador certified. This means they are grown using sustainable practices and the best working conditions.

Local Tulips 

Thanks to greenhouse growing, we can gift  tulips from Skagit County in February. Sweet, multi-colored bouquets are available in our floral department. 

Crème de Framboise from Jahiot 

Jahiot's Raspberry Liqueur is made from raspberries picked at the peak of maturity and delicately macerated in the finest alcohol and sugar. It has notes of ripe black cherry and blackberry compote with just enough tartness. Enjoy as a champagne cocktail using the Co-op’s recipe.  

Valentine’s Day Raspberry Sparkling Wine Cocktail 

2 ounces Crème de Framboise

4 ounces Sparkling Wine  

Sparkling wine and raspberry liquor laying on a marble counter, both included in the featured recipe.

Pour 2 ounces of Crème de Framboise into a champagne flute and top with 4 ounces of chilled sparkling wine. Top with two fresh raspberries. Cheers! 

Brut Rosé Tentation from Domaine Olivier Morin 

This Pinot Noir-based sparkling wine is a nice balance of fruit with mineral. It’s a stimulating mouthful of strawberry, tarragon, cinnamon, and is slightly dry. Its lovely light color makes it a wonderful choice for a romantic dinner featuring seafood or Mediterranean flavors. 

A bottle of rose sits next to a candle, some bath packets, and some nail polish on a marble counter.

Wild Miss 55 Sparkling Wine from Henri Champliau Winery 

Henri Campliau is a family-owned sparkling wine producer in the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy. Wild Miss 55 is a not-too-sweet bubbly with zesty acidity. It would compliment your charcuterie board or first course well.

LO-VE Wines Garnacha No. 6

The Co-op has a wonderful full and forward red that pairs well with your Valentine’s dinner and dessert. This Iberian Garnacha is full of mulberry, toasted cocoa, oaky spice, and black raspberry.

The red wine (Granacha) sits on a marble countertop next to both of the previously mentioned chocolates.

No Valentine’s Day is complete without dessert from the Co-op Bakery.

Storm Cloud Cake 

The chocolate and raspberry version of the Co-op Bakery’s famous cloud cake is available for a short period each year, just for Valentine’s Day. This light, gluten-free chocolate cake has a whipped cream and raspberry filling and is topped with a tart raspberry sauce. 

A plate with a piece of storm cloud cake.
A strawberry cream roll sits on a white platter with a single piece on a plate, both sitting on a pink tablecloth.

Strawberries and Cream Roll 

This gluten-free delicacy is the perfect end to your Valentine’s Day meal. It is a light sponge cake rolled with sweet cream and strawberries. It is as beautiful as it is delicious!

FLORAL & GARDEN| HOLIDAY| HOT OFF THE PRESS| LOCAL chocolate| dessert| gluten free| holiday| local| valentine's day| wine

Shop Small: A Gift Guide

Support the Co-op on Small Business Saturday and buy some fun items for your holiday gifts. The Co-op has unique items for gifts, stocking stuffers, and for yourself. Supporting the only locally-owned grocery store in Bellingham helps strengthen our community, local food network, and local producers. 

We’ve selected some of our favorite gift items for everyone on your list.  

For the Home Decorator

Holiday Wreaths 

Wreaths make a welcoming statement to any entry. Skyflower Botanicals’ flowers and foliage are grown on a small, organic, and woman-owned farm along the South Fork of the Nooksack River. Their conifer greenery is responsibly harvested or purchased locally. 

A holiday wreath with some blue and green foliage hangs on a wooden fixture.

Darling Orchids in a Ceramic Pot

An elegant, 2-inch orchid in a stylish white ceramic pot makes a lovely addition to any home. The Co-op sells both white and colorful orchids, all potted, for easy gift giving. 

Danica Heirloom Mugs 

Hot chocolate and eggnog tastes better out of one of the delightful patterns adorning Danica Heirloom mugs.

A pinecone candle and a tree candle sit in a holiday pine gift bag. A red mug sits on the table with a white orchid. Pine needles are tossed around as decoration.

They are handmade, sourced with care, and dishwasher and microwave safe. A percentage of all Danica profits is donated to Education without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk children in South Africa and Canada. 

Holiday Candles from Sunbeam Candles 

Sunbeam candles come in a variety of festive, decorative shapes with a focus on sustainability. All Sunbeam candles are hand-crafted, incorporate natural and wholesome ingredients, are made with 100% renewable energy, and use carbon neutral shipping. Let your holidays burn bright with their pine cones, trees, and seasonal designs.    

For the Foodie

San Juan Island Sea Salt Popcorn Blend 

San Juan Island Sea Salt’s Popcorn Blend offers a nutty, cheesy, and delicious accompaniment to more than just popcorn. Some of our favorite uses are on pasta, avocado toast, and eggs. Unique and tasty, San Juan Island Sea Salt is made from solar-evaporated sea salt from the San Juan Islands.   

Gilbert Cellars 2018 Left Bank Red Wine 

For the wine aficionados in your life, the Yakima-based Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Red Wine scores 90 points and comes gift wrapped. It is a full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère with notes of black currant and plum. It is a balanced wine for holiday meals, appetizers, and makes a thoughtful gift for your host.        

Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark from Chocolate Necessities 

The pacific northwest is known for its coffee consumption and what better gift than coffee and chocolate? Local chocolatier, Chocolate Necessities, make a holiday bark with a Northwest twist — coffee! Chocolate Necessities Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark covers the chocolate and coffee loves alike.  

San Juan Island Popcorn Blend
A bottle of wine and some chocolate bark sit in a Hanukkah gift bag.

For the Spa Lover 

Studio Oh! Cosmetic bag 

Studio Oh!’s portable, water-resistant cosmetic bags highlight unique and original artwork with witty, whimsical designs. The Co-op sells bags in a variety of shapes and designs that are fully lined with secure metal zippers. These bags are fun for all ages and while technically a cosmetic bag, work well for many purposes. 

Samish Bay Soaps 

Locally made Samish Bay Soaps are individually gift-wrapped in winter flannel or shaped as snowflakes without the wrapping. They come in a variety of seasonal fragrances; perfect for stocking stuffers. Samish Bay Soaps are made simply, using only pure essential oils and herbs. Their products are environmentally friendly, cruelty free, and free from chemical fragrances and colorants. Every batch is created, cut, and packaged by hand in Bellingham. 

Island Thyme Moisturizers 

Cold weather, travel, and frequent hand washing can leave your hands dry and your face in need of extra attention. Island Thyme lavender rose cream is a deep moisturizer for both your body and face. The 2 ounce glass jars are TSA compliant and at the top of everyone’s gift list. Island Thyme products are botanically-based, made in small batches on their farm and apothecary on San Juan Island.  

Moon Valley Organics Lip Balms

The Co-op sells Whatcom County-based Moon Valley Organics lip balms in gift ready packs and individually. These balms make great gifts for anyone who spends time outdoors and needs extra lip protection.

Moon Valley Organics follows the highest organic standards with a mission to protect pollinators. Help the bees while treating your friends and family to lip balms in a variety of healing essences.      

Badger Aromatherapy Travel Kit 

Experience all the necessary aromatherapy balms to get you through the holidays in one convenient travel kit. The travel kit features five essential oil profiles carefully formulated to refresh, de-stress, and inspire. Badger aromatherapy is certified organic and cruelty free. 

For Everyone

Co-op Gift Cards 

A Co-op gift card is the quintessential gift for the person who has everything. Stop by the service desk at either store and pick out a gift card in any amount. We have a wide selection of cards to drop your gift card into. We can also do large quantities of gift cards to cover your employees, service providers, or any group that you may need to purchase for.  

Maggie’s Organics Snuggle Socks 

Soft, comfortable, washable organic merino wool. This is a gift for anyone experiencing the Pacific Northwest winters. Help them keep cozy with socks produced by humanely-raised sheep and skilled workers. These comfortable socks are ethical and sustainable, as well as made in the USA.

Watercolor paper, socks, and a puzzle sit by some twinkle lights on a wooden table.

Eeboo Deluxe Watercolor Paper 

This high-quality, Italian watercolor paper is the perfect canvas for your watercolor art. The extra thick and absorbent paper has a natural pH, is chlorine-free, and completely recyclable and biodegradable. The paper books are glue bound for easy removal of the pages that makes painting your masterpiece easy and portable. 

Puzzles from eeboo 

Woman-owned eeboo makes high-quality, beautiful puzzles, games, and activities that reflect family, community, and inclusion. The 36-piece mini puzzle is a favorite for stocking stuffers or traveling. Wanting more of a challenge? We have puzzles with up to 100 pieces that feature equally beautiful scenes. 

All of the gifts sit on a table with wrapping paper and pine needles in the sunlight.

GROCERY| HOLIDAY| HOT OFF THE PRESS| LOCAL| WELLNESS| WINE, BEER, & SPIRITS chocolate| christmas| gift| gifts| hanukkah| holiday| kid friendly| local| organic| presents| shop local| shop small| shop small saturday| wellness| wine

Raw Vanilla White Chocolates

by Alissa Segersten, Cookbook Author and Food Blogger

white bowl filled with white chocolates make in various shapes with a pretty design on top

Recipes reprinted with permission from Nourishing Meals (October 2016). Photo by Alissa Segersten.

I have a special treat for you—a healthy recipe for raw white chocolate!

This recipe uses just a few ingredients and is dairy-free. Traditional white chocolate usually contains sugar and milk solids, along with cacao butter. My recipe uses raw honey and raw cashew butter, as well as raw cacao butter.

If you can’t handle the buzz dark chocolate gives you then try this recipe. It’s caffeine-free but still has some of the feel-good compounds found in chocolate.

Raw Vanilla White Chocolates

Yield: about 60 bite-sized white chocolates
dairy-free • gluten-free • no refined sugar

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 cup melted raw cacao butter (about 8 ounces)
  • 3/4 cup raw cashew butter
  • 4 to 5 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1 teaspoon raw vanilla powder
  • pinch sea salt
METHOD
  1. Melt the cacao butter over the lowest heat possible. Add to a blender along with the raw cashew butter, honey, vanilla powder, and salt. Blend on high until smooth.
  2. Pour liquid white chocolate into candy molds or a glass bread pan lined with parchment paper. Before filling, place candy mold or bread pan onto a cookie sheet (this way you can easily transfer it to the freezer).
  3. Freeze the candy molds or bread pan for 30 minutes.
  4. Remove from freezer and pop white chocolates out of the molds or remove the parchment and block of white chocolate from bread pan and cut into squares with a sharp knife.
  5. Freeze chocolates for storage.
OPTIONAL FILLING
  • 2 tablespoons raw almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons raw honey
METHOD WITH FILLING
  1. Add the filling ingredients to a small bowl and stir with a fork until combined.
  2. Roll 1/2 teaspoon-sized portions in your hands.
  3. Fill the candy molds 3/4 full with the liquid white chocolate mixture. Drop in each ball of filling.
  4. Fill each candy mold the rest of the way with the white chocolate.
NOTES

You can vary this recipe by omitting the vanilla and adding 1 teaspoon peppermint extract for peppermint candies. You can also try adding either 1 teaspoon of organic lemon or orange flavoring in place of, or in addition to, the vanilla powder. You can also make a filling for the chocolates (see optional filling above). These white chocolates do best stored in the freezer or refrigerator, otherwise they begin to get soft at room temperature.

About the Author

alissa segersten of whole life nutrition and nourishing meals

Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University. She is the founder of Whole Life Nutrition and Nourishing Meals, the mother of five children, a whole-foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them, and offers elimination diet recipes, healthy gluten-free recipes, and paleo and vegan recipes, as well as tips for feeding your family a nourishing, whole-foods diet.

Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole-foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book.

Learn more at nourishingmeals.com.

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HOT OFF THE PRESS| RECIPES chocolate| dairy free| gluten free| raw| vegan| white chocolate

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

by Alissa Segersten, Contributing Author

photo of a vegan chocolate raspberry tart

This decadent vegan tart can be made with any berry, but I especially like the combination of tart raspberries and sweet chocolate. The tart is best served the day it’s made. You can also use a smaller tart pan (an 8-inch works well) and halve the ingredients. Be sure to use the full fat coconut milk that comes in a can.

Recipe from The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook.

Photo courtesy of Alissa Segersten

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

About 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

Crust

  • 3 cups hazelnut meal
  • ¾ cup arrowroot powder
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold coconut oil
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

Filling

  • 2 cups raw cashews, soaked for 3 hours
  • ½ cup raw cacao powder
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 pint fresh raspberries
METHOD
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 11-inch round tart pan with coconut oil.
  2. Place the hazelnut meal, arrowroot powder, coconut sugar, and sea salt into a bowl and mix together. Add the coconut oil and mix it in using your fingers or a pastry cutter until fine crumbs form. Then add the water and stir together with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a ball. Press dough into the bottom and up the sides of the tart pan. Bake for about 25 minutes. Then remove from oven and cool completely. I like to put it into the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
  3. To make the filling, place the cashews into a bowl of water and let soak for about 3 hours. Then drain and rinse. Place soaked cashews into a high-powered blender. Add the cacao powder, maple syrup, coconut milk, and vanilla. Blend until super smooth, adding more coconut milk by the tablespoon if needed.
  4. Pour chocolate filling into cooled crust and chill for 2 hours.
  5. Pop tart out of the pan by pushing it up from the bottom. Place onto a serving platter. Decorate the top with the raspberries. Serve.

About the Author

alissa segersten of whole life nutrition and nourishing meals

Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University. She is the founder of Whole Life Nutrition and Nourishing Meals, the mother of five children, a whole-foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them, and offers elimination diet recipes, healthy gluten-free recipes, and paleo and vegan recipes, as well as tips for feeding your family a nourishing, whole-foods diet.

Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole-foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book.

Learn more at nourishingmeals.com.

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PRODUCE| RECIPES chocolate| raspberry| recipe| tart| vegan

Decadent Chocolate Avocado Mousse

by Selva Wohlgemuth, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

avocado mousse

For all you chocolate lovers out there, this one is for you.

This decadent treat doesn’t require hours of labor to make and is full of healthy fats and fiber that will leave you feeling full and satisfied.

Make sure to choose avocados that are perfectly ripe but just slightly give to the touch. If they are too ripe, the avocado flavor is more prominent.

Photo by Selva Wohlgemuth

Decadent Chocolate Avocado Mousse

(gluten-free and vegan)
Makes 5-6 servings

Nutritionist Tips: It tastes best if made the night prior to allow the flavors to intensify. Find the darkest cocoa powder you can, because this is the key to mask the avocado flavor and boost the decadence factor of the recipe. I’ve had good results with Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder.

INGREDIENTS
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (I get mine in the bulk section)
  • 2 ripe large avocados
  • ¼ cup extra dark cocoa powder (make sure to get the extra dark)
  • 5 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 pinches sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons soymilk (any other milk will do too)
VARIATIONS

Mint: Add 1 teaspoon organic peppermint extract

Spiced Thai Ginger: Add 1½ teaspoons ground ginger and ¼ – ½ teaspoon cayenne (per your preference)

Vanilla: Add an additional teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD
  1. Set up a small double boiler by filling a small saucepan with a little water and placing a small ceramic bowl inside. Put the chocolate chips inside the bowl and heat the saucepan over medium to melt the chocolate.
  2. Meanwhile, add the avocados, cocoa powder, maple syrup, sea salt, vanilla, soymilk, and additional spices to your food processor. Blend until smooth. Add the chocolate when melted and continue to process until smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
  3. Spoon the creamy smooth mousse into a glass bowl, cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to develop and the mousse to set. Garnish each serving with chocolate shavings and a strawberry. You can even go an extra step and serve the mousse with a dollop of whipped coconut cream or regular whipped cream.

More Healthy Desserts

Harvest Apple Crisp
(gluten-free and vegan)
This recipe is lower in calories and sugar than a traditional apple crisp or pie.

berry cobbler

Low FODMAP Double Berry Pecan Crisp
(gluten-free and vegan)
This recipe is perfect for people on a low FODMAP diet.

Ask the Nutritionist

Have questions? Send them to [email protected]. Selva Wohlgemuth is a registered dietitian nutritionist. Learn more about her approach to general health and well-being at her Happy Belly Nutrition website, and see her recipes and other kitchen tips at Poppies and Papayas.

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RECIPES avocado| chocolate| gluten free| mousse| recipe| vegan

BIJA Chocolate Tastings

Happy First Anniversary, BIJA! To celebrate, BIJA will be in our stores for tastings and all BIJA chocolate bars are on sale for 2/$6 (reg. $4.99) through Tuesday, May 2.

Tastings—
Cordata: 3 to 6 pm Friday
Downtown: 11 am to 3 pm Saturday

bija| chocolate| sale| tasting

BIJA Chocolate Tastings

Happy First Anniversary, BIJA! To celebrate, BIJA will be in our stores for tastings and all BIJA chocolate bars are on sale for 2/$6 (reg. $4.99) through Tuesday, May 2.

Tastings—
Cordata: 3 to 6 pm Friday
Downtown: 11 am to 3 pm Saturday

bija| chocolate| demo| sale

Baked from Scratch with Love: The Co-op Bakery

by Lisalyn Osborne, Bakery department assistant manager

dark chocolate truffles

The Co-op bakery team takes pride in preparing baked goods from scratch, using top-quality ingredients, like these melt-in-your-mouth vegan chocolate truffles. Co-op bakers also excel at creating beautifully decorated and delicious custom treats—tailored to customer specifications.

Co-op bakery staff had a very busy year, whipping up several new tempting treats that quickly became popular staple items in our bakery cases.

If you haven’t yet tried the expanded selection of muffins or brioche (mouthwatering creations both sweet and savory), that is an oversight you might want to correct immediately.

Other edible masterpieces coming from the bakery ovens included custom-made birthday cakes and specialty delights that were as beautiful as they were delicious, including an adorable Thomas the Tank Engine cupcake cake and a stunning winter wonderland scene of chocolate ganache-topped cupcakes with sugared thyme and cranberries and meringue mushrooms. Oh, my!

thomas train cupcakes boy birthday
christmas cupcakes marshmallow snowman winter decorations

Co-op bakery staff also made some very special birthday boys and girls happy with treats made to satisfy specific dietary requirements, because everybody deserves a sweet celebration on their birthday. Vegan, grain free, sugar free, dairy free, paleo—bring your special request to our talented, experienced baking team and they will create something spectacular to meet your needs.

because everybody deserves a sweet celebration on their birthday

Every February, keep an eye out for decadent specialties to woo your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, including Hearts of Darkness, Bleeding Hearts, Truffles, and I Heart You and Chocolate cakes.

Each and every cookie, cupcake, pesto Parmesan brioche, pumpkin cloud cake, and chocolate caramel cream pie—from the simply sublime to the dazzlingly divine—was made from scratch in our kitchen using the highest quality, non-GMO, and organic ingredients we can affordably source. You’ll never find any artificial colors, antibiotics, or hormones in any of our bakery goods.

The new bakery kitchen, completed in 2016, has 1,300 square feet, about three times the size of the bakery’s former work space. And added some long-wished-for new equipment including ovens that adjust for humidity and a steam kettle (which is basically a giant bain marie or double boiler) for making custards and other recipes that require a gentle heat.

Having a dedicated space also made the rigorous cleaning process prior to the gluten-free bake more efficient.

Oh, and windows! The Cordata kitchens were lovely, but sort of lacking in the window department. Downtown, passers-by can peek behind the scenes and see bakery staff at work through the large windows along Holly Street that also bring some welcome natural light into the bakery work space.

We hope you enjoy eating the delicious goodies that result from the magic (and heartfelt work) that goes on behind the Co-op bakery kitchen doors.

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BAKERY bakery| chocolate| co-op bakery| fresh| kid friendly| organic| scratch baked| seasonal

Tony’s Chocolonely

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

tony's chocolonely chocolate bars rainbow all flavors

The new kid on the block is Tony’s Chocolonely. We’re excited about introducing it to our stores for several reasons.

Love chocolate? Yep, that is a rhetorical question for most of us, because … chocolate!

If you’ve perused the options in the chocolate aisle lately, you may have noticed the new, bright wrappers in bold primary colors that are jazzing things up.

The new kid on the block is Tony’s Chocolonely. We’re excited about introducing it to our stores for several reasons.

First, it’s delicious! Second, the bars are satisfyingly big, weighing in at a hefty six ounces per bar. Third, and certainly not least, it is 100 percent slave free and fair trade. Since 2012, Tony’s has been buying cocoa directly from two farming co-ops in West Africa, guaranteeing the farmers benefit from fair prices and financial stability and guaranteeing bean-to-bar traceability for Tony’s.

Tony’s Chocolonely was conceived after Dutch investigative reporter Teun van de Keuken (Tony, in English) learned of the preponderance of child slave labor in the chocolate industry and the widespread indifference of chocolate makers to the abuse. So, he started Tony’s Chocolonely and introduced his first “lonely” fair trade chocolate bars in 2005. Lonely, because they were the only slave-free option on the shelf.

Ten years later, the small but mighty company celebrated with a grand anniFAIRsary! You can watch a video of the event on the Tony’s Chocolonely website in the “about us” tab. And, while you are there, you can also learn much more about the fabulosity that is Tony’s Chocolonely.

By the way, the next anniFAIRsary party will be in November, so if you’re looking for a fun event in Amsterdam you should check it out!

Learn more at tonyschocolonely.com.

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GROCERY chocolate| fair trade

Bleeding Hearts

by Habiba Sial, Outreach Department

valentine's day chocolate heart cake on doily with fork

When was the last time you ate a bleeding heart?

I just did. No big deal. And it was SO GOOD.

First off, it is a dessert. A seriously divine dessert. A small heart-shaped cake, to be exact.

This cake relies on the classic flavor combination of raspberry and chocolate, made from two heart-shaped layers of chocolate cake filled with raspberry sauce and covered with a thin layer of tender chocolate ganache. The chocolate cake was moist with a perfect crumb. The raspberry sauce is made in-house from locally grown Barbie’s Berries.

While I often have Game of Thones daydreams, this one was particularly vivid. Was I in the office or was I eating this succulent treat from my bare hands on a raised dais in front of my people while raspberry sauce ran down my chin? Nope, just eating this at my desk while critiquing a group project. Phew. Anyway, we can’t all be Daenerys and I really don’t want to live in Westeros. Yikes.

Little known fact: cake makes critiques better.

Share this with your sweetie, your bestie, or just keep it to for your self. This Bleeding Heart is a love bomb.

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BAKERY baked| bakery| chocolate| dessert

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A Guide to Fall Apples

Selecting the right apples for your needs can be overwhelming; the produce department is practically overflowing with intriguing, new apples this time of year.

wine bottle and present wrapped in red ribbon

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Here are a few of our favorite Valentine’s Day products for the sweet people in your life. Choose from beeswax candles, local flowers, bakery items, sparkling wine, and so much more.

Online Bakery Ordering, click here to order

Online Bakery Ordering

Order cakes, cupcakes, and more online from the Co-op bakery and choose to pick up your order at either of our stores.

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DOWNTOWN STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm
meat and deli counter: 7 am – 7 pm
made-to-order counter: 7 am – 6 pm
salad/hot bar: 7 am – 6 pm

CORDATA STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm
meat and deli counter: 7 am – 7 pm
made-to-order counter: 7 am – 6 pm
salad/hot bar: 7 am – 7 pm

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