Amano Artisan Chocolate + Giveaway Announcement! (Updated)
April 21st
2008
Update: For those Blake Makers who want some Amano now, they’ve offered our readers a 15% discount code for purchases made on their site good through the end of May. Comment on this post if you want the code and I’ll email it to you.
Hi. Just to be clear, the giveaway is this Thursday. This post is just the announcement so you can get to know Amano.
Yay for my (Bridget’s) first giveaway! Despite being a major chocoholic, I am picky about how I indulge in my addiction. Although I will admit to sneaking a Hershey’s Kiss now and then, I love nothing more than high quality dark chocolate that’s rich and smooth.
That said, the chocolate lover in me was so happy when I took my first bite of Amano Artisan Chocolate. It’s wonderfully dark, but I didn’t taste any strong bitterness as often happens when I have chocolates that are 70% cacao.
I tried three varieties of Amano chocolate over the course of a week, and I loved them all so much that they were almost all gone before Blake got to take photographs (what you see below is what was left and it lasted about 5 seconds after Blake snapped the last pic).
Amano is one of only around a dozen manufacturers in the U.S. that makes its chocolate from the raw, natural bean. It strives to make the highest-quality product possible by creating the chocolate in small batches with the best ingredients (After talking to one of the Amano owners, Blake said they even get out in the fields to help with the harvest from time to time). The hard work definitely pays off because this is some truly yummy chocolate!
We know what you love about Blake (and Bridget) Makes…the free food! Well, here we go again! FREE CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY, Thursday, April 24.
Note: I know we seem to be giving away a lot of free chocolate lately (almost exclusively), but we decided to squeeze this one in before the weather gets too warm. We have tons of free food, but chocolate ships best in cooler temperatures (and gets twice as expensive to ship with cool packs in warmer weather). We would have moved on to our other great food finds, but I had to get Amano in your hands first. It’s THAT good.
So, this is how the giveaway will work this week. We’ll post Thursday morning, and you’ll have all day to express your love for dark chocolate. Fifty (50) lucky winners will each receive three (3) bars of Amano Artisan Chocolate! You lucky Sooper Heroes.
Qualifications:
- You have to be a registered Sooper Hero
- You have to love dark chocolate
- You have to have a blog, preferably a food blog
- You have to be interested in showing Amano some love if you enjoy your free sample by blogging about it (and linking to their site).
OMG! Am I really the first one to comment? I simply ADORE, LOVE and PLEDGE my undying love to Dark Chocolate! There is simply nothing better than savoring an incredible piece of high quality dark chocolate. I would be in heaven and on cloud 9 if I were to receive some of this delightful chocolate!
Posted by Patsyk on April 21st, 2008 at 9:22 pmOoops! Just read that the giveaway begins on Thursday… no wonder no on else had commented! I’m a newer member, so cut me some slack…
Posted by Patsyk on April 21st, 2008 at 9:24 pmSooo excited!! Is it Thursday yet???
Posted by Paula on April 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pmHi Patsyk. I’m sure your enthusiasm will earn you a few points. LOL! I added a little clarification in case others were equally excited! Thanks for stopping-by, and see you Thursday! bk
Posted by Blake on April 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pmSo we express our love for dark chocolate on Thursday? Too easy.
Posted by NikkiG on April 21st, 2008 at 9:57 pmFirst time visiting your site.Awesome, btw. That chocolate is beautiful.
Posted by Landa on April 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 amInstead of leaving my comment on Thursday, why don’t I fly to New Orleans and stop by instead……LOL I guess you know by now that CHOCOLATE is my BIGGEST OBSESSION, so I beg of you to have mercy and select me (pretty pleeeeeeeeezzzzzzeeeeee) as one of the lucky 50. I’ll bring the coffee, just let me know what time!……………………..Mark
P.S. I’ll see you here on Thursday
Posted by Mark Boxshus on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 amThis is great! I can’t wait. Definitely needed for a batch of PBDDL choc chip ice cream!
Posted by Geggie on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 pmI would love love the code for 15% off pleeease
Posted by Carrie Crocker on April 24th, 2008 at 7:44 amThis is the jingle I created for Amano Artisan Chocolate . Sammy Davis Jr, Marilyn Monroe and several other artists have sang this song, I just adapted it for chocolate that is the best aphrodisiac with its “happy” endorphins.
That old dark magic has me in its spell
That old dark magic that you make so well
That same old chill that makes me want to win
That same old Blake that sets my head to spin.
The same old tingle that I feel inside
When that Amano Chocolate starts its ride
Down and down it goes, round and round I go
Like a leaf that’s caught in the tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear Amano’s name, and I’m aflame
Aflame with such a burning desire
That only your taste can put out the fire
You are the lover that I’ve waited for
The mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Baby down and down you go, all around I go
In a spin, loving the spin that I’m in
Under that old dark magic called Anamo!!!
Visit my cooking blog at
morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com
Posted by Bellini Valli on April 24th, 2008 at 8:02 amA Haiku on the Topic of Amano Chocolates:
Tasted it before
Dark, tart, with perfect mouth-feel
Love that Amano
Visit my blog at:
Posted by Paul Jones on April 24th, 2008 at 8:37 amhttp://causerelatedmarketing.blogspot.com
I used to love eating trashy milk chocolate, full of fillers and encasing my favorite CVS checkout line treats such as Reese Fastbreaks. Saliva triggers.
Then I began seeing health reports detailing the lovely antioxidants that you, dark chocolate, have to offer. Not to mention the fact that the book “Why French Women Don’t Get Fat” requires a square each day. I thought “Why not? There’s a diet I can get on board with!” MM.
Upon trying 70% cacao chocolate, I felt like an idiot for wasting years of my life on those drugstore fakers. I tasted subtle hints of smoke and fruit, it was sweet but not like any candy I’d tasted. Tongue party.
My next goal: ridiculously dark chocolate souffle.
Posted by Rosemary on April 24th, 2008 at 10:12 amI’ve been working my way through the artisan chocolate collection, one bar at a time, at Zingerman’s. I’d love some Amano to help me along. Threre is really nothing better than dark chocolate to make my day.
Posted by whitney on April 24th, 2008 at 10:43 amThis winter I was looking for a recipe for split pea soup with ham. I found the recipe I was looking for and in the reviews section of it was a comment that went something like this, “In our house we regard pork as a member of the family we like it that much.” Now, I can’t lay claim to that kind of love for swine, but that comment very much applies to us when we substitute the word “chocolate”.
This Easter I received a chocolate bunny from my in-laws. I think my wife was visibly upset I got the dark chocolate. Her parents should know their own daughter doesn’t care for milk chocolate!
Bring on the dark!
Posted by Ben Garfinkel on April 24th, 2008 at 11:22 amambrosial, dim, lush, bistered, mysterious, brunet, swarthy, dusky, blackish, bewitching, ebon, rich, scrumptious, sable, delectable, heavenly, dark chocolate.
Posted by clevermonkey on April 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pmCode please! I can never have too much chocolate.
Posted by Katie on April 24th, 2008 at 5:06 pm[...] our Amano review for more [...]
Posted by Blake Makes - a food blog in New Orleans » Blog Archive » (Updated) Amano Artisan Chocolate All-Day Sign Up on April 26th, 2008 at 9:54 amPlease do share the code! Think I’ll need a few more bars for the taste test I’m planning…Thanks muchly =)
Posted by Karen on April 28th, 2008 at 6:17 pmIf I can get some, it will most surely make its way into a S’More.
Posted by Bryce on May 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pmOh, so could I have the code?
Posted by Bryce on May 8th, 2008 at 9:38 pm[...] and decadent. The planets and stars all aligned and I was lucky enough to win some of the Amano Chocolate, made here in Utah and hand-crafted with care and passion, from none other than Blake. Obviously, [...]
Posted by Blake Makes | Food Blog. Food Business. Food Brand. » Blog Archive » Holly Bakes: Tarte Noir on May 21st, 2008 at 3:01 pm