Scharffen Berger RIP

The creator of my dark chocolate is gone.  Well, not yet and even then, not completely, but still, I mourn the loss.  Scharffen Berger, the artisan king of grown up flavor, will be closing its factory in Berkeley, and parent company, Hershey, will continue the Scharffen Berger name at some new factory in Illinois.  I was skeptical when Hershey bought Scharffen Berger in 2005, and I’m still skeptical that they can continue the high quality, small batches of smooth, complex chocolate that Scharffen Berger perfected.

On another chocolate note, Chocolate & I week takes place at multiple sites in NYC February 9-15.  There will be cocktail and chocolate tasting menus, art, tours, and demonstrations, all for a variety of prices, including free.  If you want to gear up for Valentine’s Day, check out the list of participants and indulge in a bit of decadence.