Chocolate ambrosia -- Van Duyn's is classic chocolate at its best. Long before Moonstruck and Cacao, excellent, to be sure, there was Van Duyns. I've enjoyed their confectionary comestibles for more than half a century, especially their dark chocolate Bayou Chews, Van Dangos, Almond Clusters, and Kahl?a truffles.
Van Duyn's chocolate is not just decadent, it's good for you! The cardiovascular and other health benefits of dark chocolate are well known by now, but many people are unaware that processing with alkali, as some chocolates are, removes the flavanols and other beneficial antioxidants. Van Duyn's chocolates are alkali-free, so not only do you get all that luscious chocolate goodness, you get the full health benefits, too.
Always fresh and a good value for the money, Van Duyn's is, in fact, a better value than many of the trendier shops. The chocolates are made on site and one of the owners works behind the counter, so customer service is superb. (Note that all of the shops other than the one on NW Quimby Street have been closed.)
By the way, chocolate is made from the beans of the cacao tree (Theobroma cocoa) and Theobroma means food of the gods.
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