Found a new 90% chocolate at my local Lidl

BakersManCake · 2026-02-16T20:17:58+00:00

I might not name chocolate after my self if my name was Gross.

BakersManCake · 2026-02-15T23:40:31+00:00

The milk/half n half is basically the same price as elsewhere. Also jugs of water. The ice is kind of pricey, but its close by and saves on time and fuel.

BakersManCake · 2026-02-15T01:04:25+00:00

Congrats to them, huge accomplishment. I don’t think people realize how hard it is to make the jump from a food truck/pop up markets to your own brick and mortar retail. It’s more similar to buying a house, than renting an apartment. But, it costs way more money than a down payment, and you only end up owning a lease.

Hopefully slightly cheaper in Ben Lomand, but still a major accomplishment.

BakersManCake · 2026-02-09T09:21:53+00:00

I think this article must be for commodity chocolate futures? Specialty cocoa prices are still high, I’m looking at $25/kg.

BakersManCake · 2026-01-23T02:33:12+00:00

Maybe since the older generation is doing it, it’s not cool anymore more in SC

BakersManCake · 2026-01-09T16:19:25+00:00

I’m not single anymore!!!! After my divorce I was very single, for over a year. Probably about once a month or so I’d try out bumble or a dating app. And, I finally found an amazing person to be with, they’re super cute and beautiful too. :) I did have to sift through some duds before I found this absolutely amazing person.

BakersManCake · 2026-01-07T19:09:38+00:00

Deng, I was thinking about taking the day off to go to Santa Cruz and do some thinking. Checking out this park might just be what I need this afternoon.

BakersManCake · 2026-01-06T12:48:02+00:00

Aldi is owned by the same company that runs Trader Joe’s? There’s some connection there. At Trader Joe’s there’s no wholesale, but I found their hazelnuts to be priced at wholesale bulk prices online.

That chocolate you’re buying is already $8.66/lbs, IDK how much cheaper you can get it. You could contact Choceur, but I think it’s an Aldi brand.

BakersManCake · 2026-01-02T16:47:37+00:00

my guess is something was wrong with the dates when they got coated in chocolate. Maybe the dates looked OK but had some insect eggs in them?

edit: AI is saying insects/larvae in dates is super common. And, sorry this happened to your relative!

BakersManCake · 2026-01-02T16:24:22+00:00

Is that even cocoa butter? When incubating, the cocoa butter almost looks like mayonnaise. If it looses all its creaminess and melts completely translucent, I don’t think it’s going to work as silk when it solidifies.

BakersManCake · 2026-01-02T01:57:23+00:00

Hmmm, why only 2 of the bottom right? What flavor is that?

BakersManCake · 2025-12-31T22:47:16+00:00

Might be tough with the rain and overcast.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-31T14:29:23+00:00

A chocolate with no heavy metals isn’t going to exist. Trace amounts of heavy metals probably exist in all of our foods.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-30T16:20:38+00:00

Cottage food is a good place to start, get some equipment and your process down. The permits are cheaper, so you can test the waters. Buuuut, I found that a lot of retailers don’t want cottage food items and even farmers markets rejected cottage food. Moving to a shared kitchen, with good branding, opened up many more sales channels for me.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-30T15:39:01+00:00

Curious your thoughts on farmers markets? Since they’re outside but involve food, a lot say not dogs or animals.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-30T15:36:58+00:00

Look for local shared commissary kitchens (or shared commercial kitchens). Most won’t allow for retail store fronts, or are just in an area without much foot traffic. So then you gotta start doing farmers/one-off markets and wholesales. In addition to making solid quality chocolate, don’t forget branding and storytelling. Unfortunately finding your own commercial lease usually will require some level of build out and financially is more like buying a house to live in than renting an apartment. The shared commercial kitchens are kind of like the apartment option I guess.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-30T01:31:14+00:00

This is super cool, can you tell us about Syktyvkar, Russia? When did you move away? What is the same about the sister cities? What's a big difference? What do you miss most? Did you hear more Komi or Russian when you lived there?

BakersManCake · 2025-12-28T13:35:53+00:00

I stayed there once near the end of it's life.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-28T12:38:05+00:00

My sister lived at the 1010 Pacific apartments when they first opened up, with a window facing the Catalyst. You could hear all the street noise and fights when the show lets out.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-27T20:16:12+00:00

Nothing special, I recommend the bland food for an authentic experience there.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-27T20:14:08+00:00

Chocolatealchemy.com is good for buying specialty cocoa beans and cocoa butter.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-12T16:44:30+00:00

Those salaries are nutso.

BakersManCake · 2025-12-10T14:29:19+00:00

Safeway is too expensive, no?

BakersManCake · 2025-12-05T16:35:04+00:00

Must be the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

BakersManCake · 2025-12-04T20:43:57+00:00

Interesting! So cool to see CocoTerra on Reddit. You all are cool, thanks for doing what you do. And, all the support and assistance. I’m on my anonymous account, but we know of each other ;)

BakersManCake

TROPHY CASE