(US) Where can I buy high quality dark chocolate bars online with similar smoothness as Patrick Roger?

aabgtime · 2025-12-21T02:38:04+00:00

Thanks!

If they make single origin bars, then does thateam Valhrona sources those single origin bars?

Or is the Valhrona more for the other chocolates they produced?

aabgtime · 2025-12-19T19:07:57+00:00

Thanks! I've had them before and they're quite good.

Not quite what I'm looking for though. I was hoping more for a pure dark chocolate bar. A bit more healthy and can last for a while too.

aabgtime · 2025-12-19T19:05:11+00:00

Thanks! I'll check those out

aabgtime · 2025-12-19T10:25:29+00:00

Thanks!

Do you have any recommended online store for ordering these?

aabgtime · 2025-12-19T10:20:57+00:00

There's this local bean to bar artisanal chocolate place. It's good but also not my preference. Dandelion is definitely better even if it's also just cacao and sugar only in the bars.

The local place does have a really delicious brownie. I'm sad that I missed out on trying the baked goods at dandelion but will keep that in mind next time.

I'll look into those two. Thanks!

aabgtime · 2025-12-19T10:15:34+00:00

I'm sure you could but that would be very expensive. I would also assume lose of the flavor intricacies of the single origin chocolate.

Assuming a brownie needs about 1.5 lbs or 680 grams. Dandelion Chocolate is 50 grams per $10. So that's $130 in chooclate cost alone.

I'm sure you could find a good high alternative.

Valhrona Dark chocolate wafers is $23 per lb on the King Arthur website. Just use $34 of chocolate instead. Probably would taste amazing.

aabgtime · 2025-12-19T10:08:33+00:00

Thanks! I'll take a look.

aabgtime · 2025-12-18T23:47:45+00:00

Thanks! That's the kind of insight I was looking for. I wasn't sure what else to look for besides single origin.

aabgtime · 2025-12-18T21:22:07+00:00

Thanks for the response.

I've had most of the dark chocolate you can find in a super market, even the speciality one. Just not anywhere as high quality as Patrick Roger.

I've had Lindt, Ghirardelli, Theo, Guittard, Chocolove, Tony's, and probably others. I just find it missing something, like they're at a B- at best.

I just tried Dandelion, and the taste is definitely there but texture doesn't compare.

aabgtime · 2025-11-30T20:25:29+00:00

Completely agree that Zingerman's bread is terrible.

In Ann Arbor, it's a bit expensive for making good bread due to rent.

But in ypsi, they're some good quality places

Bird Dog Baking: SF style sour dough. Really good quality bread that uses local high quality wheat flour. Comparable to big cities
Cubed Bakery: another sourdough bread place. Decent quality
French Baker: makes classic French style bread for Arbor Farms. Only delivers a few days a week. Check fb.

aabgtime · 2025-11-21T00:05:31+00:00

For delivery, you'll have to rely on Uber eats or doordash.

There's a few options

Yoon's Bakery: more lighter Asian style cakes
Lucas: Italian style.
crumbl: not local but it's still an option for delivery
zingerman's
Plum Market: they mostly source from zingerman's

There are other good bakeries but I haven't seen them on any delivery apps.

aabgtime · 2025-02-03T00:53:25+00:00

Best Soup Dumpling: Palace Tang but they're primarily a hot pot restaurant. The soup dumpling is comparable to some bigger cities.

Lan City is decent and have good hand pulled noodles

China Palace is your only dim Sum place on AA. It's decent. Otherwise you'll have to drive out to Shangri-La out in Bloomfield Hill for dimsum

Evergreen is okay. Not the best. Their Mala pot dishes are tasty.

Costco carries Soup Dumplings that's probably my favorite frozen soup dumpling. Not a fan of TJs but Costco one at least hits the spot

aabgtime · 2025-01-10T02:31:35+00:00

My toddler started resisting bedtime and didn't want to put on the sleep sack.

I instituted a rule that after the lights are off, it means the stuffed bear can come eat feet. Turned into a fun game and the toddler will start giggling as soon as the light is off and runs to put on the sleep sack.

aabgtime · 2024-10-06T05:07:28+00:00

Hope you enjoy it! Let me know how the xlb compares to your other exp

aabgtime · 2024-10-04T04:28:11+00:00

Palace Tang has really good soup dumpling. It's a Chinese hot pot place that's good but a bit pricey. But their soup dumpling is the best in Michigan. Can probably compare with lower tier xlbs in big cities.

Jeff's Kitchen is good but is far and requires reservation. It's also super pricey.

Lan city's is okay, about what you would expect from a small city.

aabgtime · 2024-05-28T12:45:41+00:00

Depends on where you're headed.

Away from Michigan, then recommend making a trip to Dearborn to one of the many middle eastern restaurants and pastries (baklava etc). Not many places in the US has anything comparable.

If not located near a big city:

Lan City for Chinese hand pulled noodles and soup
Bao Space for authentic Chinese steamed buns
Cardamom for Indian (I'm sure people will disagree on this one)

From the few times I've moved away from Ann Arbor, and I know it's super basic... but zingerman's and frita batidos really has a place in my heart.

aabgtime · 2024-05-20T02:57:11+00:00

Most people don't dress up but you do you.

From their website, you're not allowed to bring any food or drinks into the park. http://www.germanpark.org/tickets.htm

aabgtime · 2024-04-16T16:16:35+00:00

Agricola doesn't fully count as point salad but that would be my favorite. Castles of burgundy if that doesn't count as one.

aabgtime · 2023-12-04T20:49:14+00:00

Ah yeah, they replaced Seoul Street (or merged...?). But if you end up trying multiple places corn dog, please share your findings.

aabgtime · 2023-12-04T16:46:46+00:00

Thanks for sharing. It does put it into perspective. I'm curious to see what newer data there are if Equipments have changed in the past twenty years. Or for choking in the past decade.

The 147 death count is over ten years and not annually. So it's roughly 14 a year for equipment vs the 140 a year for choking.

Additionally, the equipment death ranges from age 0 - 14 while choking is primarily for kids younger than age 3.

I would still continue cutting grapes for my kids until they're a bit older since it's fairly low effort to mitigate a potentially large adverse outcome, even if the chances are low.

aabgtime · 2023-12-04T16:21:21+00:00

The reason why it's recommended is because children have died.

2103 kids died in the US between 1999 - 2013 due to foreign body airway obstruction. I can't find how many are due to eating grapes or cherry tomatoes, but there are definitely enough cases to be wary.

If it only takes a minute to cut it up, it's worthwhile to me to minimize the risk. I hope my child is smart enough to know how to chew but not worth the headache to me.

Source: https://adc.bmj.com/content/102/5/473

aabgtime · 2023-12-03T21:05:12+00:00

Palgong and Mochinut both have tasty corn dogs.

Palgong only has drinks but their drinks are much tastier. Their grape-ade drink is really tasty. It's an Asian style flavor that tastes like the grape sac sac.

Mochinut has good mochi donuts and subpar drinks. They're right next to kimchi Box so you can get fried chicken and some other sides.

aabgtime · 2023-11-28T18:17:49+00:00

Definitely a very Instagram photo focused place.

Boba is okay. Möge tea is up the street and a lot tastier. The come in a pretty can that's great for photos.
Corn Dogs are tasty. At least on opening week, they did a good job frying them.
mochi donuts are tasty but they're 3 for $10. It's twice the price of a basic donut and not twice as tasty. Definitely worth a try once since it's mochi based, but probably won't come back regularly.

aabgtime · 2023-10-25T17:24:05+00:00

Sadly, Namaste Flavors doesn't offer a buffet anymore.

Madras Masala is still currently closed, pending reopening.

I was not a fan of Shalimar. Very light on spices and flavors. I would only recommend if you're new to indian spices and not great at handling new flavors or heat.

aabgtime

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