Fran’s Chocolates Giveaway: Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels
Friday, February 19, 2010
Fran’s Chocolates, Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels
Today I have something really special: Fran’s Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels.
For those who know…oh, you know. For those who have yet to experience the heavenly bliss that is Fran’s Chocolates…you just have not lived until you put one of these salted caramels in your mouth.
These caramels are perfection. One bite and you will be transported for a brief moment, when all you can concentrate on is the sublime texture and taste you’re experiencing. And then you will wish that you can stop time so that it all lasts just a little bit longer.
Heaven
As you bite down, the thin chocolate couverture seductively melts away, giving in to the luxurious, velvety caramel hidden inside. Buttery, soft and chewy, each caramel is handmade in small batches from fresh organic butter and rich cream. Each precious caramel is then hand-dipped in fine chocolate, and bejeweled with a sprinkling of sea salt that gives you that nice bit of gritty crunch against your back teeth.
Gray Salt Caramels
The Gray Salt Caramels are dipped in 56% dark chocolate, then finished with a sprinkling of pure gray sea salt. Fran chose a gray sea salt harvested off the coast of Brittany for its bold, deep flavor, in perfect contrast to the sweet butter notes of the caramel.
Smoked Salt Caramels
The Smoked Salt Caramels are dipped in 40% deep milk chocolate and topped with pure sea salt harvested from the coast of Wales. This exceptional sea salt is smoked over Welsh oak and has a soft, complex flavor which is a natural complement to the subtle tones of deep milk chocolate and golden caramel.
I am usually a dark chocolate girl, but something about that Smoked Salt Caramel calls my name. It has a rounder, gentler flavor to it, while the Gray Salt Caramel has more of a clean, bold flavor. (For the record though, I would never turn down a Gray Salt). If these caramels were classic silver-screen beauties, I’d venture to say the Smoked would be Brigitte Bardot, and the Gray, Elizabeth Taylor.
Both are sophisticated, both are exquisite.
My eyes (and thankful taste buds) were first opened to Fran’s Chocolates a year ago at the 2009 Fancy Food Show. I was enamored, and now, a full year later, I know it wasn’t just puppy love. It is still the finest caramel I’ve ever tasted.
At this year’s show, we had the pleasure of meeting the master chocolatier herself, Fran Bigelow! Star-struck Hua had the honor of interviewing her 
Hear for yourself how Fran brought the allure and craftsmanship (and the joy, oh the joy!) of France’s chocolate shops to her hometown of Seattle, WA.
(Videography by Christina Robles)
As promised…this is a giveaway! So…to win this 20 piece box of Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels from Fran’s Chocolates…
Simply leave a comment here telling me: If you HAD to choose, would it be the Gray Salt or the Smoked Salt Caramel?
(I know, it’s a torturous question. Even President Obama and First Lady Michelle are divided on this.)
Giveaway deadline is Monday 2/22, 11:59 pm PST.
Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible via free sample and giveaway donation by Fran’s Chocolates. Winner will be randomly selected.
Update: Congrats to Fran (hehe, how fitting!), winner of Lick My Spoon’s Fran’s Chocolates Giveaway!
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Well this is difficult indeed. If I had to choose I think I’d go with the smoked sea salt. It sounds like such an incredible and interesting combination. I’m pretty sure though that I couldn’t go wrong on this one either way.
Dark chocolate all the way!!!!
The smoked sea salt sounds intriguing. I’d have to pick that one but I’d rather have both =)
I would choose the gray salt. The first time I tasted a chocolate with sea salt on it, I was in love!!!
This is tough…I think the smoked salt sounds interesting!!!!!
smoked.
If I absolutely HAD to choose, I think I would pick the smoked. I’d be pleased with either, though!
So, now you have me addicted to checking your website and wanting to eat chocolates all the time. I think I have to go for gray, as I’m a dark chocolate gal, but I also would not turn away the smoked (esp. given your review). Hope all is well Steph!
Since this would be my first time tasting Fran’s chocolates, I’ll choose the gray salt to be able to understand the chocolate confection in purest state, and then I’ll eventually make my way to try to the smoked salt caramel.
Will be tweeting this!
Gray, please and thank you.
I would pick the smoked sea salt ones because the subtle smokey crunch with the creamy milk chocolate and buttery caramel sounds devine! Plus, I relate more to Bridgette Bardot!
But, I honestly don’t think I could say no to the gray salt! All this talk of rich buttery goodness is making my mouth water!
Grey Salt all the way, I love salted dark chocolates!
I dont know, I have never tried either one.
I bet they are both delecious!
I’d have to go with the Grey Salt ones. I have a real thing for dark chocolate, I love it so much more than milk chocolate. But really, salted caramels… they both sound good!!
Wow.. those chocolates are simply mouth watering.
How I wish I could get a bite to one of those. They look simple and yet sophisticated. I’ve always love some salty taste on chocolates, it makes my mouth more watery.. I am not sure but it’s like biting your tongue and then releasing that kind of sweet behind it.
gray all the way!!
smoked for sure.
I have to say gray salt!
Gray Gray make my day!!!
I would have to go with the smoked simply because I’ve never tried smoked salt. Also, though I usually go for dark chocolate, I find that I like milk chocolate better with caramel flavors.
definitely going with the smoked salt.
It was hard to choose but since I like dark chocolate more then milk chocolate with caramel, my choice would be Gray Salt Caramels.
Smoked because they sound super unique!
I love a suprise….it is so much more fun than picking! Especially since I have no idea what either will taste like!
Smoked salt all the way.
I love FRANS! Gray sea salted caramels are the best!
mmmmmm….speaking for me and aika, SMOKED SEA SALT!
oh too hard. the smoked – but only because of being forced to choose just one.
smoked salt for me–I love milk chocolate!!
If I had to choose it’ll be the Smoked Salt Caramel – it sounds very interesting & I’ve not had smoked salt caramel before. I’d be happy with either one though!
Take care!
I also never had smoked salt caramel before and would really like to try it!
Wow this is a tough one-probably the smoked salt caramel-but I would want to taste them both.
thank you.
I love Fran’s chocolates (probably for the name reasons initially, but now for the delicious chocolates)! I am really curious to try the smoked salt caramels, as that sounds like a great flavor combination.
Well, if I can’t play Solomon and slice each in half so that I can taste both, I’ll opt for the gray salt caramels. Thanks!
very difficult indeed. I would have to say the smoked salt. It is more….unconventional.
I would choose the grey salt. I guess i’m a traditionalist.
I think the smoked sea salt sounds intriguing. Either way they sound wonderful!
Smoked Salt Caramels!
Smoked! Sounds different
The Smoked Salt Caramel
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
Oh wow you really love to delve into the human psyche! If I had to choose I’d try the smoked, very intrigued.
definitely grey
OooO chocolates.. I was supposed to give sweets up for a while, but if I win, it may change that
. I would definitely go for the smoked.
Wow! These sound amazing. I’ve had a salted caramel once and I’ve been wanting some more ever since! I think I’d choose the smoked salt caramel (and of course try the gray right after)! I’ll definitely be looking these up to see where to buy them — thanks for letting us know about them!
a no brainer…grey salt, I’m not a big fan of smoked flavor unless it’s BBQ. They all sound delicious!
If I were to choose I’d have to go with the gray salt. In terms of foods that play sweet and salty off of eachother, I’ve found that the simpler the pairing is, the more complex the flavor. I’d be very curious to try the other, but in a case like this I’d almost be obligated to go for something that I know is going to be excellent.
Wow!Fantastic This is such an incredible and interesting combination,I would love to have it.I’m also not a big fan of smoked flavor.
[...] my Fancy Food Show Chocolate Edition write-up last year too…but you know, you just can’t ignore perfection. These luxurious, velvety, buttery caramels are some of the best confections to touch these [...]
My absolute favorite chocolates in the world are Fran’s Grey Salt Caramels. I really like the smoked one’s too, but if I’m treating myself to a box, I’ll always choose the Grey Salt Caramels. Thank you Fran’s for this very special pleasure in life!
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