Hotel Chocolat: Salted Caramel Puddles

You know how I’m like never at home in DC? And how my job sends me off to every corner of the country?

Well, today I’m running away from DC again. But it’s not for work. Shocker. This time, it’s a trip to Boston for the annual MIT Alumni Swim Meet, which is literally one of the most fun events I attend all year.

I lead an exciting life, don’t I?

Well, here’s the other exciting thing: I’ll get to go to Newbury St. and visit Hotel Chocolat, where I can pick up delicious goodies like these Salted Caramel Puddles.

Yes. Puddles. Puddles of milk chocolate with bits of salt and caramel mixed in.

See?

The Hotel Chocolate puddles are all thin wafers that are easy to nibble on, and that are a perfect thickness to slowly melt on your tongue. The salted caramel puddles in particular offer a very thick melt that brings out a toffee flavor immediately.

Caramel and vanilla flavors follow that initial hit of toffee, along with a bit of cream. There is only a hint of salt, and perhaps a bit more to cut through the sweet milk chocolate and caramel pieces would be helpful. The caramel bits themselves are like pieces of coarse, caramelized sugar, and detract a bit from the smooth texture of the milk chocolate, but accent the caramel flavor. I’m a bit torn on the approach, as I like the resulting flavor but not the resulting texture.

Hopefully there are more puddles of a different character awaiting me tonight.

What was the last place you visited for fun? Did you buy any chocolate there?