Kilwin’s Chocolate & Ice Cream – St. Joseph

11 05 2009
  • 217 State Street
  • St. Joseph, MI 49085
  • (269) 982-1330
  • Website
Kilwins Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop on State Street in St. Joseph

Kilwin's Chocolate & Ice Cream on State Street in St. Joseph

I freakin’ love fudge!  When we took a day trip to Traverse City last fall, we found a Kilwin’s Chocolate Shop in downtown.  That was our introduction to the Northern Michigan chain of stores. 

A Mother’s Day isn’t complete without chocolate and, as luck would have it, there was a Kilwin’s across the street from our brunch destination.  After a good meal and a quick stroll through downtown St. Joseph, we loaded up on fudgey goodness.

The St. Joseph Kilwin’s store is on State Street in downtown St. Joseph just a few blocks from Lake Michigan.  Like most of the other stores, you can watch the candy makers apply their craft in the window.  On the day we were there, one guy was making caramel apples an another was making fresh waffle cones.

The inside of the store smells so good.  Just past the candy making area are the cases of candy.  The first case has the fudge.  This shop didn’t have nearly as many options as the Traverse City shop, but still had two of three flavors I wanted.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Chains, Chocolate, Downtown, Michigan, St. Joseph

Cupid Candies – Oak Lawn , IL

12 02 2009
  • 4707 W. 95th Street
  • Oak Lawn, IL 60435
  • (708 ) 423-2729
  • Website
  • Menu
Cupid Candies on 95th Street in Oak Lawn.

Cupid Candies on 95th Street in Oak Lawn.

I sort of get a double whammy on Valentine’s Day.  Getting something for J is not a problem.  She’s got flowers waiting back in Lansing and tickets to a show that I’m pretty sure got lost in the mail.  Not only is February 14th Valentine’s Day, but it’s also my mom’s birthday.  Birthday’s aren’t a big deal in my family.  If we do anything at all, we do something small. 

Since J and I are back in the Chicago area, my mom decided to meet us for lunch tomorrow afternoon at Portillo’s Hot Dogs (review HERE) in Crestwood.  J suggested since we were meeting her before her birthday we should get her some candy or something.  When I was driving around lost this afternoon, I noticed Cupid Candies on the corner of Cicero and 95th.  I suggested we stop in and pick up some chocolates when we went out for dinner. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chocolate, Illinois, Oak Lawn, Reviews

The Chocolate Garden

5 01 2009
  • 2691 Friday Road
  • Coloma, MI 49038
  • (269) 468-9866
  • Website
  • Menu
The Chocolate Garden outside of Coloma, MI

The Chocolate Garden outside of Coloma, MI

What would you do if you were faced with giant truffles staring at you from a billboard overlooking I-94 in southwest Michigan?  We have passed this billboard so many times on our way back to Lansing from Illinois, but always make excuses not to stop.  A few months ago, we needed gas and I pulled off in Coloma to find a BP, but we couldn’t find The Chocolate Garden, so we gave up and went home.  Turns out, we took a right when we should have taken a left.  This time, we were in no hurry and had no excuse not stop.

The Chocolate Garden is in the most unassuming location.  Heck, we weren’t even sure we were in the right place.  When you get off the Interstate in Coloma and take a left, you pass a number of U-Pick farms and even other chocolate places.  The Chocolate Garden was smart enough to put signs up across the street from these places to tell you to keep going. 

After about a mile, you come up a farm house with a sign out front telling you to turn in for the Chocolate Garden.  Not what we were expecting at all.  The shop sits behind the farmhouse in a little building that would be more in place in a downtown shopping district among other boutiques.  We actually passed the house the first time thinking 1.) it wasn’t open or 2.) we couldn’t possibly be in the right place.  I went up to the next farm house and turned around.  When we made our way back, I noticed the sign on the side of the building that said “open” and the other cars now turning in.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chocolate, Coloma, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews

Ghiradelli Chocolate Shop – Chicago

30 11 2008
  • 830 N. Michigan Ave.
  • Chicago, IL 60611
  • (312) 337-9330
  • Website
Ghiradelli Chocolate in downtown Chicago on the Magnificent Mile

Ghiradelli Chocolate in downtown Chicago on the Magnificent Mile

By the time we made it to Ghiradelli, we had already been to two candy shops, but that wouldn’t stop any of us.  After leaving Hershey’s Chicago, the four of us walked across the street to Ghiradelli to see what they had to offer. 

Ghiradelli sits about a half block off of Michigan Avenue in the square surrounding the old pumping station.  Like other stores on the block, it’s hard to miss with all the bright signage.  We walked in and were met by a guy passing out squares of peppermint chocolate.  The shop is more of an ice cream parlor than a retail shop even though they have a wide selection of their chocolates on display near the wall. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chicago, Chocolate, Downtown, Illinois, Reviews

Hershey’s Chicago

30 11 2008
  • 822 N. Michigan Avenue
  • Chicago, IL 60611
  • (312) 337-7711
  • Website
Hershes Chicago on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago

Hershe's Chicago on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago

Hershey’s Chicago is an interesting store.   By this time in the day, my brother and sister-in-law had rejoined J and I and we started walking back down Michigan Avenue so they could check out the holiday lights and do a little shopping.  We made it back down to the Water Tower Place area and the area around the old pumping station was shoulder to shoulder people.  We made our way around the square to Hershey’s to see what they had to offer.

Who doesn’t like Hershey’s chocolate bars?  The Hershey’s Chicago shop is tucked back off Michigan Avenue near the Water Tower area.  It may not be right on Michigan, but you’re not going to have a hard time finding it with the giant Hershey’s sign on the side of the building.  When we walked in, we were met by a security guard who was handing out chocolate squares and directing people away from the door so there wouldn’t be a traffic jam.  J and I started looking at gift boxes and she tried to talk me into buying giant Hershey bars for Christmas presents.  I didn’t listen to her, but I probably should have. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chicago, Chocolate, Downtown, Illinois

Lindt – Chicago

30 11 2008
  • 840 N. Michigan Ave
  • Chicago, IL 60611
  • (312) 440-3986
  • Website
Lindt in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago

Lindt in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago

After leaving the Billy Goat Tavern, we continued heading north on Michigan Avenue.  J and I both grew up near Chicago, so it wasn’t our first trip, but it was the first time in a long time we went downtown with no agenda, no tickets for a show, or no reason.  We just went for a walk and took in the sights.  The streets were packed with tourists and street performers so it took a little while to make it down to Water Tower Place.  Later, after picking my brother and sister-in-law up from the theater, my brother said he had no idea there was a mall in downtown Chicago. 

Water Tower Place is a seven story mall right in the heart of the shopping district on Michigan Avenue.  J and I weren’t really shopping, but we thought we’d walk around Water Tower because a.) it was warm and b.) it would kill some time.  We stopped in a few stores, but the first one we bought anything in was the Lindt store on the sixth floor.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chains, Chicago, Chocolate, Downtown, Illinois

Fabiano’s Homemade Candy & Ice Cream

22 11 2008
  • 119 S. Putnam St.
  • Williamston, MI 48895
  • (517) 655-3782
  • Website (dead link)
Fabianos Homemade Candy & Ice Cream in downtown Williamston

Fabiano's Homemade Candy & Ice Cream in downtown Williamston

After a day of shopping, we needed something sweet.  A stop at Meridian Mall was next on our schedule and the GPS always takes us through Williamston to Grand River when we go from the Tanger Outlets back to Okemos.  Somehow, I found Fabiano’s and homemade candy always sounds good.

We found Fabiano’s in downtown Williamston.  When we pulled up, we kind of got a mixed signal on whether the shop was even open.  There were two signs in the window.  One said “open.”  The other said “closed.”  On top of that, there was a building for sale sign in the window.  We could see lights on inside, but no people.  J told me to go check, so I got out and pulled on the door.  It opened so I went in. 

The inside of the shop is very sparse which leads me to believe that “building for sale” is in the window for a reason.  There was just one girl working by herself.  There’s a big case filled with truffles and chocolates.  The clerk asked what I wanted, but J hadn’t made her way in the store yet, so I asked for a few more minutes.  She went back to cleaning up behind the counter.  J came in and we decided on some chocolates.  I was hoping for fudge, but there was none there.  They’re a candy shop, not a chocolate shop.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chocolate, Downtown, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews, Williamston

Kroger – Frandor

17 11 2008
  • 443 Mall Ct.
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 332-2090
  • Website
Kroger in the Frandor Shopping Center.

Kroger in the Frandor Shopping Center.

I have a feeling one day I will visit all the Kroger’s in Lansing.  For some reason, when I need something, I instinctively go to Kroger.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been around Kroger all my life whereas the other supermarket’s in the area or foreign to me.  Maybe it’s because there just always seems to be a Kroger when I need one.

J and I were in Frandor to check out Linens ‘N Things again.  My dad wants some pans for Christmas and he’s very, very picky about what he wants, so we were hoping to find something cheap at LNT. They just lowered their prices again, so we thought it was a good time.  We picked up a few things there, but I needed to pick up a few groceries as well and there was a Kroger not too far down the parking lot.

So, we headed back to the truck to drop of the “Things” we bought from Linens ‘N Things before heading to Kroger.  I’m guessing this store is one of the older ones in Lansing.  They still have an old sign on the building and the layout is a little wierd for a grocery store.  When you walk in, you come in behind the cash registers.  There’s only one door in and out so you come out the way you go in.  If you keep walking past the cash registers, you’ll eventually hit produce and you can start shopping just like you would at any store. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chains, Chocolate, Grocery, Lansing, Michigan, Reviews

Uncle John’s Cider Mill

11 10 2008
  • 8614 North US 127
  • St. Johns, MI 48879
  • (989) 224-3686
  • Website
Shops and dining area at Uncle Johns Cider Mill in St. Johns

Shops and dining area at Uncle Johns Cider Mill in St. Johns

Ah, fall.  There are just certain things you have to do every fall.  When I lived and worked in Peoria, IL, I did a story every year at an apple orchard about twenty minutes outside of Peoria.  On our couple trips north to Traverse City and Mt. Pleasant, I noticed a farm just north of St. Johns.  We talked to a few people who have lived here forever and everyone told us stories of how Uncle Johns Cider Mill brought back memories of their childhood.  Since it was a gorgeous weekend, we figured what the hell.  Let’s go get some apples.

Uncle Johns is huge.  We were both shocked by what we found when we arrived at the farm on US 127 north of the City of St. Johns.  We were directed back to a huge grass parking lot where we didn’t really know where anything was at and ended up parking pretty far from the attractions.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Bakery, Chocolate, Michigan, Reviews, St. Johns

Kilwin’s Chocolate Shoppe

20 09 2008
  • 129 E. Front St
  • Traverse City, MI 49684
  • (231) 946-2403
  • Website
Kilwins Chocolate Shoppe in downtown Traverse City

Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe in downtown Traverse City

Fudge is a weakness of mine.  I have a hard time walking by a candy shop where I can see them making it in the window.  After we left The Cherry Shop (review HERE), we continued walking down Front Street.  It wasn’t long before we walked by two guys in the window making candy.  They weren’t making fudge, but they were making caramel apples.  I grabbed J and pushed her towards the door.  When we got inside, my suspicions were confirmed.  They had the most delicious looking fudge in a glass case near the door.

I didn’t know where to start.  I do know I love peanut butter.  I also know I love fudge.  If you put the two together, it should make an incredible confection.  They had a special going where if you bought two pieces of fudge, you got one free.  J wanted a piece of the cherry fudge and since we were going to get a free one, I got a wedge of the vanilla.  Each wedge was a half a pound.  There were no prices posted so I was a little shocked when it rang up at $17, but it was a lot of fudge.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Chocolate, Michigan, Reviews, Specialty Shop, Traverse City

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