Calling all Chocoholics

I clearly remember the first time I fell for dark chocolate. It was in a small Monterey cheese shop about five years ago. A red-haired guy was breaking off a piece of 70% dark Scharffen Berger chocolate for me to sample after eating a piece of cheese. Chocolate after cheese? Seems an unlikely pairing. But I tell you, it was delicious. I don't remember what type of cheese I had, but it was certainly overshadowed by the bittersweet taste lingering in my mouth. Since then, I've fallen hard for dark chocolate.
This started me on a path to explore quality-tasting chocolates, artisanal chocolates to be specific. Long gone are the days when I used to remove the "Special Dark" from the Hershey's chocolate variety bags. Nowadays, I find any excuse to buy myself a good piece of Valrhona, Guittard, or Christopher Elbow chocolates. This past weekend, Mr. Fliz and I went on a free chocolate tour at Charles Chocolates. It's a great family activity, or do it with friends. They produce amazing confections and their dark chocolates are decadent. But truly my favorites were the Pate du Fruit and Fleur del Sel Caramels. Please check out my examiner article for more info.

**Also, just a reminder if any of you have information (especially from loved ones abroad) about where to send goods and money to victims of Ondoy, please let me know so I can post the information. I'm currently gathering more information on organizations and local "door to door" businesses that are offering to send balikbayan boxes of donations for free. Again, I'd like to reiterate that we send to local grass roots organizations that are trustworthy. We want to ensure that those who need it most, get it. My good friend from the Philippines just emailed me an update today and they are still in dire need of the following items: anti-fungal cream, blankets, underwear (for men, women, and children), non-perishable food (canned goods, granola/cereal bars, chips), clothes (gently-worn and in good condition is ok), medicines, and much more. I'll be writing an article for the Examiner on where to send these things, so it's important that you give me current, reliable, and accurate information.