Can't Get Enough These Chocolates!

What: Lake Champlain Chocolates

Where: 750 Pine Street, Burlington VT 05401

Rating: 5/5

We recently made a trip to Vermont for our July 4th weekend adventure. We didn't know there were lots of other great places to visit, company tours that is. By far, Lake Champlain Chocolates is the best company tour I've ever had in Vermont! 

Lake Champlain Chocolates is located in a rural area of Vermont. Though it was a holiday weekend, there was ample parking for all expected visitors. The building, as you can see from the outside is not as big as other facilities. The space is just perfect for guests. 

So, what do I love about the company tour?

1) They support Fair Trade.

2) The presentation of information about how, who and where they plant cacao trees was good. They even provided real samples of how cacao beans look like and the different types of chocolate: milk, dark and white (as you see in the cans below). The tour seats are adjacent to the production floor by clear glass panels. Even though I wasn't able to see the real production because it just ended, I was still amazed at how our Chocolate Master explained to us how they make their super-duper-good chocolates! I swear, I can forget about my favorite Hershey's kisses.

3) We were provided generous samples before, during and after the tour! That's right, I did say before because when I roamed around the store before the tour began, I saw some samples of dark chocolate cocoas around the corner of the cafe. It was so delicious and luscious I got one more for my husband to taste, and my daughter too. Oooops! ;) If you can't read, it's made of 54% dark chocolate which makes it not bitter at all! That instantly became my husband's favorite!

Sample truffles and coffee chocolates after the tour and sample dark chocolate squares at the cafe.

4) There was a table for kids so they can have fun with their own activity during the tour. Now, nobody's going to scream while  Chocolate Master's sharing chocolate-filled information. My daughter though, became the only one who didn't join the bandwagon. Therefore, she was the only kid making noises and I really feel sorry for those who were bothered during the tour. Tee-hee! I guess she ate too much sweets that I can't stop her! Whew!

5) They have a corner cafe showcasing their original and signature drinks.The prices as you can see, aren't that expensive at all. They are very affordable so you too can savor their wonderful concussion even in your drinks!

6) The store was full of Lake Champlain chocolates of assorted flavors and some items you wouldn't think they offer. Most of their chocolates are handcrafted for a more delicate look. Oh, they have aprons and shirts too! 

I am still savoring the taste of Lake Champlain chocolates I got from the Factory Seconds shelf! I got dark, white and milk and a few organic ones too.

7) Last but not the least, I loved it because the tour was free! Probably the only place where we didn't pay to enter. LOL! Though I would have paid for it if required. 

Lake Champlain Chocolates for me is more than Hershey's and on the same line as Godiva. If you'd like to try Lake Champlain Chocolates, you can order online. I read they ship the same day if you order on weekdays. If you're not an online shopper, I heard our Chocolate Master say that their products are available at Whole Foods. 

 

DISCLAIMER I was not compensated in anyway to do a review of the products or services mentioned this post. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.

A Bit Disappointing Factory Tour

What: Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour

Where: 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury VT

Admission: $4 Adults; $3 Seniors; 12 and under Free

Rating: 3/5

I rarely watch TV but I often see myself tuning on to Travel Channel. There, I learned that Ben and Jerry's provide factory tours. It seems to me that the marketing was overrated or maybe I just expected too much.

Last July 4th, I somehow forced my husband to take a road trip to Vermont instead of going to Cape Cod/Martha's Vineyard just to see Ben and Jerry's. In the TV it looked so big, so cool, so nice... So, I wrote in down in my go-to-places wish list, take note, I only had four. 

I was so excited when we arrived. We parked on the lower area so we needed to climb up the hill. It was a good exercise and this made me more excited to see how it looked like for real. The outside view was great, there were tables with umbrellas and quite a long line at the ice cream store. It was inviting! So inviting I wasn't able to take a photo of it and wanted to start the tour already! So, I paid for our tickets and waited for less than 5 minutes. Then our guide called our batch. I let all the other excited visitors to go ahead so I can take photos. It was a 3-part tour and I'll explain it in more detail:

Part I.

A short video clip of how Ben and Jerry's started. I thought it was humorous. Just like the other informative videos provided in tourist spots, it was okay.

Part II.

This is where I got dismayed. After the video presentation, we were asked to go upstairs to the other "room" where you can take a look at how they make their euphoric ice cream. The "room" was like a bridge with clear glass panels on both sides. Pictures are not allowed in this area. There were two small televisions where you can watch the production process. There was no production at that time because it was holiday, July 4th. If you stayed on the other side of the room, there's a high chance you won't be able to take a glimpse of the other side of the production floor because the "room" is too small for the number of people in the tour. Unless, you let them go first to the next room so you can have a few seconds to take a closer look at it.

At this stage, I know that the next will be the last part of the tour. I was like, "So, that's it?! After more than 8 hours of driving, this is it what we'll get?! With $4". It's so not worth it! It should have been free. LOL!

Part III.

Probably everybody's favorite because we all get to taste a sample of their free ice cream of the day! The serving was like a scoop of ice cream or maybe less but it was so delicious. It's one of their new ice cream which doesn't have a name yet. It's a mix of berries and dark chocolate chunks! Sooo good! They make everyone suggest a name for the ice cream, if they choose the name, that person will win Ben and Jerry's ice cream for a year! Awesome! (...if I win. LOL)

After the tour, we were able to look at the stuff they offer at the store. There were beach towels, shirts, cow bells, the usual souvenirs - though I thought they have low-quality fridge magnets and they are being sold cheap of course. They also sell the pints at a higher price compared to grocery stores. At the ice cream shop, we tried stuff the we can't buy from home like smoothies/shakes, sundae and banana split. =) Still a bit pricey but they're good! 

It rained that day and most of us got stuck inside. There's no way we can't get out of the main building without getting wet. They do have a short covered pathway but they need to place like an extended roof so those who are entering the car won't get wet. We haven't gone to the graveyard yet so we waited until the next day to view it. I didn't expect much this time. Good thing because the graveyard was just so-so. The RIP notes were humorous or at least are trying to be. I took some photos of my favorite. 

Overall, even if I was disappointed with the tour, I was thankful because if not for Ben and Jerry's, I wouldn't realize how wonderful Vermont is. There's a lot of other companies offering free and paid tours within a 30-mile radius and you can read about them on the Company Tour tab.

DISCLAIMER I was not compensated in anyway to do a review of the products or services mentioned this post. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.

Breezy Point Seafood Company

Overall Rating: 4/5
Budget: $10-$18/person

Upon entering, I told myself, it really ain't breezy [literally speaking] at all, unless you dine at the tables they provide outside, which we didn't because it was kind of hot and our little one won't stop running in the parking area. The facade looks neat and there were 4 more groups who entered right after I placed our order. I guess they're regulars.

Food
The menu is easy to understand for you'll need to choose from Entree, Sandwich or Sandwich with two sides. The selection of course are seafood and I bet that's why it took my husband like 10 minutes to figure out what he likes [because he likes them all]. I was able to choose almost in an instant, for the first time, because I love tuna! There's an option on how you want it done - grilled, broiled or fried. I got broiled tuna with 2 sides and I love it! The tuna is well-cooked with just the right texture. You'll see a bit of the pinkness in the middle and it really looked good! I wasn't expecting to love the sides too. The vegetable ingredients of the coleslaw were cut smaller than the other restaurant's preparation, which I really like. Also, it doesn't have much mayo so it didn't look yucky.  As for the fries, you might think it's usual, but no. I normally don't finish my fries, but it was the crunchiness in addition to the slightly sprinkled Old Bay [I guess] which makes it good. I also discovered it tastes even better if you dip it in their Spicy Thai sauce rather than ketchup. 

My husband ordered lemon pepper salmon with seasoned rice and salad. I tasted them too and I liked it as much as he does. He won't go away without a crab cake so he shared it with our 16-month old. Who says kids don't like seafood? That ain't true!

Cleanliness
If I'm going to rate it, I'll give it 4.5 just because I saw some smudges on the table. The others were clean but I don't know why I opted to stay there. Anyway, it is clean in general. I even let my little one sit on the floor for I saw neither crumbs nor sauces. See the photo below to see how well-arranged, should I say maintained, the condiments bar is.

Kid-Friendliness I am not really not sure if they have a highchair or booster seat because I didn't see one. I let my little one sit on a regular chair with our guidance of course. I will send them an email and I'll let you know. Else, if they read this post, I hope they a comment below.


Customer Service
It was so-so, nothing great, nothing bad. Though I thought the person on the cashier was not so welcoming, I mean no smiles at all?

Complimentary Stuff
Free Parking
Sauces on the condiments bar.

So, having tried and tested it, are we going back? I forgot to try the crab soup and I'd like to know how their tilapia tastes so possibly, but not soon.

DISCLAIMER

I was not compensated in anyway to do a review of the products or services mentioned this post. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.