Posted by Miyagi-Hawk at 7/19/08 8:28 a.m.

This blog reminds me of those Kevin Trudeau infomercials on TV that pose as news shows. This blog entry effectively serves as an Obama advertisement and a plug for a local chocolate business.

Posted by sebbel at 7/19/08 9:46 a.m.

I'll have to try these chocolates when I come back to Seattle next month.

Miyaki-Hawk = Debbie Downer. Wahh Wahhhhh. Lighten up.

Posted by Miyagi-Hawk at 7/19/08 10:17 a.m.

"Posted by sebbel at 7/19/08 9:46 a.m.

I'll have to try these chocolates when I come back to Seattle next month."
----------------------
Effective advertising at its best!

Posted by yreesolu at 7/19/08 10:44 a.m.

mm those chocolates sound delicious, and I'm definitely going to vote for Obama now too.

Posted by Miyagi-Hawk at 7/19/08 10:54 a.m.

At $11.50 for a 7 piece box of caramels, ironically they're not a working-class person's treat! That's a $1.64 for a tiny caramel! You can get the price per piece down to $1.37 per piece if you spring for the 35 piece box @ $48.

Not to mention Fran's imports is vanilla all the way from Madagascar, when vanilla's readily available from much closer Mexico (where vanilla originated). So, Fran's is contributing to global warming!

Posted by edwardgr at 7/19/08 2:26 p.m.

Yes Fran's can be expensive, however, the point of Fran's is not to wolf down 6 or 7 pieces at a time. Like any high quality food item this is meant for savoring and enjoyment not just a sugar fix. If you are looking for a sugar fix spend $4 and get a pound of Brachs.

As for the source, since Madagascar produces 60% of all vanilla sold worldwide and produces 20 times that which is grown in Mexico, it is likely that the global warming claim is way off because of the sheer difference in volume shipped.

Posted by Miyagi-Hawk at 7/19/08 3:07 p.m.

Don't all the global warming alarmist want each of us to make small contributions to lower the environmental impact as whole? Just because Madagascar produces the largest volume of vanilla, doesn't mean that Fran's has to source it from there when it's available more closely. Fran's claims to get the rest of it's ingredients from close sources to increase sustainability, e.g. whiskey from Oregon rather than Scotland.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/19/08 5:44 p.m.

Fran's chocolates are the best, my favorite is the chocolate covered orange peel - you have to go to her store for those (Bellevue, Main Street) YUM!

Posted by wafflesnfalafel at 7/19/08 7:29 p.m.

My wife loves these, (and I admit as unusual as they sound, the seasalt caramels are quite tasty.) Not cheap, but I suck it up and make the investment for my relationship.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/20/08 2:12 a.m.

"Just because Madagascar produces the largest volume of vanilla, doesn't mean that Fran's has to source it from there when it's available more closely."

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/2996/bobbummernu4.jpg

Posted by billyT at 7/20/08 7:57 p.m.

Holy Moly, Miyagi-Hawk:

What is your carbon footprint for posting the two worthless posts?

Posted by Miyagi_Hawk at 7/20/08 8:30 p.m.

As much as your more worthless post, I'd assume.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/20/08 8:58 p.m.

Miyagi-Hawk:

Shut your yap already! This is an article to promote Fran's amazing chocolates, which are made from the finest ingredients available. Madagascar vanilla is a richer, more flavorful vanilla than Mexican vanilla. You're going to complain about a carbon footprint because of that??
Do you drive a car? Heat your home? I'm going to guess the answer is "yes."
Get off your high horse and go buy Hershey's chocolate at Safeway - Fran's Chocolates are obviously too high caliber for you to understand!

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!! You had my vote already, but now it's even more confirmed! Obama 2008!!!

Posted by unregistered user at 7/21/08 12:27 a.m.

Bigblog developers, we need an ability to block asenine posters like "unregisturd user" and "miaya-hawk" and their ilk. It isn't censorship for a user to not be subjected to idiocy, but I'm tired of the flame-baiting, the name-calling, and the sheer idiocy of... Please implement a "block all posts from user X" feature soon.

Posted by Miyagi_Hawk at 7/21/08 3:40 a.m.

Thanks for proving my points:
1. The "article" does promote a product & political candidate. Most articles reports "news."
2. Even global warming alarmists admit individual actions to minimize it are meaningless.
3. Supposedly liberal & free speech mongering PI readers clamor for censorship on these comment sections.
4. The irony of a "working class" candidate and his supporters enamored by chocolates clearly affordable only to upper-income individuals.

Posted by apollo11 at 7/21/08 6:55 a.m.

Until next week when he will claim that he didn't actually say that this was his favorite, depending on the focus group and what the teleprompter tells him to say.

Posted by Sasha7 at 7/21/08 9:42 a.m.

To get back on subject:

A couple of years ago, I went on a Holland America repositioning cruise from Vancouver to San Diego, under the auspices of AAA. It was a regional wine and chocolate-tasting cruise, starring Fran's chocolates. I thought Fran's were the be-all and end-all of boutique chocolates - until I took a tour of Theo Chocolates, in what used to be the Redhook Brewery in Fremont. Touring the complex was like swimming in a lake of breathable chocolate air - you have to take the tour ($5 and worth it) to know what I mean. And with flavours like Coconut Curry and Buttered Toast, not to mention up to 84% full chocolate in some of their bars...well, check out the website, or better yet, the factory. The are 100% fair trade and organic, as well.

Posted by Dirty Mongo at 7/21/08 9:42 a.m.

Miyagi_Hawk,

Like most Americans, I look forward to commentary on how I should spend my money, who I should vote for, and what is, or is not, a delicious and tasty treat. The best advice comes from unemployed 45-year-old, bald and smelly men in their underwear, typing from the basement computer in their parents' house. (You logged on every 5 minutes at 3:30 in the morning to see if anyone was paying attention to you! Are you serious!?) People like you are Obama's best campaign commercial. Hell, I logged on and donated $25 just after reading your posts. It reminds me you can't put a pricetag on a gag big enough to fit in your halitosis-mouth.

All that being said, I don't know if this is the best line to have in an article about the head of your Fundraising Committee: "He sees me and before he even says hello, he puts out his hand - 'OK, where are they?'"

Posted by unregistered user at 7/21/08 10:09 a.m.

Seattle is Obama's favorite 'chocolate city', much to the chagrin of New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin. I glad we don't have to learn about his observations about Iraq or his changing foreign policy views, what a bore that might be? Maybe next we can learn how much foam he likes on his cappuccino or what his plans are to bring down the price of arugula at Whole Foods?

Posted by vinella at 7/21/08 10:12 a.m.

"How did this happen?"

Well, let me explain: they have a political associate here in town who probably can't name another chocolate made in Seattle other than Fran's. Most people can't. Had their associate bothered to try something else - Theo's, Fiori, Seattle Chocolates, etc. - we might be reading this "commercial" about THAT company. So, the endorsement that's implied here for Fran's came about because that's what ONE PERSON decided was the best Seattle has to offer. Nothing at all against Fran's. I like them a lot. But it's just like Starbucks versus all the other coffee companies: just because they're the best-known and most popular doesn't mean they're the best.