I have my moments of sweet cravings and my palate knows what it wants. Sometimes, I indulge in chocolates, especially those with fruits and nuts. For many chocolate lovers, eating these sweet treats is more than just delighting one's sense of taste; it also includes the visual pleasure of admiring beautifully handmade chocolate before taking a bite and experiencing that rush of rich and intense flavors.
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| chocolates in different shapes, sizes, and colors |
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, for one, is all about the experience. The shop originated in Durango, Colorado where the window display is filled with hand-dipped caramel apples, freshly made fudge, dipped strawberries, and larger-than-life chocolates.
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| yummy caramel apples |
It was in 1981 when founder Frank Crail moved his family from congested Southern California to set up a 53,000 square foot chocolate factory in Durango. That first store, located on the town's outskirts, has since expanded to hundreds of chocolate shops throughout the United States, Canada, Middle East and, now, Asia-Pacific.
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| first Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the Philippines |
What sets Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory apart from other chocolatiers is its unique in-store candy-making demonstrations. Customers are able to watch how their favorite items are being made and inhale the wonderful aroma of caramel or fudge bubbling on a stove. Another trademark is the unusually large portions of chocolate on display, which can be seen in all of the brand's windows all over the world.
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| grand opening of the Manila store |
The good news is, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, brought in by Royal Bear Confectioneries Inc., is finally in the Philippines! I attended the grand launch at the U.P. Town Center in Quezon City recently and saw for myself how pretty and enticing all the product displays are.
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| lots of chocolate variants to choose from |
I was moreover fascinated to observe how Caramel Apples are made using crisp, green Granny Smith apples dipped in a variety of yummy toppings for the perfect combination of tart and sweet. Flavors include Pecan Bear, Rocky Road, Cheesecake, Apple Pie, Snickers, the seasonal Holiday apple, and many more. Compared to caramel apples I tried in the past, where the coating was hard enough to break off a tooth, Rocky Mountain's apples have soft and chewy caramel that's easy to chew and tastes really divine!
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| making caramel apples |
I heard that another store favorite is the Chocolate Dipped Strawberry made with plump and juicy fruit drenched in creamy milk, rich dark chocolate, and sweet white confection. I'd have to try that next time I am in U.P. Town Center! Those with a sweet tooth can also buy premium bulk chocolates like the Rocky Road Cluster, Peanut Butter Buckets, Almond Bears, Sea Salt Caramel, Toffee Krunch Cluster, and Truffles.
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| more caramel apples |
If you get thirsty, simply order any of the holiday-ready drinks such as the Rocky Mountain Hot Chocolate, a classic favorite that is warm, rich, creamy, smooth, and deliciously sweet. In case you get a craving for Caramel Apple, the flavors are also available in smoothie versions! Check out, too, other frappe flavors which include White Strawberry Avalanche, Tiger Butter, and Hazelnut Bear.
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| sweet treats in boxes ready for gift-giving |
Whether it's the Christmas season or not, do share a box of concoctions made by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. They offer an assortment of items already prepared in gift boxes. For more information about the brand, please visit www.rmcf.com.
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