Chuao Chocolatier Review & Giveaway ~ 3 winners ~4/13 CLOSED

Chuao Chocolatier (pronounced chew-WOW) is the first Venezuelan Chocolatier based in the United States and Southern California’s premier artisan chocolatier.

Founded in 2002 by Master Chef Michael Antonorsi and his brother Richard Antonorsi - the company's CEO; Chuao Chocolatier is pioneering “fusion chocolate” through a commitment to creating unusual, unexpected and delicious flavors using their secret blend of premium chocolate and fresh natural ingredients.

The Venezuelan born brothers, now San Diego residents, named the company Chuao Chocolatier after the legendary cacao-producing region of Chuao located in central Venezuela.


I was doing my weekly grocery shopping at Harris Teeter and about to checkout when i thought of buying a bar or two of chocolates so went to the aisle and browsed through their large assortments then this shiny reddish wrapper caught my eyes that says Spicy Maya so i grabbed one and head to checkout, so when i got home while putting my groceries away i just have to taste this new found chocolate i got and i am tellin' ya it was darn delicious! so delicious that i told myself i going to email them and ask if they want their products to be featured, so here i am.

Chuao Chocolatier sent me a bar of;
Spicy Maya a dark chocolate bar infused with a hint of Pasilla chile, cayenne Pepper and cinnamon. The bar had no portioning in little squares. There were only impressions of cacao beans and the Chuao Chocolatiers logo. Has a nice dark chocolate taste with very minimal heat.
Firecracker Chocolate Premium dark chocolate bar with chipotle, salt and popping . Upon opening the wrapper there was the regular squared-off portions that you can break off the larger bar. It was really great-tasting, rich dark chocolate with a bit of a tiny crunch a la Nestle crunch. When I stopped chewing, I felt the effect of the popping in the back of my mouth. Yes, it is like that old crackling Pop Rocks you might have eaten as a kid. It is a brilliant move to include this in a spicy ( yes, this also has very minimal heat) chocolate to produce a "firecracker"-like effect.
Panko Bar is the subtle one, its dark chocolate with toasted panko bread crumbs and a bit of sea salt blend to create a creamy, mouth-watering crunch in every bite. My daughter enjoyed this one. And also $1.00 from EACH bar sold of Panko Bar (online or store cafes) all throughout the month of April will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.
They also sent me 2 ChocoPods of each full bars i received, they are the smaller version in a cacao bean shape. All natural and just 50 calories each!
You can buy Chuao Chocolatier at retailers nationwide or if you live near Southern California drop by their Chuao Chocolatier Café.
Thank to Ms. Vivian S. who generously provided 2 bars of Firecracker Chocolate each to 3 lucky SampleTrain members!

How to enter:
Mandatory Entries:
* You have to be a Caboose rider to participate/comment in any giveaway/forum so hop on board and register on Sampletrain, its FREE.
* Visit Chuao Chocolatier and tell me which product/s would you like to try.
Extra Entries:
* "Like" Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook and tell them you read a review here on Sampletrain.
* "Like" Sampletrain on Facebook.
* Follow Chuao Chocolatier on Twitter.
* Follow Sampletrain on Twitter.
* Retweet this daily:
#Win 2 Firecracker Chocolate bars from @ChuaoChocoholic at @Sample_Train #Giveaway 3 winners ends 4/13 http://bit.ly/dPJ2bo

Note: Retweet once a day until the giveaway ends just leave a comment below with your status link. (thats addt'l 11 extra entries)

You'll have 7 entries if you do everything stated above plus 11 addt'l extra entries if you retweet daily. Leave comments below that you did all entries just make sure to number them accordingly.


Giveaway Guidelines and Disclosure
FREE products pictured above were provided to me to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was received. Chuao Chocolatier is providing the prize(s) for this giveaway at no cost to me. Giveaway ends Apr. 13, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. Open to US residents. Winner/s will be picked via Random.org and announced the following day. Winner will also be pm'ed and will have 48 hours to reply before another winner is chosen. My product review is my honest opinion and is not reviewed or edited by Chuao Chocolatier. Due to the new FTC rules, I was under no obligation to review any product if I so choose, Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the FREE product/s received.

1. I am a Caboose Rider

2. I visited Chuao Chocolatier website. I love all the current easter goodies!

3. I "liked" Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook and told them I read a review on Sampletrain

4. I "liked" Sampletrain on Facebook

5. Sampletrain member
6. Would love to try the chocopod assortment box...looks yummy!
7. Like Chuao and left comment
8. Like Sampletrain
9. Follow Chuao
10. Follow Sampletrain
11. Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/BrookAnn/status/54274487427923968

12. I am a Caboose Rider.
13. I would love to try the ENJOY box of 25 Bonbons and Truffles.
14. I "Like" Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook and left a comment.
15. I "Like" Sampletrain on Facebook.
16. Follow Chuao Chocolatier on Twitter.
17. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter.
18. I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/#!/ossmcalc/status/54275056892772352

19. I am a Sampletrain member.
20. Ah, so hard to choose, but I would like to try Abuela Brownie Mix, ChocoPod * pc. Asst., and Tease*.
21. I like Sampletrain on Facebook.

22 I am a Sample Train Caboose Rider
23 At Chuao, I like the Popping Bunny Bars
24 I wrote a review on Alexa (royalegacy)
25 I like Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook ~Danielle SG....s; and left a comment; https://www.facebook.com/chuaochocolatier/posts/151457668250458
26 I like Sample Train on Facebook (Danielle Sg....s)
27 I follow Sample Train on Twitter @royalegacy
28 I follow Chuao Chocolatier on Twitter @royalegacy
29 http://twitter.com/#!/royalegacy/status/54314474533949440

30 ~ I am a sampletrain member
31 ~ I would love to try their chocolate bonbons and truffle box
32 ~ I like Chuao Chocolatier on facebook
33 ~ I like sampletrain on facebook
34 ~ I follow Chuao on twitter
35 ~ I follow sampletrain on twitter
36 ~ tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/theresec13/status/54378880814948352

37- Caboose rider
38-Winter Hot Chocolate
39- "Like" Sampletrain on Facebook.
40- Follow Chuao Chocolatier on Twitter.
41-Follow Sampletrain on Twitter.
42-http:/ /twitter.com/OhioCatfish/status/54355195114692608

42. Caboose Rider
43. Would love the Abeula Hot Chocolate
44. Like Sampletrain on Facebook
45. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter
46. Follow Chuao on Twitter
47. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/litlbell/status/54558092263821312
48. Liked Chuao on Facebook

50. I am a Caboose Rider.
51. I would love to try the Chinita Nibs
52. I "Like" Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook and left a comment.
53. I "Like" Sampletrain on Facebook.
54. Follow Chuao Chocolatier on Twitter.
55. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter.
56. I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/sunrae17/statuses/54562878858072064

57 http://twitter.com/#!/royalegacy/status/54571963292721153

58 ~ http://twitter.com/#!/theresec13/status/54587623502659584

59-http:/ /twitter.com/OhioCatfish/status/54691925890043904

60. Caboose rider
61. Visited and would love to try the bonbons and truffles
62. Like sampletrain on fb
63. Following sampletrain on twitter

64. Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/ossmcalc/status/54763497208295424

65-http:/ /twitter.com/OhioCatfish/status/54943375496986624

66 http://twitter.com/#!/royalegacy/status/55054066966986752

67. http://twitter.com/#!/litlbell/status/55055204353187840

68 http://twitter.com/#!/royalegacy/status/55289327894265857

69-http: http://twitter.com/OhioCatfish/status/55339548661653504

70. I am a Caboose rider
71. I would like to try some of their Easter goodies!! They look sooo YUMMY!!!!
72. I like Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook
73. I like Sampletrain on Facebook
74. I follow Sampletrain on Twitter
75. I follow Chuao Chocolatier on Twitter
76. I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/amandajc_21/status/55342525103353856

77. http://twitter.com/litlbell/status/55402794240311296

78. Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/ossmcalc/status/55473511136890880

79. I am a Caboose Rider.
80. I would love to try the Abuela Hot Chocolate
81. I "Like" Chuao Chocolatier on Facebook and left a comment.
82. I "Like" Sampletrain on Facebook.
83. Follow Sampletrain on Twitter.

84. http://twitter.com/#!/amandajc_21/status/55629717759471616