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The Vosges Bacon Chocolate Bar: Genius or Disgusting?

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The food world's love for all things porcine isn't flagging one bit. But do applewood-smoked bacon and milk chocolate really belong together?

By Erin Zimmer   Published Thursday, September 27, 2007

Courtesy of Vosgeschocolate.com.

Last week, a reader wrote into Kliman Online introducing us to the Vosges brand Mo’s Bacon Bar. Vosges, the Tiffany of chocolate companies, according to Kliman, created this high-quality milk-chocolate bar with applewood-smoked bacon bits, and already the company’s online store is sold out. But bacon and chocolate? We were skeptical, too.

Remember how good Aunt Jemima-drenched bacon is? Vosges owner and chocolatier Katrina Markoff does. She had a eureka moment when her chocolate-chip pancakes and bacon mixed. (Fair enough.) We got our hands on her curious chocolate bar and asked eight Washingtonian staff members to give it a try. Squeals were heard inside the room: “Chocolate with bacon!?” Only three of the fearless participants actually finished the bite-size portion. Even self-proclaimed bacon lovers had trouble keeping it down.

Similar to a Nestle Crunch bar, the texture is crispy. At first, the alderwood- smoked salt hits you, activating a gag reflex. Chocolate should not taste this salty. But if you think past the initial taste and smell and don’t compare it with bacon-flavored dog treats, it makes more sense a few bites later. Associate food and wine editor Ann Limpert stayed focused and eventually was a fan: “Got any more?” She looked a bit ravenous. As she pointed out, the salty-sweet duo is nice, and the high-quality chocolate is delicious. But for the average person, there’s the whole bacon thing—and mentally, that’s hard to swallow.

Mo's Bacon Bar, $7, is available at the Curious Grape (4056 S. 28th St., Arlington; 703-671-8700); Artfully Chocolate (116 E. Del Ray Ave., Alexandria; 703-635-7917); Balducci's (10323 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda; 301-564-3100); Biagio Fine Chocolate (1904 18th St., NW; 202-328-1506); and Georgetown Wine & Spirits (2701 P St., NW; 202-338-5500). 

Comments

Dear Kelven,
Shut up. I’m glad you found a soapbox, but for the rest of us, this is a wonderful treat. At 8$ a pop, I doubt this will become the death of all Americans. It will, however, become a treasured treat when we need one...which will probably do more for our health than being a judgemental, overcompensating prick.

Posted by: Ann, Aug 20, 2009 09:40:12 PM

Having never tried it, I can’t say it’s crap

Posted by: Maria V, Aug 16, 2009 06:16:30 AM

BARF!

Posted by: Barf, Jun 29, 2009 06:04:47 AM

As the blog *clearly* states---NOT for the average person. Go back to McDonald’s for those that knock it. For the true foodies and gluttons--welcome home!!

Posted by: Annie Miss, Apr 29, 2009 07:18:09 AM

This bar is the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted. Letting the chocolate melt in your mouth and then chewing on the tiny bits of salty bacon is beautiful.

Posted by: Tangentrider, Dec 22, 2008 03:29:12 PM

This bar is the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted. Letting the chocolate melt in your mouth and then chewing on the tiny bits of salty bacon is beautiful.

Posted by: Tangentrider, Dec 22, 2008 03:28:29 PM

COOL

Posted by: jacob, Nov 24, 2008 11:48:48 PM

I think it is cool

Posted by: nicole, Nov 24, 2008 11:47:49 PM

Sheer unadulterated genious. I love it. It is the perfect sweet/salt combination. Not to mention that it qualifies as a breakfast and dessert food.

Posted by: lisa, Oct 25, 2008 06:41:39 PM

disgusting

Posted by: d, Dec 25, 2007 05:00:42 AM

This bar is fucking gross.

Posted by: Doober, Dec 24, 2007 05:19:35 PM

This is every man’s dream answered. Thank you.

Posted by: Rob, Dec 24, 2007 12:35:42 PM

lol wasn’t this from an episode of the Simpsons. When homer began praying to get the things he wants and he prayed for a new type of food, then a bacon and a chocolate collided.

Posted by: matt, Dec 24, 2007 11:31:31 AM

Sure the world is not fat enough already let faten them up even more. On the other hand, we are quite over populated so this might be a good idea. GeeZ

Posted by: Kelven, Dec 24, 2007 08:13:00 AM

I’ve also had this bar and it’s amazing. I would recommend it to anyone.

Posted by: Tom the Zombie, Dec 24, 2007 08:09:48 AM

Anyone notice how all these comments have almost perfect grammar and all rave about how good bacon and chocolate is... Yeah thats not the all the same person writing those.

But in all honesty, the chocolate is ok. Could be better, only good for a kick.

Posted by: Me, Dec 24, 2007 01:09:36 AM

Thank God! I can finally have chocolate for breakfast with my eggs!

Posted by: FrangoVAM, Oct 08, 2007 12:40:32 PM

The bacon is actually fairly subdued, but the smoked bits do work very well with the light cocoa chocolate (41%). Anyhow, I applaud Vosges for bringing such delights together.

Posted by: Andy from Maryland, Oct 01, 2007 08:08:41 AM

I think that Katrina is a marketing genius, and this bar proves she knows how to generate a serious amount of buzz with something as simple as a controversial chocolate bar flavor.

Posted by: yael miller, Sep 29, 2007 07:11:30 PM

I just had it this past weekend and found it to fall on the ’Genius’ side of the debate!

Posted by: Travel Betty, Sep 29, 2007 09:11:53 AM

I’ve had this bar a couple times and I think it’s outstanding. Yes, eating it requires some suspension of your standard beliefs regarding food pairings. But come on! If a hershey’s bar is the missionary position, then the bacon bar is a threeway with some well-placed mirrors.

Posted by: Sausage Burrito, Sep 28, 2007 11:33:25 AM

I know the owner of Vosges and went to an event where she served actual strips of bacon sticking out of warm cups of chocolate syrup for dipping. It was excellent. I don’t think the flavor translated in to bar form as well as it worked in the above-described combo.

Posted by: Kathy, Sep 27, 2007 05:39:53 PM

I think this could actually be good. A lot of chocolatiers are making caramels with sea salts on top. I find this bacon chocolate bar to be the same concept.

Posted by: Michelle, Sep 27, 2007 12:45:00 PM

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