Making Up With Modern Dwellers

Customer service goes a long way. After being upset about the state of the truffles sent to me from a friend of mine who lives in Alaska and got them from Modern Dwellers in Anchorage, a new box made it's way to me.

Modern Dwellers ~ Beat Up Truffles

Now, this isn't why I write about chocolate. I don't like having to give bad reviews or harsh reviews. I don't like having to be sent new chocolate to make up for something that may have gone wrong. I don't write about chocolate to get free stuff, though it is nice when it happens. And I don't write bad reviews to stir up unnecessary drama. The power of words can go a long way. You never know what kind of impact you can have on a business. Being completely honest and telling the whole truth is the only way to go.

Part of the reason I was so upset about the state of the truffles was because of all of my new friends in Alaska swear by Modern Dwellers. I wanted to know what their story was and what the hype was all about. I really wanted to visit their shop while I was in Alaska back in Jan., but I never got a chance to make it over there. A kind friend of mine sent me a box of their truffles. But with no padding in the box, the truffles were completely destroyed by the time it got to me. It was hard to see what all the fuss was about and that's what I wrote.

Another reason it was so upsetting to have to write something like that, is because they have some unique flavor profiles. For a tiny little shop in Anchorage, Alaska they are doing some pretty amazing things up there. They are also working on pairing beer with chocolate with their local brewery Midnight Sun Brewing Co. There is a lot to like about Modern Dwellers.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it wasn't easy for me to write a harsh review about them. I wanted to like them and it was a rocky introduction.

All of that can be laid to rest now and left in the past. A new box was delivered and they were delicious.

I took the box and camped out in a tiny corner at my favorite bar Green Street, in Cambridge on a packed Friday night. I made everyone at the bar jealous as I ate truffles, took pictures of them and drank Great Divide's Yeti Imperial Stout with them. I also had a lot of red wine with these truffles. I am a BeerAdvocate, but I am not going to front, red wine and chocolate is fantastic together!

Everything sitting up right, the toppings still in place on the truffles. Still a little dusty from the nut covered truffles, but so much nicer than before. The inside was stuffed with bubble wrap this time.

There was only one disappointment this time. My list of truffles indicated that the Anchovy Amour and the Salmon Surprise were in the box. Sadly they were not. I know they sound odd, but I am all about weird and unexpected combinations. The Anchovy Amour is made with bittersweet blueberry puree ganche, hand rolled in dark chocolate, and topped with a salty and dainty piece of dried anchovy on top. Sounds awesome! The Salmon Surprise is dark chocolate, honey and black pepper ganache and coated in a dark chocolate shell, topped with lustered Alaskan Smoked Salmon. Tell me that doesn't sound delicious.

So, a mild disappointment there because I got my hopes up when I saw the list, but found they weren't there. Oh well, it just means a visit to their shop next time I am in Anchorage.






Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spiced dark chocolate ganache dipped in white chocolate, dusted with pie spice.

This was much better fresh. I noticed this batch was a lot lighter on the pie spice and the white chocolate was more apparent than it was the first time I tried it. But still this was very nice. I liked this truffle the first time, and I liked it even more fresh. I just wish those pie spices were a tad more apparent.






Sweet White Delight

Creamy white chocolate and cherry ganache, dipped in white chocolate and topped with a dried tart cherry.

Not so much for me. It looked very pretty, and I thought this would be great, but it was too much white chocolate for me. The cherry ganache was too subtle and the white chocolate was too dominating. The cherry on top added a nice bit of tartness, but it didn't last long. Very pretty truffle, and great if you like white chocolate, but not a Candice truffle.




Buna Burst

Espresso and agave infused ganache. Hand rolled in dark chocolate. Rolled again in cocoa and cinnamon powder.

This was excellent! Soft espresso flavors, not bitter, but nice and roasted, light cinnamon, and unsweetened cocoa powders. Sot agave but you could tell it was present added a soft sweet and a little buttery taste. As soft as this truffle was, it was very complex at the same time. Loved it.






Indian Bop

Bittersweet East Indian curry ganache hand rolled dark chocolate and toasted coconut flakes.

Still one of my favorites. I liked this a lot the first time I had it, but it is worlds better fresh and with freshly toasted coconut flakes. Nice crunchy shell with super soft ganache in the center. I am not a big curry fan, but this worked out extremely well with the dark chocolate.





Purple Infusion

Dark chocolate lavender ganache covered in dark chocolate and topped with lavender petals.

This looks worlds better than the first time I tried it. The lavender on the first one looked like dried up grass or hay. This was topped with pretty purple petals and the petals helped add a nice pop of herbal flavor. The lavender ganache was very subtle. The rich, dark chocolate ended up dominating this truffle, but it was still pretty over all.










Cacao Wow

Dark 72% chocolate ganache encased in dark chocolate and topped with organic cocoa nibs.

I got two of these in my box. This is a straight forward truffle of rich dark chocolate. Sweet and rich, and nice roasted cocoa nibs on top. Simple and delicious.






Raspberry Grove

Bittersweet raspberry and maple ganache covered in dark chocolate and a luster coating.

This is much prettier than the first go around with this truffle. This is what I had hoped it would look like. Still has a bit of a dsty coating on it fromthe nut covered truffles in the box, but gorgeous purple luster. The raspberry popped but was not tart of overpowering. Soft raspberry taste, no maple taste, but nice rich dark chocolate.





The Berbere

Bittersweet ganache spiced with Ethiopian berbere dipped in dark chocolate and topped with a pinch of berbere.

I called this a mystery truffle in my notes until I bit into it. It didn't look anything like the first Berbere truffle I had. But the heat was there. The heat was a lot softer than the first go with this truffle, but still too much for my wuss mouth. If you like heat or spicy foods, this is a great truffle. It's a bit softer than a cayenne pepper or red chili heat, but paired with the rich chocolate it was tasty. I did love the lingering warmth despite the initial bigger heat kick and a sip of red wine with this truffle. It was fantastic.






Pistachio Passion

Lemon zest white ganache enrobed in dark chocolate shell topped with salted pistachio nuts.

This is a lovely truffle. I love the lemon zest ganache. It's bright but not too tangy and doesn't allow the dark chocolate to over power. I wish there were more salted pistachios on the top as the salt added the right contrast, but there was enough of it there to get the idea. Great truffle.







Dazed By Hazel

Rich milk chocolate and hazelnut ganache rolled in dark chocolate chunks of hazelnuts.

Milk chocolate was the right choice for this truffle. Soft hazelnut taste, but delicious. Crunchy texture, soft milk chocolate ganache. It tastes like Italian gianduja.






Margarita Zing

Bittersweet ganache of fresh lime zest and tequila covered in a dark chocolate shell and topped with Hawaiian pink sea salt.

This wasn't as lovely as the first time I tried it. It needed more pink salt, and the lime zest was more apparent this time. I liked the lime zest, but the dark chocolate overtook the subtleties of the tequila. I likes this, but I feel like it could have been a lot better.


And there you have it. What these truffles were meant to be like the first time. Very nice collection and very nice people at Modern Dwellers along with Shauna Pajak, who sent these along to make sure I had a fair shot with Modern Dwellers.

Comments

[The Kitchen Masochist]

Oh my, anchovy and smoked salmon with chocolate??? If I were there with you, I would have told you not to eat them! I've never tasted these sea creatures with chocolate before but just knowing what each tastes like separately is enough to give me an idea that I won't be liking such combinations. I thought I've heard them all in the chocolate world. Btw, let me know how your experience with Max Brenner goes. :)

[pegasuslegend]

Ok those hazelnut truffle have my name written all over them! Hand them over please lol love all of them but hazelnut is my favorite! I am craving chocolate now!