The quest to find the most delectable chocolate made in Connecticut is not a challenge that I take lightly, and though I fully intend to continue to sample other contenders, I'm going to go out on a limb and declare Bridgewater Chocolate the victor based on my experience to date. I'm not alone in drawing this conclusion: The Connecticut Specialty Foods Association named Bridgewater Chocolate "Best Confection" in 1999 and 2000 and most outstanding overall food product in Connecticut for 2000.
Bridgewater Chocolates are the result of years of confectionary experimentation by head chocolatier Erik Landegren, a chef trained in Sweden who came to the U.S. in 1986. He played an instrumental role in opening the Swedish restaurant Aquavit in Manhattan before turning his attention in 1995 to his hobby and passion: chocolates. From a small operation begun in the basement of the Bridgwater Village Store in Bridgewater, Connecticut, the chocolate company has expanded to sell via several mail order and retail outlets, as well as via its own direct sales at both the factory store at 559 Federal Road in Brookfield, Connecticut, and the Bridgewater Chocolate Store at 12 LaSalle Road in West Hartford, Connecticut.
When I tasted Bridgewater Toffee for the first time, the buttery, dissolve-in-your mouth toffee seemed to play second fiddle to the coating of outrageously delicious chocolate on the exterior. I was most impressed that the chocolate's sweetness level seemed to be absolutely perfect--not too sweet, not too bitter. The dark chocolate was good, but the milk chocolate was even better.
And, unlike some gourmet chocolates that are so tiny that you can't possibly eat just one, I found the size of each toffee square to be just large enough to be completely satisfying as a solo performer. But I will admit: I did eat two.
The only drawback to Bridgewater Chocolates (besides, of course, the calories) is the price. These labor-intensive, Connecticut-made treats are not inexpensive, which means they make an even more precious gift and are a treat to be savored on special occasions.
