Shameless Self-promotion II + Chow’s Winter Gift Guide + Professional Gum Tasting

Thanks to those of you who took the time to nominate me for a Food Blog Award! I’m now in the running for Best Food Blog – New, and I’d greatly appreciate if y’all could take a second to go vote for me. I didn’t even realize I’d been nominated until I read Cybele’s Candy Blog, which is up for Best Food Blog – Theme. Hooray for candy getting respect as food! Voting ends at midnight on Friday, December 14th.

In other news, Chow.com has their annual winter gift guide up. Two worthy chocolate appearances. I’ll look for the Vosges set when I visit their store in Vegas over winter break. They also just posted a The Ten on holiday mail-order chocolates for last minute gifts. I’ve reviewed the Fran’s salted caramels (they got a ZOMG!), and I tried the Kaka’wa beans about a year ago (they’re made in my hometown) and found them good but overrated and severely overpriced.

And did you know that Cadbury has a Gum Center of Excellence? If the whole trying-to-be-a-psychologist thing doesn’t work out, I know where I’m looking for a job.