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2024
The most indulgent ways to spend Valentine's Day around Seattle
Seattle RefinedJanuary 2024It's classic for a reason. Who wouldn't love a bouquet of red roses and big box of chocolates? But this isn't any old flower + candy combo, no. We're going big. ...Pair flowers with a massive assortment from Seattle's own Fran's Chocolates. The Champagne Box contains 144 pieces of decadent truffles and caramels dipped in both dark and milk chocolates.
Read more at: seattlerefined.comAs UW Huskies head to national championship, Seattle businesses look to cash in
The Seattle TimesJanuary 2024For Husky fans, [the College Football Playoff National Championship Game] has been a long time coming...From chocolate gift boxes to Husky gear and flights, demand is high over this historic moment...Fran’s Chocolates CEO Andrina Bigelow said she expects sales of the company’s UW-themed gift boxes to increase “a lot” before, during and after the game, especially if the Huskies win against the University of Michigan’s Wolverines...Seattle-based Fran’s has sold the UW-themed boxes for 12 years...Fran Bigelow, who started the business, is a University of Washington alum. Andrina Bigelow is also involved with the university, sitting on the board at the Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship of the Foster School of Business. “We go way back and are very proud to have the University of Washington in our backyard,” Andrina Bigelow said.
Read more at: seattletimes.com
2023
The 13 best chocolates in 2023, tested and reviewed by a professional chocolatier
Business InsiderDecember 2023Best for caramel lovers: Fran's ChocolatesThe caramels from Fran's Chocolates possess everything a caramel lover seeks in the perfect bite: pull, chew, and just a touch of salt.
Read more at: businessinsider.comGift Guide: 10 delicious gift ideas for the Seattle foodie in your life
CuriocityNovember 2023Fran’s Chocolates are a classic Seattle sweet. From milk chocolate to dark chocolate, enrobed fruits to salted caramel, the local chocolatier has something for everyone making it a great gift for friends near and far.
Read more at: curiocity.comPassport to the Northwest: Learning how to make delicious treats with Fran's Chocolates
Fox13 SeattleOctober 2023Fox13's Carly Henderson got to learn how to make delicious treats with Fran's Chocolates.
Read more at: fox13seattle.comWhere to Satiate Your Sweet Tooth in Seattle
The StrangerJune 2023The melt-in-your-mouth smoked-salt caramels that Fran’s is known for are every bit as delicious as Barack Obama has claimed. The family-owned confectionery is nationally recognized and is named for the woman who’s owned and operated it since 1982, Fran Bigelow (she was inducted into the Specialty Food Association’s Hall of Fame in 2018). While you can order whatever your heart desires online, we suggest picking up your caramels, truffles, gold bars, or chocolate-covered fruits and nuts at any one of the four boutique shops.
Read more at: thestranger.comThe 11 best chocolates you can buy, according to a professional chocolatier
InsiderJune 2023Setting out to name the best caramel chocolate was no easy task, but I was up to the challenge. Fran's Chocolates caramels offer the "pull," deliberate chew, and strategic salting that a great caramel should possess.
Read more at: insider.comThe 9 Best Gourmet Chocolates to Buy Right Now
Robb ReportMay 2023Most boxes of chocolate are likely to include at least one or two caramel options. But for the true caramel lover, you can’t do much better than Fran’s. The company’s gray salt caramels (dipped in dark chocolate) and smoked salt caramels (wrapped in milk chocolate) are like a better Milky Way, as one of my colleagues put it (without the nougat, though). The caramel isn’t too sweet and it meshes beautifully with the delicate chocolate coating.
Read more at: robbreport.comSeattle Food Guide (A Local’s 33 Best Dishes & Experiences)
Travel LemmingApril 2023Fran Bigelow started Fran’s Chocolates in Seattle in 1982. Since then, the brand has grown and you can find its chocolates, caramels, and more all over the country. Former president Barack Obama even claimed that Fran’s made his favorite chocolate caramels.Because of this notoriety, it’s easy to find Fran’s Chocolates in specialty stores throughout Seattle. Visit the boutique locations in Georgetown, Downtown Seattle, and the University District. This way, you’ll get the widest selection of chocolate treats.Just make sure you try the bestselling salted caramel chocolate that the brand is so well known for.
Read more at: travellemming.comIna Garten's 14 Favorite Go-To Foods
TastingTableMarch 2023With nearly 100 dessert recipes, the Barefoot Contessa sure must have a sweet tooth. To quell her sugar pangs, Garten loves the Seattle-based artisan confection brand Fran's Chocolates. From bars and peanut butter cups to truffles and chocolate-covered fruit, each confection is handcrafted for a premium experience. Although their tasty treats are made for any occasion, Garten especially loves giving them as gifts.
Read more at: tastingtable.comThe Best Chocolates For Valentine’s Day To Spoil Your Someone Special
ForbesFebruary 2023[W]e found the 13 best chocolates for Valentine’s Day that’ll satisfy every sweet tooth, from lovely heart-shaped boxes to a breakable confection that’s full of surprises.If your Valentine is a fan of soft gooey caramel, this gift box by Fran’s Chocolates will deliver in its simplicity. The handmade selection includes six dark chocolate-dipped caramels finished with a pinch of gray sea salt and six milk chocolate caramels topped with sea salt smoked over Welsh oak. You’ll get a little sweet and salty in every single delicious bite...
Read more at: forbes.comThe 11 Best Ultra-Premium Chocolates to Buy Now, for Valentine’s Day and Beyond
Robb ReportFebruary 2023Most boxes of chocolate are likely to include at least one or two caramel options. But for the true caramel lover, you can’t do much better than Fran’s. ...The caramel isn’t too sweet and it meshes beautifully with the delicate chocolate coating.
Read more at: robbreport.comThe 27 Best Chocolate Gifts For Valentine's Day (Or Any Romantic Occasion)
EsquireJanuary 2023Best Caramel Chocolate: Fran's Chocolates Signature Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels
Read more at: esquire.com
2022
The Craft Chocolates Ina Garten Loves To Gift
The Daily MealDecember 2022Garten [recommends] gifting a Thanksgiving host with a box of caramels from Fran's Chocolates to be enjoyed after dinner. Garten explains that chocolates are better than a prepared dish or other food, as she doesn't want the host to feel pressured to include her offering on the dinner table. ...The Barefoot Contessa is known for her impeccable taste, so it's easy to see why she's so enamored with this gourmet chocolate. ...From classic varieties to the gray salt caramels, the chocolates are as beautiful as they are delicious. Bigelow also takes great care in selecting the perfect packaging for her exquisite offerings, which means minimal effort on your part when it comes to holiday gift-giving.
Read more at: thedailymeal.comS3 Episode 6: Fran Bigelow - Sweet Talkin’
Creativity In CaptivityJune 2022A master chocolatier who makes European-style chocolates and is recognized for igniting the artesian chocolate renaissance. Fran’s smoked salted caramels are reported to be a favorite of President Obama who frequently shared them with visitors to the White House. Fran’s passion for life underscores her appreciation of pure flavors paired with superb, fresh ingredients. Her joie d'vie and devotion to her art has been an inspiration for others. Her Gold Bars are considered the gold standard for sophisticated candy bars and are sold in specialty markets from coast to coast. She is the author of Pure Chocolate: Divine Desserts and Sweets from the Creator of Fran’s Chocolates and the owner of Fran’s Chocolates Ltd., located in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington.
Read more at: link.chtbl.comA Cool Recipe For Next Level S’mores
Forbes DiningMay 2022Fran's Dark Chocolate Sauce takes the classic s'mores to the Next Level.Seattle-based Fran’s Chocolates is probably best known for its truffles and its salted caramel chocolates — President Barak Obama’s a big fan. Yet, this famous chocolatier has a line of spectacular sauces that are well worth exploring. I first stumbled onto the Dark Chocolate Sauce when I was camping... I bought a jar and some early season strawberries and that combo was a winner. Later, I started thinking that I wanted to try bringing that sauce into the s’mores equation, smearing some on graham crackers... No shocker. That experiment was an instant hit, the rich chocolate playing off the melted marshmallow. Maybe it was a little bit messy, not that I minded licking my fingers in this case.
Read more at: forbes.comCelebrating 40 years of Fran's Chocolates
Puget Sound Business JournalApril 2022Seattle-based Fran's Chocolates is 40 years old.Founder and President Fran Bigelow opened the first store at 2800 E. Madison St. in May of 1982. “I knew everyone who walked through the door,” she said. And while she loved that high-touch start, the company has stretched to four stores — three in Seattle and one in Bellevue — as well as online and a phone order business.
Read more at: bizjournals.com7 of the best gourmet chocolate shops in Seattle
Daily HiveJanuary 2022Fran’s has everything from dessert sauces to pure bars, stuffed chocolates, and gift boxes. A visit to Paris inspired Fran to develop a European-like passion for pure flavors and simple, yet exquisite ingredients which have led to her delicious treats today.
Read more at: dailyhive.com
2021
Actress Hayley Law Shares 12 Unique Gift Picks You Probably Hadn't Thought of
InStyleDecember 2021From shopping small to problem-solving presents, the actress — whom you probably know from Riverdale and Mark, Mary, & Other People — is sharing her best ideas."I have been religiously buying chocolates from this company called Fran's. They're based in Seattle and ever since I discovered them, they are my GO-TO for any gifting occasion. Including a little gift for myself. The assorted box of truffles are heaven."
Read more at: instyle.comHave you tried all 26 of these iconic Seattle bites?
The Seattle PIDecember 2021For Fran's, the rumored home of Barack Obama's favorite confection (smoked salt caramels,) Fran Bigelow has dished out nationally recognized truffles encapsulating light ganache, chocolate-coated fruits and salted caramels since 1982.
Read more at: seattlepi.comThe 9 best places in Seattle for hot chocolate
The Seattle PIDecember 2021Fran's dark hot chocolate is anything but basic. The 8-ounce golden tin is full of bittersweet, 68% single-origin Dominican chocolate shavings. This vegan cocoa is also certified organic and fairtrade.
Read more at: seattlepi.comThe 8 best chocolates in 2021, according to a professional chocolatier
Business InsiderAugust 2021The caramels from Fran's Chocolates possess everything a caramel lover seeks in the perfect bite: pull, chew, and just a touch of salt... This Seattle-based candy producer features Fair Trade certified chocolate to complement, not overshadow, the caramel's delicate yet luxurious buttery flavor. The uniformity of each morsel and consistency in salting means that each bite will be just as perfect as the last. While you can find chocolate caramels in all sorts of variety boxes, Fran's Chocolates offers box options totally committed to caramels, revealing its devotion to the craft of caramel chocolates.
Read more at: businessinsider.comThe Best Chocolate in America
Food & WineApril 2021Maybe you're looking to trace the origins of new wave American chocolate, or perhaps you're merely hunting for some of the best chocolate in America; either search may well lead you to Fran Bigelow, who set up shop in the early 1980s, pioneering notions of fair trade and sustainability. President Obama's love of the smoked sea salt caramels is by now well-documented.
Read more at: foodandwine.comA gem only for now, made by a chocolate specialty store
Vogue JapanFebruary 2021This season of fascinating chocolates offers an overwhelming selection of choices. Get the Valentine's collection that the famous chocolatier will confidently bring out!
Read more at: vogue.co.jp
2020
Calling all chocoholics: Seattle's 15 best shops for holiday confections
Seattle P-IDecember 2020The rumored home of Barack Obama's favorite confection — smoked salt caramels — Fran Bigelow has dished out nationally-recognized truffles encapsulating light ganache, chocolate coated fruits and salted caramels since 1982.
Read more at: seattlepi.comThe Best Artisanal Chocolate Shops Around the World
DeparturesOctober 2020If you think making a pilgrimage to the Pacific Northwest for a box of chocolates is ludicrous, then you haven’t tasted Fran’s chocolate-covered salted caramels. Fran’s has been a luxury chocolatier in Seattle since 1982, and these chocolates are so sought-after that Fran’s now has four storefronts—in downtown, Bellevue, Georgetown, and University Village. While Fran’s is best known for their artful truffles and caramels, the chocolatier also makes bars, peanut butter cups, and even drinking chocolate.
Read more at: departures.comThinking Outside the (Heart-Shaped) Box
Alaska BeyondFebruary 2020Fran Bigelow shares creative ways of using chocolate for Valentine's Day celebrations.
Read more at: paradigmcg.com
2019
A brief history of hot chocolate, and where to find the best cup in Seattle
The Seattle Times, Pacific NW MagazineDecember 2019The Seattle Times shares a brief history of hot chocolate and features Fran's as a place to find pure drinking chocolate."...there still beats the fierce pulse of the mighty cacao, and the more adventurous sippers might consider trying something better, something made with bars of the real stuff melted down in a fiery forge (or on the stovetop)... Such chocolate can be found in your finer coffee bars, or in places where chocolate is poured into bars and balls and wrapped up with bows, like Fran’s Chocolates...with their single-origin sipping chocolate..."
Read more at: seattletimes.comGive the Gift of Chocolate
Q13 Fox NewsDecember 2019Ellen Tailor of Q13 Fox News visits Fran's Chocolates in Georgetown, Seattle to share her favorite holiday gift ideas and to see how Salted Caramels and Double Chocolate Figs are made.
Read more at: youtube.comAn Eco-Friendly And Ethical Holiday Gift Guide For The Home
Forbes Small BusinessDecember 2019Here’s a selection of bits and bobs for the home made by brands who are thinking outside the box, investing in more planet-friendly agriculture, supporting artisans, and working to improve their supply chains in the process. If you’re on the hunt for a small (or grand) gesture, these are companies that are committed to better business practices.For a hostess gift that’ll impress and please everyone’s palette, this elegant box of caramels from Seattle-based Fran’s features Fair Trade certified chocolate and smoked sea salt. It’s a crowd pleaser with an assortment of options available and made with organic ingredients.
Read more at: forbes.comFran Bigelow honored with "Bridge to Healing" award
Safe Crossings FoundationOctober 2019Fran Bigelow was honored at the annual Safe Crossings Foundation luncheon with a "Bridge to Healing" award for her 30 years of supporting children who have lost a parent or sibling."Fran Bigelow, founder of Fran’s Chocolates, is well known as an artisan, a chocolatier extraordinaire. But for grieving children needing support, she is a woman of great heart, a philanthropist."
Read more at: safecrossingsfoundation.orgThese World-Class Chocolates Will Make You a Hero This Valentine’s Day
Robb ReportFebruary 2019Seattle is filled with icons: the Space Needle, Amazon, Microsoft, Jimi Hendrix, and Ken Griffey Jr. Fran Bigelow deserves to be on the list. She started her fine chocolates company in the Emerald City back in 1982 and the company has since grown into one of the country’s great chocolatiers. Everything from Fran’s is exceptional, but what really sets the place apart is their sea salt caramels. At Valentine’s Day, Fran’s Truffle & Caramel Heart Boxes come stocked with an assortment of fine truffles from milk chocolate to raspberry to oolong tea–infused. The highlight of the set is the assortment of caramels, with gray salt sourced from the coast of Brittany, and sea salt smoked over Welsh oak.
Read more at: robbreport.com
2018
2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Foodies chosen by Ina Garten
People MagazineNovember 2018Ina Garten shares her favorite holiday gifts, Fran's Chocolates Duos: "These are my absolute favorite chocolates. I always order the duo of salted caramels and chocolate truffles."
Made in Washington: Fran's Chocolates. Certified fair trade chocolates in Georgetown
Seattle Business MagazineJune 2018Seattle seems awash in artisan chocolate, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can credit Fran Bigelow, who got the movement rolling in 1982. Today, Fran’s Chocolates remains a Seattle-based, family-owned purveyor of high-end chocolates to consumers who don’t mind paying extra for that “wow” moment when chocolate becomes an experience beyond the mere satisfying of a sweet-tooth craving.
Read more at: seattlebusinessmag.comSeattle Week: Fran's Chocolates offers guided tasting of exquisite confections
Living808May 2018Fran's Chocolates is featured as part of the Seattle Week celebration on Hawaii's Living808 Lifestyle TV show.When owner Fran Bigelow opened her first store, she specialized in a small line of five hand-dipped truffles. Today, however, she is known for her delicious salted caramels. The confection quickly gained a following, including the praise of a former president.
Read more at: khon2.comSee AlsoBest Selling Candy Bars Of All Time - Snack HistoryCheese Consumption by Country 2023Chocolate companies: market share worldwide 2016 | StatistaHalloween 2022: Most popular candy by stateThese Mother-Daughter Duos Are Food Industry Power Players
Refinery29May 2018These powerful mother-daughter duos all work in the food industry and span from actual restaurant-running teams to lady-led companies inspired by moms. We chatted with each of them in order to find out how these special relationships helped to shape their careers and love for food, what they've learned from one another, and how it's brought them together throughout the years.Andrina & Fran Bigelow, Fran’s Chocolates: In 2007, Andrina Bigelow left her post-MBA career to join her mother Fran's side at the chocolate company she started back in 1982. Today, the pair are still going strong, creating sweets side-by-side.
Read more at: refinery29.comFran Bigelow Inducted into the Specialty Food Association Hall of Fame
The Specialty Food AssociationMay 2018“The mission of Specialty Food Association Hall of Fame is to honor individuals who have achieved innovative success while making a positive impact within the industry... This year’s honorees are specialty food pioneers who have been integral to industry growth and exemplify the Vision of our Association, ‘To Shape the Future of Food.’”Fran Bigelow’s love of fine chocolate and celebration led her to found Fran’s Chocolates in 1982, in Seattle, WA. Thirty six years later, Fran’s has grown to include four Seattle-area boutiques and thriving mail order and wholesale lines. Fran’s commitment to preserving pure chocolate flavor is evident in each delicious confection, and she has been credited with sparking the artisan chocolate renaissance in the U.S.
Read more at: specialtyfood.comMom's Day Gifts That Please and Pamper
Catholic DigestMay 2018Fran's fair trade, organic Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels dipped in chocolate are little rectangles of heaven. They have the ideal texture for caramels — soft and smooth — and just the right amount of salt. A decadent, high-end treat that will make mom feel special.
Read more at: catholicdigest.comLast-minute treats for the Easter basket
Seattle TimesMarch 2018Fran’s Treasure Egg. Swap out the old hollow chocolate bunny for something considerably more luxe. Available only at Fran’s Seattle-area stores, this 64 percent dark-chocolate hollow egg has a textured exterior with hand-dusted gold accents. Inside, it’s filled with three dark-chocolate caramel chicks and three milk-chocolate caramel chicks.
Read more at: seattletimes.comThe Season for Chocolate Lovers
425 magazineFebruary 2018The doors to Fran’s Chocolates in Bellevue and Seattle are like the entrance to heaven. Bite-size chocolate truffles are delicately wrapped in paper foil, beckoning onlookers to have a taste. Fran Bigelow’s name has become synonymous with exceptional chocolate; it was a trip to Paris that inspired her affinity for “pure” and “simple” flavors. Bigelow opened her first patisserie and chocolate shop in 1982, and is credited for “sparking the artisan chocolate renaissance in the United States”...
Read more at: 425magazine.comThe 9 Best Chocolate Gifts for Any Occasion
EpicuriousFebruary 2018#1. The Best Chocolates for Caramel Lovers: Fran's ChocolatesFran's makes a lot of great giftable chocolates. But the thing I love most is this boxed duo of their signature Gray Salt and Smoked Salt Caramels. The smoked version is just barely smoky—enough to add complexity, but nowhere near overpowering—and enrobed in silky milk chocolate. The gray salt version is covered in lush dark chocolate. Both versions give way to a soft caramel that won't leave you chewing all day, but will leave you totally satisfied.
Read more at: epicurious.com2018 Good Food Award Winners: Fran's Dark Chocolate Sauce and Caramel Sauce
Good Food AwardsJanuary 2018Fran's Chocolates wins a 2018 Good Food Award in the Confections category for our Dark Chocolate Sauce and Caramel Sauce.Fran's Dessert Sauces are certified Fairtrade and Organic.
Read more at: goodfoodawards.orgFran's Chocolates in an urushi lacquered box
Origami MagazineJanuary 2018Fran's Chocolates has teamed with Heiando to create an exquisite gift: an assortment of dark and milk chocolate truffles and caramels in a beautiful urushi hand-lacquered box from the company that has been serving Japan's Imperial Household since 1919.
Where to Find Seattle’s Best Dessert Spots
Culture TripJanuary 2018One of the most highly regarded chocolatiers in the nation, Fran Bigelow opened her first chocolate shop in 1982, and she has been “credited for sparking the artisan chocolate renaissance in the United States.” Famously known as Obama’s favorite chocolate shop, Fran’s Chocolates offers everything from truffles to chocolate-covered fruit and nuts to hot chocolate, all hand packaged to look as astonishing as it tastes.
Read more at: theculturetrip.com
2017
25 Chocolate Bars Perfect for Gifting: Fran's Crunch Bars with Roasted Nibs
Martha Stewart LivingDecember 2017Roasted cacao nibs can sometimes be a distraction in a chocolate bar. Not so in this version from Seattle maker Fran's -- here, you taste the rich dark chocolate first, then get to enjoy a crunch at the end of every bite.
Read more at: marthastewart.comBehind the Scenes Eats - How to Make Fran's Chocolates Favorites
AllrecipesNovember 2017In Seattle, there’s one place locals go to enjoy pure hand-crafted chocolate truffles, legendary salted caramels and classic gold bars, and that’s Fran’s Chocolates. Join us at the Georgetown factory as businesswoman and founder Fran Bigelow expresses her philosophy of chocolate and walks through the extraordinary process of creating three of her singular seasonal creations: chocolate-dipped Sierra figs, chocolate-dipped pumpkin seeds inside a pumpkin shell, and her elegant Thanksgiving centerpiece, the gold-accented chocolate turkey.
Read more at: youtube.com2017 Northwest Chocolate Festival Award Winner: Fran's Park Bar
The Northwest Chocolate FestivalNovember 2017Fran's Chocolates wins the 2017 Northwest Chocolate Festival Award in the Confections category for our Park Bars.
Read more at: nwchocolate.comTake These Home: Fran's Dessert Sauces
Martha Stewart Living, October 2017October 2017This year, the beloved Fran's Chocolates - famed for its salted caramels - is relaunching its line of decadent sauces, which are now certified organic and fair-trade.
Why Fran's Chocolates Hosts Ikebana Classes
Five Senses FoundationSeptember 2017Five Senses Foundation founder, Akemi Sagawa, on hosting Ikebana classes at Fran's Chocolates:"The Georgetown store of Fran’s Chocolates is housed in an old brick and mortar building which used to be a brewery. Anybody who visits the space falls in love with its serene and tranquil atmosphere... If you are interested in Ikebana, come join us at Fran’s Chocolates in Georgetown. Please visit iloveikebana.com/schedule to check out the next class."
Read more at: fivesensesfoundation.org15 Restaurants Ina Garten Secretly Loves
DelishJune 2017[Fran's Chocolates] is a must-visit spot for Ina when she visits Seattle. If you go, opt for the assorted truffles... They come filled with espresso, oolong tea, single malt whiskey, and various fruits and nuts.
Read more at: delish.comLooking For The Best Artisanal Chocolate Makers In America
UproxxJune 2017There’s a reason that this Seattle chocolate shop is a personal favorite of President Obama. The family owned business has been hand crafting mouth-watering truffles, salted caramels, and chocolate covered nuts for over 30 years. Obama’s go-to order is their milk chocolate, salted caramels. Apparently, he loves them so much that [he] refuses to share, and the chocolatier makes a special box just for the secret service when the president comes to town. Fran’s also has a commitment to sourcing fairtrade ingredients and is certified with Fairtrade America for their ethical sourcing practices.
Read more at: uproxx.com2017 sofiTM Award Winner: Fran's Almond Gold Bar
Specialty Food AssociationApril 2017Fran's Chocolates wins the 2017 New Product sofiTM Award in the Chocolate Candy category for our Almond Gold Bars.
Read more at: specialtyfood.comFairtrade organic certified Almond Gold Bar among best of America’s food movement
Fairtrade AmericaMarch 2017Fran's Chocolates receives prestigious Good Food Award.“We’re proud of this achievement and are honored to be a part of the Good Food Awards community,” said Fran Bigelow, Founder and President of Fran’s Chocolates. “The Almond Gold Bar is one of our classic recipes; its reformulation was an exciting opportunity to innovate and to strengthen our commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and high-quality, organic, and Fairtrade ingredients.”
Read more at: fairtradeamerica.orgValentine's Day Travel Ideas in the Most Romantic Cities
TripAdvisorFebruary 2017Don’t skip town without stopping at Fran’s Chocolates for a Gold Bar and a box of their bestselling caramels. One reviewer writes, "This is one of those places that every chocoholic has to make a pilgrimage to."
Read more at: tripadvisor.com2017 Good Food Award: Almond Gold Bar
Good Food AwardsJanuary 2017Fran's Chocolates wins a 2017 Good Food Award in the Confections category for our Almond Gold Bar.Fran's Almond Gold Bars are certified Fairtrade and Organic.
Read more at: goodfoodawards.org
2016
Pioneer of American luxury chocolate
Forza StyleDecember 2016Japanese web magazine, Forza Style, interviews Fran's Chocolates founder, Fran Bigelow.
Read more at: forzastyle.comThe Wish List: Sweets & Sparkles
Alaska Airlines MagazineNovember 2016Fran's Chocolates are gifts anyone will be happy to unwrap, from delectable Smoked Salt Caramels to melt-in-your-cup dark hot chocolate.
Read more at: paradigmcg.comTop 10 Holiday Gifts
PCC TasteNovember 2016Fran's Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels: These world-famous caramels need no introduction. Locally made, they're sweet, salty and creamy -- the perfect trifecta.
Read more at: pccnaturalmarkets.comSeattle's Influential Hall of Fame
Seattle MagazineNovember 2016Fran Bigelow, founder of Fran's ChocolatesVisionary leader of the U.S. artisan chocolate renaissance, whose commitment to the finest ingredients and exquisite packaging make her chocolates as de riguer a Seattle souvenir as salmon.
Read more at: seattlemag.comFran Bigelow inducted into the Port Wine Brotherhood
Confraria do Vinho Do PortoOctober 2016Mrs. Fran Bigelow has gained national fame and recognition as a master chocolatier pursuing and achieving excellence in everything she does. Over the last few years, she has developed a Port Program for her retail stores which pairs her exquisite confections with the Kopke and Rocha ports, demonstrating how amazing products can become even better when associated judiciously. In her quest for perfection, she does not allow any compromise for those pairings: both the chocolate and the port have to be reciprocally sublimated in order to provide an incredible feast for the senses and an extraordinarily satisfying experience for the consumer. Her enthusiasm and rigorous approach for those pairings have exposed many new consumers to the world of quality ports and convinced them of their deliciousness.
Chocolate taste testing as a job!
King 5 Evening MagazineOctober 2016Ever wanted to eat as much chocolate as you wanted day in and day out? That's Fran Bigelow's job... Taste Testing chocolate.
Read more at: king5.comState of Chocolate: Northwest artisans keep raising the bar on confectionary delight
AAA Journey Magazine, Nov/Dec 2016October 2016[Fran] Bigelow is widely considered to be the queen of Seattle's chocolatiers. Her first loyal customers included travelers and others familiar with the finest chocolates of Europe, and with their support, she was able to raise the bar on the quality of local chocolate, eventually influencing palates beyond the Northwest. To taste her truffles, caramels and other treats is to discover the distinct natural flavor notes of chocolate.
Mott Green Sustainability Award
The Northwest Chocolate FestivalOctober 2016Fran Bigelow receives the Mott Green Sustainability Award from the Northwest Chocolate Festival
13 Amazingly Delicious Fancy Chocolates To Try
BuzzFeedMarch 2016Fran's Double Chocolate Figs"These dried figs are stuffed with solid chocolate [ganache] and then dipped in MORE chocolate. So it's really not a fig, it's a delicious truffle. They're so insanely good I want them as my wedding cake."
Read more at: buzzfeed.comValentine's Day Celebrations and Gift Guide
Steve HarveyFebruary 2016Fran's Chocolates is featured as part of the Valentine's Day celebration on Steve Harvey.Steve also recommends Fran's Chocolates as a perfect gift idea in his Valentine's Day Gift Guide: "Fran's Signature Confection: Chocolate Covered Caramels with Sea Salt. Fran's is made of natural ingredients with seductive textures and complex flavors."
Read more at: steveharveytv.comThe Best Valentine's Day Chocolates. According to Me.
EpicuriousJanuary 2016Fresh + Charming: Fran's ChocolatesThe collection of chocolates and trademark gray sea salt caramels from this beloved Seattle chocolatier stick to tried-and-true, classic flavors like whiskey, caramel, and raspberry, but the freshness of every piece makes you appreciate them anew. And the velvety, pink, heart-shaped box manages that impossible thing: it's a cliche that still manages to be charming. Just like Valentine's Day itself.
Read more at: epicurious.comWhy Does Seattle Have Such A Large Local Chocolate Industry?
KUOW.org 94.9 FM | Seattle News & InformationJanuary 2016Read or listen to KUOW's report on why Seattle has become a world-reknowned chocolate center."Fran’s Chocolates was one of Seattle’s early chocolate pioneers [and] Fran Bigelow, the woman behind the confections, was a key innovator with her sea salted caramels."
Read more at: kuow.orgBehind the scenes in Fran's new chocolate palace
Puget Sound Business JournalJanuary 2016Fran Bigelow and her grown children have assembled a chocolate box of four retail stores in the Seattle area, robust wholesale and mail order sales, and an international reputation. Fans include President Obama.
Read more at: bizjournals.com
2015
7 Cookbooks for Serious Chocolate Lovers
Paste MagazineDecember 2015Pure Chocolate: Divine Desserts and Sweets from the Creator of Fran’s Chocolates by Fran Bigelow.Mention Fran’s Chocolates, and maybe the first image that pops into your mind is Gray Salt Caramels. The Seattle confectioner shares recipes inspired by customer favorites in this book, and while there’s a solid section of truffles and other chocolate confections, there are cookies, tortes, and mousses aplenty, too. It’s worth having just for the instructions to Fran’s unusual ganache-making method, which is failsafe and easy.
Read more at: pastemagazine.comMike Nichols’s Life and Career: The Definitive Oral History
Vanity Fair October 2015Nick Pileggi remembering Mike Nichols:"Mike was always calling [Pileggi’s wife, Nora Ephron] with recipes, and she was always calling Mike with recipes. Then Mike would send over a box of some brand-new ice cream he found in the Midwest. Then Nora would send him the first batch of Fran’s Chocolates with salt on them. They were bombarding each other with food."
Read more at: vanityfair.comWhat to Do in Seattle: Tips From the City’s Wine Guru, Charles Smith
T: The New York Times Style MagazineJuly 2015Washington State’s fourth-largest wine producer, Charles Smith, recommends his favorite places in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood."The president of Fran’s Chocolates set up her production and showroom here in Georgetown, in the old Rainier Malting Company, which was part of Rainier Brewery. You can go there and look through the window where they’re making truffles. You walk in the door and they offer you a beautiful piece of chocolate. How cool is that?"
Read more at: tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.comChocolate Royalty: Fran Bigelow's Seattle
WHERE Magazine | SeattleMay 2015Founder Fran Bigelow shares some of her favorite memories and places in Seattle.
Read more at: wheretraveler.comCooking with Nick Stellino: The Ultimate Bread Pudding
PBS - Create TVApril 2015Chef Nick Stellino visits with founder Fran Bigelow to taste the pure flavors of our Baking Bars before making his Bread Pudding with Two Chocolates recipe. Watch the video, then recreate Chef Stellino's Bread Pudding with Two Chocolates recipe at home.
Food Factory: Gold Bars
Food Network Canada & FYIMarch 2015Featuring Fran's Chocolates Coconut Gold Bars and how they are made:"Shredded coconut, toasted almonds, and rum, this Caribbean-inspired candy bar takes a trip through a chocolate waterfall."
Read more at: foodnetwork.caFran's Chocolates featured on the TODAY Show
TODAY ShowFebruary 2015Join Sheinelle Jones, weekend anchor of the TODAY show, as she tours the Fran's Chocolates factory with founder Fran Bigelow in preparation for Valentine's Day.Watch the video
2014
2014 Holiday Gift Guide
People MagazineNovember 2014Bobby Flay, the executive chef and owner of New York City's Gato restaurant, shares his gourmet faves, Fran's Chocolates Coconut Gold Bars:"These are the best gourmet candy bars ever. Hands down. No competition."
Seriously?!? I want that job: Chocolate Taster
King 5 Evening MagazineOctober 2014Ever wanted to eat as much chocolate as you want day in and day out? That's Fran Bigelow's job."I taste chocolate every day. And I never get tired of it, I've been doing it now for 37 years. It just makes me happy."
Read more at: king5.comFran's Chocolates relocates to tasty new Georgetown digs
The Seattle TimesSeptember 2014Under the 20-foot ceilings, there is a sleek retail area, a long, wooden tasting table and — up a center staircase made of cast iron — their offices.Tucked in back is a viewing room where customers can watch caramel being cooked, bathed in chocolate and sprinkled with gray sea salt.
Read more at: seattletimes.comFran's Chocolates moves into historic Georgetown brewery building
Puget Sound Business JournalSeptember 2014Fran’s Chocolates has moved its family-owed fine chocolate business headquarters from Seattle’s Capitol Hill to a landmark building in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.
Read more at: bizjournals.com2014 sofiTM Award Winner: Fran's Gray Salt Caramel
Specialty Food AssociationMay 2014Fran's Chocolates wins the 2014 sofiTM Award in the Outstanding Classic category for our Gray Salt Caramels.
Read more at: specialtyfood.comBits & Bites
The Wall Street JournalApril 2014Though the foil-wrapped eggs from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle, Wash., may resemble typical Easter-basket fodder, they are something far more sophisticated: quality, hand-crafted chocolate shells filled with largely organic ingredients. The sole milk chocolate variety has a toasty praline center, while smooth dark chocolate surrounds fillings like creamy coconut, salty peanut butter, molten caramel and velvety chocolate ganache. We suggest you snag enough of these seasonal confections to last long after the bunny retreats to his warren.
Read more at: online.wsj.comFine Dining Chef is a Sweet Addition to Fran's Chocolates
The Seattle TimesFebruary 2014The queen of flavor and the king of savor, Fran Bigelow and Scott Carsberg, are preparing inventive treats for Valentine's and beyond together at the Fran's Chocolate factory on Capitol Hill, a family-run business also led by Fran's daughter Andrina Bigelow and son Dylan Bigelow. Carsberg, one of Seattle's most respected and formidable fine-dining chefs, joined on to help oversee the kitchen and develop new products at Fran's, one of the pioneers of fine chocolates in the U.S. (The salt caramels preferred at The White House? They're hers.)
Read more at: blogs.seattletimes.com36 Reasons Seattle Wins At Life
The Huffington PostFebruary 2014Obama likes his chocolate Seattle-fied. Reportedly, our nation's commander-in-chief feeds his visitors the milk chocolate and smoked salt caramels from Fran's Chocolates. Michelle prefers the gray salt ones.
Read more at: huffingtonpost.comWafu Sohonke
TV OsakaFebruary 2014A focus on craftsmen traditions includes a feature on creating Chabako boxes and their history in Japan. See how artisan chocolatier Fran's Chocolates in Seattle, Washington, incorporates these special boxes into their line of confections.
Special Chocolates for Valentine's Day
Consumer ReportsFebruary 2014Fran's Chocolates 36pc Assorted Truffles collection is selected as a Consumer Reports Best Buy:"Ultrasmooth milk and dark pieces. Great for truffle lovers."
Unique Sweets: Seattle Sweets
Cooking ChannelJanuary 2014We visit three hot spots of Seattle's food scene beginning with Fran's Chocolates, which pioneered European-style handmade confections when it opened in 1982 and is now a beloved Seattle institution.Fran's items featured: Double Chocolate Figs, Gold Bars, Salted Caramels, Orange Confit, and Tas de Noix.
Read more at: cookingchanneltv.com
2013
Best Chocolate in the U.S.
Food & WineAugust 2013For more than 30 years, Seattle-based owner Fran Bigelow has been setting candy trends—she was selling miniature chocolate bars and elegant truffles before they became ubiquitous. Her sweets also have a very high-profile admirer: As a lover of salty-sweet desserts, one of President Obama’s favorite indulgences is Fran’s Smoked Salt Caramels—buttery caramels coated in milk chocolate and sprinkled with smoked sea salt.
Read more at: foodandwine.comFood Factory: Not Tonight Josephine
Food NetworkJune 2013Featuring Fran's Smoked Salt Caramels and how they are made:"Bold sea salt enhances the sinfully sweet flavor of irresistible caramel to produce a presidential bonbon."
Read more at: foodnetwork.caBest Chocolate Shops
Seattle MagazineFebruary 2013Fran's Chocolates flagship store in the Four Seasons Hotel, just south of Pike Place Market, is Seattle's classiest chocolate spot, an elegant, cream-colored reflection of the time Bigelow spent chasing chocolate in Paris.
Read more at: seattlemag.com
2012
Sweet visit to Fran’s Chocolates, and a look at the ‘Seattle look’
Seattle TimesOctober 2012[W]hen Fran Bigelow invites you over to see how her caramels come together? Gimme a hairnet and step aside. Bigelow, whose salted caramels are the First Candy (President Obama has them shipped to the White House in special three- and seven-piece boxes bearing the presidential seal), is celebrating 30 years of chocolate making, for which she received a commendation from the city of Seattle, and a lifetime achievement award from the Northwest Chocolate Festival this past weekend.
Read more at: seattletimes.comA patriotic gala and a well-placed Fran’s fan
The Seattle TimesSeptember 2012You must be doing something right when your signature sweet is President Obama’s favorite. But when Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten calls your caramels her “guilty food pleasure”? Nicely done, Fran Bigelow of Fran’s Chocolates.
Read more at: seattletimes.comFran's Chocolates
Whole Story: The Official Whole Foods Market BlogMay 2012Fran’s Chocolates isn’t just a classic local product. It’s a local – and national – treasure, too.
Read more at: wholefoodsmarket.comWhat To Do In Seattle This Spring
Forbes Travel GuideMarch 2012After your visit [to the Seattle Art Museum], stop across the street at Fran’s Chocolates, located inside the...Four Seasons Hotel Seattle—the smoked salt caramels are a local favorite.
Read more at: forbes.comBest Hot Chocolate in the U.S.
Food & WineFebruary 2012For more than 30 years, owner Fran Bigelow has been setting candy trends—she was selling miniature chocolate bars and designer truffles before they became ubiquitous. At her flagship chocolate shop in downtown Seattle, Bigelow combines steamed organic milk with dark Felchin chocolate shavings to make her signature dark hot chocolate.
Read more at: foodandwine.com
2011
The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Seasons Eatings
Food NetworkDecember 2011On Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Bobby Flay's favorite confection of the season is the creamy Coconut Gold Bar at Fran's Chocolates in Seattle, WA.
Read more at: foodnetwork.comBobby's Favorite Coconut Candy
Food NetworkDecember 2011It's just not the holidays until Bobby gets his coconut gold bars from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle. Known the world over for her extravagant chocolate confections, Fran hand-makes these gold-wrapped bars of creamy coconut and white chocolate. As Bobby says, they’re dangerously addictive.
Read more at: foodnetwork.comModern Marvels: More Candy
The History Channel H2December 2011Featuring Fran's Gray Salt Caramels with an in-depth look at how they are made.
Thanksgiving With Ina
Good HousekeepingNovember 2011If you (Ina Garten) were invited to someone else's house for the holidays, what would you bring, and why?...You know what I love to bring? Fran's Salted Caramels; they go with any meal.
Holiday Gift Guide: Conquer your shopping list with 300+ original ideas
Time Out New YorkNovember 2011Find wallet-friendly stocking stuffers, secret Santa goodies and giftable trinkets: Fran's Dark Chocolate Sauce.
Best of 2011
Seattle Bride MagazineOctober 2011We are so lucky to have two amazing locally based companies that produce some of the most incredible confections: Fran's Chocolates...
2010
Great Ideas: Genevieve Gorder's Party Essentials
People MagazineDecember 2010Haute Chocolate: Offer your guests these salt-topped chocolate caramels and 'you will not only be the star of the evening, you will also be held prisoner until you tell everyone where you got them'.
Food We Love: Fig Heaven
Seattle MagazineOctober 2010The double chocolate figs at Fran's are sweet dreams. On a whim, I stopped into the Fran's Chocolates Bellevue... under a glass dome-beside neat rows of the single-malt-whiskey dark chocolate truffles, the milk chocolate caramel truffles and President Obama's beloved smoked salt caramels-were four lovely double chocolate figs, pretty as a still-life painting. Their tiny, twisting stems providing dainty handles, the Calimyrna figs had been dipped in deep, dark chocolate up to their shoulders. I took one home, cut a deep slice with a sharp knife and found its insides filled with smooth chocolate ganache. Stunning. Still, next time I'll be better prepared: A sip of port would tip the scales all the way to heavenly.
Sweeter Treats: Because a pillowcase full of Milky Ways is a snooze
Wall Street JournalOctober 2010Fran's Chocolate GoldBites: Seattle chocolatier Fran Bigelow became famous for making salted caramel a culinary trend. Strictly for the neighborhood kids you adore.
Inner Circle: A roundup of smart talk, hot trends & favorite finds
Family CircleSeptember 2010A little salt with my sugar, please. 'Magic crystals: the oh-so-sublime salted caramels from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle. Yes, they ship'.
Best of 425: Best Candy
425 MagazineJuly 2010Take care of your sweet tooth with truffles, bars, gift sets and more at Fran's Chocolates. And don't miss the gray & smoked salt caramels. They are to-die-for delicious.
President Obama's sweet tooth boosts export of salt from Wales
The Times, United KingdomApril 2010Salt from Wales used to make President Obama's favorite caramel has helped to boost British food export figures for the fifth consecutive year. The President's passion for Smoked Salt Caramels produced by the artisan confectioner Fran's Chocolates of Seattle... ...only the Oak Smoked Salt produced by the Anglesey Sea Salt Company, taken from the sea around the North Wales Island and then smoked on Welsh oak, provides the mellow taste needed for the caramel.
The Tastemakers: Culinary Artisans
Martha Stewart LivingApril 2010Culinary artisans who are putting a modern spin on traditional methods and turning out extraordinary food across America: 'Why we love these caramels: Sea salt enhances the sweet, buttery flavors of the caramel and chocolate, and the packaging is equally alluring. No detail is overlooked'.
Tastemaker: Ina Garten
Town & CountryJanuary 2010Garten's candy of choice, dark-chocolate-covered caramels with sea salt from Fran's Chocolates.
2009
Inside the Obama White House: Brian Williams Reports, Part One
NBCJune 2009"These [boxes] are Fran's Chocolates from Seattle, the President's favorite from the campaign trail."
The Salty-Sweet Smell of Success: A Completely Delicious Family Business
Edible SeattleMay 2009Another reason their chocolates are so special could be the exceptional care with which they are made. The caramel is cooked in small batches, then each candy is put in a little paper cup, packaged, and dressed up with ribbons by hand.
Profile: Fran Flare
Seattle MagazineApril 2009Seattle chocolatier Fran Bigelow celebrates a new store and her connection to president Obama.On having Barack Obama as a fan: “It’s really fun…really a surprise…[it] energizes everyone else who comes in.”Why her custom boxes have hand-tied satin ribbons: “They should look as good as they taste.”Favorite chocolate accompaniment: Port.On whether she ever gets sick of chocolate: “No, it’s just gotten better and better.”
Read more at: seattlemag.comCooking with Heart
Cooking LightFebruary 2009Purchase the Chocolate Sauce... and five percent of proceeds go to Neighborhood House, a nonprofit organization helping immigrants, refugees, and low-income people overcome economic, educational, and employment challenges.
Never Skip Dessert: The Sweet Temptations of Fran's Chocolates
Victoria MagazineFebruary 2009It is a rare gift to meet someone who truly loves their work. But when it is a family business centered around the creation of world-class chocolates and handcrafted confections, the experience is even sweeter.
Mariska Hargitay's Must-Haves
Ladies' Home JournalJanuary 2009Their caramels have smoked sea salt on them - how crazy is that? I eat at least five at a time and don't feel guilty.
Obama's Favorite Things, Smoked Salt Caramels
CBS Early ShowJanuary 2009How to Live Like... Michelle Obama
OK! MagazineJanuary 2009She indulges her sweet tooth with Fran's Gray Salt Caramels in dark chocolate.
Fran's Fan-In-Chief
The Seattle TimesJanuary 2009Seattle-based Fran's Chocolates can't make enough salted caramels now that word is out that the incoming president loves them.
Obama's Favorite Candy Found in Seattle
Evening MagazineJanuary 2009While all eyes are on D.C. for the inauguration, the President Elect's stomach is looking to Seattle. We go inside the local candy store the Obama family craves.
2008
How Caramel Developed a Taste for Salt
The New York TimesDecember 2008Although Fran's salted caramels were quite popular before word got out about the president-elect's preference, they are now the company's best sellers.
Read more at: nytimes.comHoliday Gift Guide, Offerings with Good Taste, Under $25
USA TodayDecember 2008These caramels have 'the perfect texture,' says Carey. The small bites are 'perfectly balanced with the salty and the sweet. The combination is really popular, and they are really well made.'
Obama family favorites likely to get brand boost
USA TodayNovember 2008For sweets, the Obama's eat Fran's Chocolates, an artisan chocolate brand from Seattle. The president-elect prefers Fran's Smoked Sea Salt Caramel in Milk Chocolate...wife Michelle prefers dark chocolate.
What's Barack Obama's Favorite Sweet!?
Entertainment Tonight OnlineNovember 2008The Obama's treat of choice -- Fran's Chocolates! Mmm-mmm good!
Outstanding Fine Chocolatier - North America
Fine Chocolate IndustryNovember 2008Fran Bigelow is recognized as Outstanding Fine Chocolatier of North America.
15 Women Who Make a Difference
Puget Sound Business JournalNovember 2008Fran Bigelow is honored as a 2008 Woman of Influence.
How the Obamas fell for Seattle’s Fran’s Chocolates
Seattle PIJuly 2008It was first revealed in a New York Times article in May: Barack Obama loves Seattle-based Fran’s Chocolates. And so, apparently, does his wife. At a fundraiser in Seattle Thursday, Michelle Obama told the crowd that while her husband melts for their smoked salt caramels in milk chocolate, she prefers the dark chocolate variety.
Read more at: blog.seattlepi.comOn the Court and on the Trail, One Aide Looms over Obama
The New York TimesMay 2008As Senator Barack Obama's body man, Reggie Love makes sure the candidate has plenty of the things he likes. Here is a partial list, provided by Mr. Love: roasted almonds, pistachios, water and handmade milk chocolates from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle.
Obama Loves Fran's
Nancy Leson, Seattle TimesMay 2008Barack Obama’s personal aide, Reggie Love, showed some love for Seattle in a profile in today’s New York Times by noting that when it comes to must-have munchies, Obama’s a big fan of Fran’s Chocolates.
Read more at: seattletimes.comPass the Chocolate
Jeopardy, NBCMarch 2008Jeopardy's $800 question featured Fran's Gray Salt Caramels:"Fran's Chocolates of Seattle makes delectable caramels topped with the gray sea type of this"
Treats Online
Forbes Small BusinessFebruary 2008Fran Bigelow traveled around Europe taste-testing chocolate before developing her own cocoa. Fran's recipe, a blend of Venezuelan dark chocolate and cocoa butter, won a gold medal at the 2007 Fancy Food Show in New York City.
Mail-Order Truffles "Highly Recommended"
Cook's Illustrated.comFebruary 2008A single chocolatier, Fran's, offered a flawless package. The box was elegant and classy. Our tasters loved the chocolates, describing them as 'complex,' 'rich,' 'luscious but not too sweet,' and 'intense.' This is an impressive gift.
Sweets for the Suites: Four Seasons to include Fran's Chocolates
The Seattle TimesFebruary 2008Four Seasons hotel and Private Residences Seattle have chosen local culinary icon Fran's Chocolates for the retail space. Fran's is all about quality, personalized service and luxury, like the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences will be.
Seattle's chocolate is golden these days
Seattle PIFebruary 2008Chocolatier magazine once credited Fran Bigelow as being the person who "singlehandedly stirred up an American chocolate revolution" with the handmade, small-batch creations she began making in Seattle in 1982. Bigelow has not rested on her laurels. Though her Gold Bar may still be the quintessential upscale candy bar, Fran's has added 21st-century creations such as salt caramels that Gourmet magazine said have "spoiled us for life" and a drinking chocolate that won nationwide gold. Bigelow is still involved in daily operations but her daughter, Andrina, has taken over as CEO and her son, Dylan, is now production manager.
Read more at: seattlepi.com
2007
Christopher Kimball's Mostly Practical 2007 Holiday Gift List
Cook's Illustrated.comDecember 2007These wonderful salted caramels from Fran's Chocolates were the hit of the Kimball Christmas season last year. Salt and caramel are a phenomenal combination.
Cookies to Go
House and Garden MagazineDecember 2007For busy people with lofty standards... Mint Cookie Fixation from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle delivers crisp chocolate shortbread covered in dark chocolate, with a peppermint finish.
Big Bite, Best (Hot Chocolate) with Milk
Rachael Ray MagazineDecember 2007Of the 24 hot chocolates we sampled that call for milk, Fran's 'tastes the most like melted chocolate,' according to the judges. 'It's nearly as rich as ganache one taster gushed, suggesting that we pour it over a slice of cake.'
Everyone Else
BluePrint MagazineNovember 2007The happiest marriage of salty and sweet since Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - and more sophisticated, to boot.
Unwrapped: Sweet and Salty
Food NetworkSeptember 2007Have a craving for something sweet and a little salty? Join host Marc Summers as he discovers treats with the best of both worlds.
Read more at: foodnetwork.com2007 sofiTM Award Winner: Fran's Dark Hot Chocolate
Specialty Food AssociationSeptember 2007Fran's Chocolates wins the 2007 sofiTM Award in the Outstanding Hot Beverage category for our Dark Hot Chocolate.
Read more at: specialtyfood.com2007 sofiTM Finalist: Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Diamonds
Specialty Food AssociationSeptember 2007Fran's Chocolates is a 2007 sofiTM Award Silver Finalist in the Outstanding Chocolate category for our Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Diamonds.
Read more at: specialtyfood.comCan you suggest some sweet treats to give as a gift?
In Style MagazineMay 2007Chocolate is always good, but be inventive: Calista Flockhart gave Harrison Ford chocolate-covered caramels with sea salt from Fran's Chocolates.
Chocolates for your sweet: Dandy Candy
Consumer ReportsFebruary 2007Our tasters identified eight of the most delectable gift-boxed confections you'll find. For traditionalists: Fran's Assorted Truffles Collection.
2006
How to Ensure a Sincere Thank You
The New York TimesDecember 2006For the sake of science, I opened the box, sniffed the caramels and then bit into one. It tasted unimaginably delicious in a way that was totally unexpected - a salty, deeply browned sugar way - and I was naturally prompted to eat a second piece. Just to confirm my first impression.As someone with a long history of giving bad gifts, I am always searching for no-fail gifts that I can buy online to send to anyone and everyone. Now that I knew the caramels existed, I decided to buy them and send them to everyone I know.
Read more at: nytimes.comSweet Temptations: A Rich Selection
Forbes LifeDecember 2006A Rich Selection: Fran's Gray and Smoked Salt Caramels. The most refined.
Read more at: forbes.comThe Way We Eat: Salt With a Deadly Weapon
The New York Times MagazineOctober 2006In 2001, Fran Bigelow, a chocolate maker in Seattle, was looking for a new garnish for her chocolate-covered caramels when she tried some of the gray salt she had been seeing in restaurants... “The salt pushes the flavors forward, giving it more depth,” she told me. Once people experience it, they rarely go back.
Read more at: nytimes.comFran's Chocolates - Our Interview with Fran Bigelow
Ecole ChocolatSeptember 2006Fran’s Chocolates is a Seattle institution. Owner Fran Bigelow, son Dylan and daughter Andrina continuously win awards for their chocolates. Beautiful packaging reflects the quality and craftsmanship of the chocolates inside.
Read more at: ecolechocolat.comThe O List: Salt of the Earth
Oprah MagazineMay 2006I can't decide whether I prefer the milk chocolate caramels with a sprinkling of smoked salt or the dark chocolate caramels with a pinch of gray sea salt. All I know is that a little bit of salt brings out the sweet in both.
2005
Good Living: Gifts
Gourmet MagazineOctober 2005Mingling dark chocolate with flashes of salty and sweet, the gray sea-salt caramels from Fran's Chocolates disappear quickly. Almost too pretty to open, each box is sealed with a delicate satin bow, making this gift a feast for the eyes as well.
2005 NASFT Award Winner: Fran's Smoked Salt Caramels
National Association of the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT)August 2005Fran's Chocolates wins the 2005 NASFT Award in the Outstanding Confection category for our Smoked Salt Caramels.
Pure Chocolate Nominated for James Beard Foundation Award
James Beard FoundationApril 2005Fran's cookbook Pure Chocolate is nominated for the 2005 James Beard Award in the Baking and Desserts category.
Read more at: jamesbeard.orgPure Chocolate Nominated for IACP Cookbook Award
The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP)March 2005Fran's cookbook Pure Chocolate is nominated for the 2005 IACP Cookbook Award.
2004
The Very Best Cookbooks of 2004
Food & WineDecember 2004Fran Bigelow has owned the celebrated Fran's Chocolates in Seattle for 20 years, but this is her first cookbook. A self-described purist, she says she pares away sugar and other ingredients that might "distract" from "the pure, clean flavor of chocolate" in desserts that range from soft, chewy Pure Chocolate Chunk Cookies to an insanely rich Princess Pudding made with semisweet chocolate and topped with Cappuccino Whipped Cream. Along with recipes that run the gamut from easy to tricky, you'll find inspiring photos, sources, lists of equipment and useful advice on working with chocolate.
Read more at: foodandwine.comPure Chocolate: Divine Desserts and Sweets from the Creator of Fran's Chocolates
People MagazineNovember 2004Could any reader resist this book's blowsy charms? Created by the chocolatier who blazed a trail in Seattle in 1982 by opening her European-style Fran's Chocolate boutique, these wickedly rich recipes are accompanied by food-p*rn style shots of pots de crème, Triple Chocolate Pyramids and White-Chocolate Crème Citron Tarts. The level of difficulty ranges from kid-simple to challenging, but there's something here for every cook... Whether it’s Gold Bar Brownies—littered with chocolate chunks and infused with caramel sauce—her lascivious Chocolate-Stuffed Figs or her intense White-Chocolate Espresso Semifreddo, these confections will haunt your dreams.
Read more at: people.com
2003
Editor's Pick: Crunch Time
Food & WineFebruary 2003[Fran's] latest confection, Fran's Spiced Macadamia Nuts, will surely spawn imitators as well. Inspired by her love of Spanish spices, Bigelow caramelizes macadamia nuts, coats them with hot smoked paprika, chile powder and kosher salt, then dips them in dark chocolate before dusting them with cocoa powder
Read more at: foodandwine.com
2002
Good Living: Seaside Sweets
Gourmet MagazineAugust 2002We've all had our share of chocolate-covered caramels, but when Fran's Gray Salt Caramel creations showed up at the office one day, it was as though nobody had seen the things before. Unlike other caramels topped with sea salt (they're all the rage in France), Fran's - smothered in dark chocolate and graced with a few delicate sprinkles hand-picked from the coast of Brittany - taste of fresh butter and the sea. Now we've been spoiled for life.
Food Finds: Seattle
Food NetworkMay 2002Try a variety of candy treats in Seattle from Nutty Mountain Madness at Reward Specialty Foods to Fran's Chocolates, rated the best overall chocolate in America by the Book of Chocolate.
Read more at: foodnetwork.com
2001
Chocolate Champions: Best New Chocolate Drinks
Food & WineDecember 2001Fran Bigelow of Fran's Chocolates in Seattle chips tiny morsels directly from blocks of high-quality dark Belgian chocolate for her Premium Shave Chocolate. Mixed with hot milk, it produces a rich and velvety bittersweet drink that's a giant step up from instant cocoa.
Read more at: foodandwine.comTen of our Favorite Artisan Chocolatiers
ChocolatierOctober 2001According to most chocolate artisans, 18 years ago master chocolatier Fran Bigelow single-handedly stirred up an American chocolate revolution by creating small batches of handmade, hand-piped, and hand-trimmed chocolates that elevated our national taste-consciousness to new heights.
1997
Cooking with... Fran Bigelow
Seattle Homes and LifestylesJanuary 1997Willy Wonka has nothing on Fran Bigelow, whose Capitol Hill 'Laboratoire du Chocolate' is the grown-up version of author Roald Dahl's chocolate lover's dream. At Fran's, the combination of craftsmanship and high-quality ingredients has turned what was once a tiny two-person shop into a nationally renowned chocolate company whose founder has been heralded - in the Book of Chocolate - as 'the best overall Chocolatier in the United States.'
1996
Building a Business with Bars of Gold
The New York TimesAugust 1996It's 10 A.M., and Fran Bigelow, the owner of Fran's Chocolates in Seattle, knows where her caramel is. As it is every weekday morning, the fragrant, thick, amber nut-studded mixture is about to be poured from its copper caldron onto a vast worktable, where it will be scored and, once cool, cut into tiny bricks. The caramel, enrobed in chocolate, is the heart of Fran's Gold Bars, the little candy bars that have become the company's most popular confection.
Read more at: nytimes.comThe Book of Chocolate
FlammarionJanuary 1996At the forefront is Fran Bigelow. Today, she is the country's best all around chocolate maker, and the taste of her creations is invariably pleasing without being overwhelming.