Chocolate Covered Bacon

A relatively new trend that caught my eye last year is chocolate covered bacon. Most people seem to have a fairly strong first reaction when hearing of this combo, either positive or negative.

Foodies have always liked to push the envelope by mixing unorthodox flavors or foods. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a lot of the foods we enjoy today (caramel apples, BLTs, etc.). But candy coated breakfast meat?! The sweet/salty contrast definitely works for many people.

The earliest internet references to chocolate covered bacon date back to 2005, and appear to have American origins. It seems the most likely venue to find such a delicacy is at state fairs. Of course. From the very culinary cognoscenti who still haven't realized we evolved away from eating our food off of sticks.

But this trendlet has not only stuck, it appears to be growing. The 2008 Minnesota State Fair featured "Pig Lickers" offered by Famous Dave's. CCB (as I call it, in reference to CCRs, aka chocolate covered raisins), can also be found in candy stores in New York and California. A Chicago luxury chocolatier, Vosges Haut-Chocolate (pun intended, I assume), markets Mo's Bacon Bar made from "applewood smoked bacon, alderwood smoked salt, and milk chocolate." A 3.5 ounce bar sells for $7.50 online.

This company has also had great success selling their bars in England, although one London critic commented "It is the vilest thing I've ever eaten. It's like the chocolate came out of a full ashtray." However, a Florida State Fair review called chocolate covered bacon the "greatest thing since deep-fried Pepsi," whatever that is.

It seems you can prepare this treat several ways. Fondue dipping style appear to be most popular, but restaurants and television food shows seem to prefer drizzling the chocolate over the bacon. And there is, of course, the candy bar type.

Something for everyone. I have not tried out this trendlet yet, but I plan on it. What's next? Can the CCBLT be far behind?

If you have tried CCB, let me know what you think!