My food blogger friend once told me that I should arm myself with a small tupperware whenever I attend a chocolate show. The laziness in me didn't heed his advice.

I got so tired and dizzy after an hour indulging in chocolate, wine and more (alcoholic) chocolates! In any large exhibition hall, the booths nearest to the entrance almost always have a higher recall. So please excuse me if I may have tagged the wrong flavors on the my photos. I did also take home some chocolates that I could no longer devour using some napkins especially from exhibitors at the end of the hall.

Presenting my pick of the best of the best during the7th Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon 2013:

Best in food jewelry accessories

Best chocolate showpiece

Best mix of chocolates: Guittard

Guittard's booth

Best in business card (yeah, I look at this!): Springloaf - a catering company (see below)

Who made Springloaf's business card? So pretty!

Best spicy chocolate: Cocotutti's thai chili (bottom) tied with Taza Chocolate (below)

Best spicy chocolate: Guajilo chili from Taza Chocolate tied with Cocotutti

Best exotic flavored chocolate: Marti's Chocolatt- they had buko pandan, durian and kalamansi chocolates!

Best in packaging: Jade Chocolates

Best non-chocolate: Plumeria Flours popcorn.

I only got to try the seaweed. Very tasty indeed.

Best caramels: Amella Caramels

Best choconut: FGR

FGR's nutty collection

Best newcomer: Charles Chocolates

Best Chocolate Tea: The Tea Room tied with David's Tea (no  photo)

Best white chocolate: Mission Blue Confections had a heart shaped white chocolate with strawberry filing (not in photo)

I love this ring with chocolate cake on top although I don't know how/where I can wear it.

The most conspicuous missing in action is Tcho. I say conspicuous because I overheard other attendees looking for Tcho's booth. I was also disappointed that newcomer Dandelion from the Mission, San Francisco didn't have a booth.

Til next year!