Stuff I like: Lagusta's Luscious

I continue to be amazed at the number of vegan products hitting the market, the greater availability of vegan products at mainstream outlets, the greater awareness of vegan diets/lifestyles, and the number of great vegan cookbooks hitting the shelves.  Or, in short, what I'm trying to say is that it's a good time to be vegan!

Wherever I can, I patronize local, independent businesses.  But when I can't go local, I try to go independent.  With that, I like to patronize businesses that I can relate to--those that share my values, and that I admire.  One of those businesses is Lagusta's Luscious.

I don't remember where I heard about Lagusta, but my guess is that I first tasted the products at Nooch Market.  From there, I have placed several orders through the website and have never been disappointed.  Shipping is a bit of a bite, but they get it to you quickly and it's totally worth it.

Thus, when it came time to celebrate an anniversary, we decided to skip the gift option and just get a buncha chocolate.  We knew we'd be happy with it and that an assortment would last us a long time at the rate we consume it.  When it's good chocolate, a small piece per day is enough to satisfy.  Well, maybe 2 pieces.

We opted for the Winter Wonderland Collection, which of course is no longer on the website since it was seasonal and I assume they sold out!  The collection had an assortment of caramels, bon bons, bars, and barks.  We've been eating through it for a few weeks now and everything has been delicious.  Not to mention that the packing is beautiful.

Here are a few looks:

My favorite in the collection was a surprise for me, as I never expected to love a bon bon!  I was actually hesitant to order the box simply due to the quantity of bon bons in it.  I will also fess up to not being entirely sure that I've ever had a bon bon before!  I've made the jokes about watching tv and eating bon bons all day, but if they are scrumptious orange cranberry bon bons like these, sign me up.  Now I am hoarding them to make them last longer.

If you have a local establishment nearby that carries Lagusta's, by all means, get yourself there and pick up a few pieces to try.  If not, don't hesitate to place an order.  I promise you won't be sorry.

I love this stuff so much that I'd consider a pilgrimage to New Paltz, NY, to pay an in-person visit.  Now there's an idea--a cross-country road trip (or bike trip!) with chocolate as the theme and destination.  New Paltz as chocolate mecca.  A girl needs something to aspire to, and this is right up my alley.

Thanks, Lagusta, for caring so much about what you do.  It definitely shows.