We're not sure we trust the palates of experts who test washing machines, but you can't deny Consumer Reports' reach with more than 7 million subscribers — even if their magazine layouts are jarring.
The February edition of the product-testing magazine includes a review of the nation's leading chocolate makers, including Fort Myers' own Norman Love. On the same two-page spread is a Panty Poll quizzing women about their underwear (10% of respondents have gone out of the house without any on) and an article questioning how Congress will fund the new financial watchdog (with fines of up to $1 million a day on banks and other lenders).
We're still trying to figure out how these three stories are connected, but Norman Love holds his own on the chocolate front with other sweet notables such as La Maison du Chocolat and Jacques Torres.
Norman Love is a little pricey, testers quibble. Consumer Reports' “best buy” are chocolates by Candinas, which cost $3 an ounce. That compares with $4.08 for Norman Love and $4.98 for La Maison du Chocolat.