The company started two years ago when the owner, Bahram Shirazi’s son came home from his new school asking why he couldn’t have the same lunch and snack foods the other kids have. (I can relate to this. My kids think I’m an ogre for not including bags of chips and cookies and cans of pop in their lunches like the other kids get.) In an effort to give him a treat that the whole family could feel good about, he invented Q.bel chocolates. That’s just one of the reasons I feel so good about these chocolates. Here are the rest of the reasons, in no particular order:
1. They are de-LISH!, especially the rolls. The wafers are yummy too but the rolls are filled with chocolaty or peanuty goodness. When I brought a bunch into our office, the gang devoured them like a pack of chocolate-loving hyenas and this is a group that doesn’t consume just any old chocolate (just ask the woman who is in charge of buying the birthday cakes).
2. The “bel” part of the company name comes from the owner’s wife, Isabel, as “a tribute to Isabel’s passion in bringing the highest quality food ingredients” into their lives. Oh, it’s even romantic!
3. There are no hydrogenated oils, transfats, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup. Of course, this is candy and isn’t health food but it is a sweet treat we can feel good about.
4. The company has a chart on their website about their Values in Action that talks about what they are doing, where they fall short and what they hope to improve in various areas like packaging and manufacturing. Such honesty.
5. The family named their cats “Q” and “Bel”. It’s almost too much for me to bear!
6. The product is affordable ($1.29-$1.59) and available in Colorado at Whole Foods, Sunflower Markets, Vitamin Cottage and Sprouts Farmer’s Markets.
Everyone Around the Table 
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