Lighting the Way

Why are lighthouses so spooky? Because they’re lonely outposts on the edge of civilization? Set amid rocky cliffs and dangerous waves? Because they’re relics of a bygone age? I’m sure all these factors contribute to the eerie mystique of lighthouses, but for me it’s largely because I’ve seen so many movies where they are at the center of something spooky or sinister. Examples include The Lighthouse (2019), The Vanishing (2018), Lighthouse (1999), and Tormented (1960). (This last one I can’t really recommend, unless you’re under the influence.)

Anyway, today I found myself at the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, just south of Fort Bragg. Some (such as this random person on Trip Advisor) claim this lighthouse and its associated buildings are haunted. If I apply my SpookFilter (TM) to the photo I took this morning (thus converting it to black and white), it does give off a bit of a spooky vibe.

What, you don’t agree? Allow me to turn up the SpookFilter a few more notches:

The Point Cabrillo Lighthouse dates back to 1909, and is located near the community of Caspar (which is almost the same as Casper). So there’s that.

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to survive my harrowing visit to the otherworldly Tower of Satan that is Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, and I can now present you with today’s Treat Review. Let’s open a bag of Ghirardelli Pumpkin Spice Caramels!

Ghirardelli is a storied name in the Bay Area, where I grew up. Domenico Ghirardelli was an Italian entrepreneur who came out to California in 1849 as part of the first wave of the Gold Rush. After trying his hand at prospecting for a few months, he shifted to selling supplies and candies to the miners at a store in Stockton and, a little later, in San Francisco. Incredibly, both of his stores burned down within a few days of each other in 1851. Undeterred, the following year Ghirardelli opened a “Chocolate Manufactory” in San Francisco. His company has been in continuous operation to this day.

I’ve always liked Ghirardelli chocolate. The milk chocolate in particular is creamy, rich, smooth, and mellow. Ghirardelli claims to be one of the very few chocolate manufacturers to control every aspect of its manufacturing process. It has a reputation for high and exacting quality. So my expectations for these Halloween/Fall treats are set high!

Conceptual Soundness: They’ve taken their famous milk chocolate, molded it into little flat squares, and filled them with a caramel-pumpkin spice treacle that oozes out when you bite into it. Each is individually wrapped. It’s an attractive treat that’s portable and indulgent. What’s not to like? 4 points.

Appearance of the Treat: Each square is individually wrapped in a foil wrapper with an attractive fall design. The background color is chocolate-brown.

Unwrap one, and you see that the chocolate is imprinted with the Ghirardelli name and logo,which is a nice touch. The edges of the square are a raised frame. The whole thing feels very classy and high-quality. Appearance definitely earns 4 points.

Taste: These squares are a pleasure to eat. The texture is creamy-smooth, but there’s still a good “snap” as you take a bite. Then the chocolate and the filling literally melt in you mouth. The size is ideal for a little after-meal indulgence.

I wasn’t expecting to like the pumpkin spice/caramel filling as much as I did. My low expectations no doubt come from my experience with the Starbucks PSL. It seems that anyone and everyone slaps the “pumpkin spice” label on whatever dreck they’re offering.

Now, Ghirardelli’s use of the word “luscious” to describe the filling seems a little over-the top, but I have to admit it’s delicious. They use “natural pumpkin flavor,” and I definitely detect some cinnamon and nutmeg. This is not the cloying, chemical-y taste that you’d find in Torani syrup or Starbucks drinks. Instead, this filling actually reminds me of pumpkin pie. The caramel, meanwhile, is smooth and low-viscosity, which ensures a good mouthfeel. Let’s give the taste 4 points!

Value: Here’s where the other shoe drops. A 9 oz. bag of these costs about $11 at Safeway. That works out to about $1.22 per ounce, which compares unfavorably to most of the other candies we’ve reviewed. (For example, yesterday’s Russell Stover’s pumpkin was about 76 cents per ounce.) Of course, one expects to pay for quality. Let’s split the difference and award 2 points for value.

Total Treat Score: 14/16 points.