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Times Leader Readers’ Choice Award for best bridal shop goes to Gerri Bridal of Pittston

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Whether it&#8217;s the scrumptious dipped apples, chocolate-covered pretzels or another indulgent treat, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates can satisfy even the largest sweet tooth.</p><p>That sweet reputation earned the popular chocolate chain in the Wyoming Valley a gold award in this year&#8217;s Times Leader Readers&#8217; Choice Awards with the most votes in the category of &#8220;Best Local Chocolate.&#8221;</p><p>Melanie Nardozzo, spokeswoman for Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, said her company is excited to earn the designation.</p><p>&#8220;Gertrude Hawk is proud to be a huge part of the community and always support it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So we are thrilled to be recognized as the best local chocolate.&#8221;</p><p>Laura Taylor, store manager for the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates store in Kingston, wasn&#8217;t surprised to hear about the award.</p><p>&#8220;We hear it on a daily basis,&#8221; she said, referring to customers saying Gertrude Hawk&#8217;s chocolate is the best in the area. &#8220;We do have people who come in, actually weekly, to repeat business.&#8221;</p><p>Taylor was a customer before becoming an employee of the company, explaining she would often buy things for her own children.</p><p>Her reason for wanting to work for the company was simple &#8212; she loved their products.</p><p>&#8220;They have amazing chocolate; I&#8217;ve always liked their chocolate, so I figured why not work where I know they have a good, quality product?&#8221; Taylor said.</p><p>The company&#8217;s sweet legacy began in 1936 when Gertrude (Jones) Hawk opened the store in the kitchen of her family&#8217;s small home in the Bunker Hill section of Scranton.</p><p>According to its website, the company now has over 60 retail locations in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.</p><p>Nardozzo credits the company&#8217;s chocolate recipe as the defining factor in setting Gertrude Hawk Chocolate apart from other stores.</p><p>&#8220;Hands down, it&#8217;s the creamiest, smoothest, best-tasting chocolate around,&#8221; she said.</p><p>With Easter just around the corner, Taylor said a trip to a Gertrude Hawk Chocolates store is part of holiday traditions for many of her customers.</p><p>She said Smidgens, chocolates that come in various shapes and flavors, are hot commodities at this time of the year.</p><p>Chocolate-covered apples are also popular items. Taylor expects to sell at least 1,100 apples through the Easter season &#8212; annually, she estimates her store alone sells approximately 5,000 apples.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s definitely something that is close to people in this area,&#8221; Taylor said. &#8220;It&#8217;s definitely a tradition for people around here.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Different types of chocolates sit in the glass case, waiting to be sold at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL032616BestChocolat1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Different types of chocolates sit in the glass case, waiting to be sold at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Kingston. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL032616BestChocolat3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Laura Taylor, store manager, decorates apples dipped in dark chocolate at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL032616BestChocolat3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Laura Taylor, store manager, decorates apples dipped in dark chocolate at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Kingston. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL032616BestChocolat2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Store manager Laura Taylor creates Easter bunnies from white chocolate at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL032616BestChocolat2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Store manager Laura Taylor creates Easter bunnies from white chocolate at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Kingston. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates dubbed best chocolate by Times Leader readers