Chocolate couture

Rex's friend David, visiting from across the pond, arrived tonight with offerings of Cailler Frigor chocolates from Switzerland.

I've never seen anything quite like this. These delicious dark squares are individually wrapped then stood on end in a pair of plastic trays that slide in and out of a smokey translucent box.

The packaging, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel (even his name sounds expensive), is part of Cailler's effort to reinvent its stodgy, old-fashion image. But the containers have caused a storm in Switzerland because they forced a price spike for the chocolates and they can't be recycled.

Sales of Cailler chocolates dropped after retailer Denner, the Wal-Mart of Switzerland, pulled them from shelves and ran advertisements declaring: "Callier sells packaging. Denner sells chocolate."

Apparently, David doesn't have much of a social conscience.