Comments on: Chocolate

By: eszter

eszter — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 18:21:06 +0000

Thanks for the additional recommendations. Bummer I wasn’t reading this thread when I was in NYC the last couple of days or I would’ve tried to make it over to Bloomingdale’s. I’ve been to Rubens Chocolates in Champaign and agree that it’s a great place. (I’m assuming that’s where my friend took me when I visited. It would be hard for me to imagine that Champaign would have several such truffle stores.) Then again, Evanston seems to do just fine with several of them. In fact, although it may be hard to believe, I have yet to go to Marly Chocolates probably because I’m so happy with Peron and it’s near where I live. (Given that it’s so close by, I’ve actually been pretty good at not going there too often.:)

By: Mary Kay

Mary Kay — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 17:00:32 +0000

I also live in Seattle, and prefer Fran’s Chocolates to Dilettante. Fran’s has the single best piece of candy I’ve ever eaten. Caramel dipped in dark chocolate with fleur de sel sprinkled on top. And they do mail order http://www.franschocolates.com/ Although I live in Seattle I first tasted that chocolate at Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor. They do mail order too and are a first rate deli. http://www.zingermans.com/Index.pasp I’ve also eaten Vosges truffles at Zingerman’s. Very yummy. MKK

By: Adam Stephanides

Adam Stephanides — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 15:22:57 +0000

The best chocolates I’ve ever had are Martine’s which are made, and as far as I know are only sold, on the seventh (iirc) floor of Bloomingdale’s in Manhattan. My favorite chocolates available in the Chicago area (but I haven’t tried Callebout yet) are Laderach chocolates: they’re made in Switzerland and sold at Marly Chocolatier, in Evanston. (It’s tricky because Marly sells various brands, and doesn’t label them by brand: the Laderach are the ones on the corner of the table nearest you as you enter.) Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Rubens Chocolates, which makes very good handmade chocolates, and whose shop is in the small city where I live, Champaign, Ill. (where the University of Illinois’s main campus is), if you’re ever passing through.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 06:04:04 +0000

Oh yeah vosges – I have a friend that works there – they are the best i’ve ever had.

By: fester

fester — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 01:20:44 +0000

eszter, you are an angel…

By: eszter

eszter — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 01:13:40 +0000

Thanks for all the great recommendations. To answer Fester’s question, I asked my friend for info about the store where she bought the chocolate perfume. Voila: Drugstore Publicis 133 Champs Elysées 75008 Paris tel: 01.47.20.78.00

By: alex

alex — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:55:23 +0000

If you’re in Blacksburg, Virginia I can recommend ‘The Chocolate Spike’ pretty highly. Though I can’t imagine why any of you would pass through here… For off-the-shelf bars, the best I’ve found is Dolfin. Their 88% cacao bar is simply the best dark chocolate I’ve ever had. The 70%, variously flavored with with orange peel, Earl Grey tea, candied ginger, almonds, and mint, are also worth examining. The one Sharffen Barger dark bar that I tried had a nasty solvent taste to it. I hope it was an isolated example but haven’t repeated the test.

By: Kate Nepveu

Kate Nepveu — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 19:57:06 +0000

I have had the chocolate from http://www.mrchocolate.com/ ; it was an early Christmas gift. It is excellent. For something a little simpler, I also love XOX Truffles, which are intense and smooth. A random and fortuitous discovery on this summer’s trip to San Francisco.

By: MaryLou

MaryLou — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 19:03:21 +0000

This chocolate came highly recommended in another blog (I forget which one). I bookmarked it, but haven’t ordered yet: http://www.mrchocolate.com/

By: Manfred Traven

Manfred Traven — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 18:02:27 +0000

L.A. Burdick’s makes very very good chocolates, as good or better than most Belgian in my opinion. And their cafe in Cambridge MA is worth a visit for the hot chocolate, probably the best I’ve had.

By: Manfred Traven

Manfred Traven — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 18:01:50 +0000

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:34:32 +0000

Happy birthday. I have no chocolate related material to add.

By: Maria

Maria — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 16:58:40 +0000

Neuhaus Chocolate. If you like dark, they have a dark bar that will make you weep with joy, a dark chocolate orange bar and dark chocolate tea bar (much better than it sounds). The stores are awesome and for a chocoholic they are paradise. You can order on-line (www.neuhauschocolate.com) or call individual stores (the B’way store gave me the info that they ship anywhere) for what you want if the online store doesn’t float your boat.

By: reb

reb — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 16:28:04 +0000

I haven’t been to most of the places in mentioned in the NY Times article, but it seems they mostly focus on patisseries with good chocolatiers in them. For a shop in Paris totally devoted to chocolate, check out Cacao e Chocolat (29 Rue de Buci, 6e, M: Mabillon). It’s got a wonderful selection and is quite “modern” in its tastes.

By: fester

fester — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 15:37:12 +0000

Could you tell me if the shop that you got the Chocalate perfume from has an online operation, and if so where it is located. If not, could you please tell me the name and arrondisemont that it is located in as a friend who is a complete choclaholic will soon be in Paris, and I would love to give some pointers and score some brownie points.