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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

updated by @clay: 06/29/23 16:49:02

For Floridians or anyone visiting, here's great choc shop info: http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?aid=48288 Who knew so much great choc in FL!?

Anyone anywhere in the world can find chocolate shops in their area on CHOCOMAP.COM! Just enter your region and city and up pops a map with pinpoints of shops- click on those for name, address, contact info and reviews- its awesome! Any shop can add their info for FREE, and anyone can review shops or suggest to add shops.What a great resource!

There are also two new books due out shortly that list places to buy chocolate in the US. They are:The Chocolate Guide: To Local Chocolatiers, Chocolate Makers, Boutiques, Patisseries and ShopsThere is an Eastern edition and a Western Edition. They are available for pre-order (Jan31, 08) on Amazon. The two together will set you back about $25.These guides are from the same publisher who puts out Chocolate French, publishes TasteTV, and organizes the SF and LA International chocolate festivals.


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

Surprisingly, I was able to get the Western Edition Chocolate guide on Amazon just last week! They seem to have very low stock but it is published and avail if you keep an eye on it- i paid $10.85. AWESOME beautiful book. Eastern edition comes out late Feb and is avail for pre-order.

So besides the actual chocolatier shops here in New York, have you got any favorite gourmet stores with exotic selections? (beyond Fairway, Dean and Deluca, and the major groceries) Perhaps, in the outer boroughs?

So far I have done my main online shopping at Chocosphere and At the Meadow . But would like to explore others, hoping to learn of more here!

As much as I would love to, iv never had the time to get out to the boroughs- Im always in and outof NYC on quick 3 day trips. But i do know Brooklyn has a really good variety- when i really want to find choc in a specific area i use either CHOCOMAP.com (limited only because shop owners have to submit their info to be included) or CITYSEARCH.com, which is kinda like the Yellow Pages- type in what city (like brooklyn or queens) state, and key word search "chocolate" Or "chocolate shops"- you'll get pages of shops, with map links, addresses and reviews! And for imports i look for "import grocery", "russian food", "polish food", etc....usually where there are ethnic restaurants there are also groceries importing for those groups- so fun to poke around and see what diff. ppl eat!

In London I recommend:Paul A Young ( http://www.payoung.ne ... )Shops in Angel (Camden Passage) and The Royal Exchange (Threadneedle St)L'Artisan du Chocolat ( http://www.artisanduc ... )Lower Sloane St (Near Sloane Square) and also at Borough market where they sell all the misshapes - well worth a visit!Rococo ( http://www.rococochoc ... )Kings Road, Marylebone High St and a new shop at Motcomb St near Knightsbridge.William Curley ( http://www.williamcur ... )In Richmond upon Thames, Mayfair and John Lewis Oxford StAlso see http://www.seventypercent.com/pod/?p=107/

Another great trick to use is ABOUT.com, type in the city and then search for Choc shops....comes up with tons of shops and links....

A NEW fabulous choc shop has opened here in Tampa, its a temple of choc really- called CHOXOTICA (such a cool name). Its unlike any choc shop Ive been too, very cool, soothing ambiance with low lights and high end choc bars lined up all around the store with descriptive details of every bar - not unlike a wine or cigar shop. AND they serve hot & cold choc-drinks using the best chocolate (you choose whick kind) and filtered water so the cacao flavor is not dilutted by milk or cream. Please ck out their website for a full "virtual" experience. www.choxotica.com

Wow! Looks like amazing heaven! I was in Brighton Beach a few days ago and picked up a bar each from: Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, and Russia. I'll have to give reports as I try them in the other forum!

Chocoflyer:In case you didn't know, Choxotica is a member of The Chocolate Life.


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

Yes I invited him! Im glad he joined and cant say enough great things about the shop- wish you could see it , ever get to Tampa? For it to open in my town of all places (Oct 07) just blows me away- before them i had to mail order or travel to big cities to get the choc he sells, now its right up the street! There is chocolate god/ goddess looking over me........

Sarah- Would love to taste and also see all those chocs from such cool places- can you post the wrapper pics w/ the tasting notes? Pretty please?BTW did you see all the wrappers I posted? makes me smile just browsing thru them....mmmmm....

Has anyone else seen the PREMIUM CHOCOLATE KIOSKS in AIRPORTS around the country? My airport here in FL has these fabulous stand alone kiosks labeled "Premium Chocolate" at all the news stands- they have been here about 4-5 months or so. They sell Scharffen Berger, Gold & Blacks, Dagoba, Guylian, Dove Rich Dark, Ghirardelli Intense Dark & squares, Cacao Reserve by Hershey, Nestle Treasures bar and truffles, and Hershey Organic. I think its so great to see better choc getting to this level, where the general public has way more to choose from than just the standard waxy Hershey bar (which by the way I see their Special Dark avail more than the milk lately...) Obviously our tastes are changing and all the advertising is paying off.....So look out for these kiosks if you will- Im not sure if they are specific to this airport or not....hope not!

Clay asked me to add my list of places to buy chocolate in Los Angeles. Here are the places where I've tried so far: BonBonBars (no store, order online) www.bonbonbar.com Boule another bonbon shop. They make great macarons in the French style and two different styles of bonbons (one molded buttons and the other enrobed with transfer styles on top). Interesting flavors, I like some of them but others I find a little greasy in texture. Great ice cream. Chocolate Box Caf in La Canada. Not locally made but imported from Belgium. They have an interesting line of buttermilk ganache chocolates that deserve a look. Their best pieces are in milk chocolate. Chocolates a la Carte not the best chocolates in the world, but the factory store has some surprises, especially when theyre doing repack work for another brand and have items made with Valrhona (usually they use Callebaut) and of course everythings very fresh at the factory. Chuao Chocolatier technically the closest one is in Orange County, but I enjoy their use of flavors and textures. El Rey chocolate. Edelweiss Chocolates very traditional chocolate sweets in Beverly Hills, their preserved fruits are very good. Jin Patisserie in Venice, known far and wide for their tea room and chocolates. I thought they were interesting but tiny and overpriced. K Chocolatier wildly expensive and quirky hours (weekdays) but some very tasty alcohol filled chocolate, generous samples. LArtisan du Chocolat fresh, innovative & attractive. Oh, and expensive. Littlejohn Toffee & Fudge the fudge is okay, I think they have some great sponge candy covered in chocolate and New Orleans style pralines. Not really a chocolate shop. Valerie Confections right next door to LArtisan du Chocolat, more on the elegant comfort side of things. Toffee, nougats, bonbons and now petit fours & tea cakes.And stores for bars & boxes: Cost Plus World Market a decent selection & prices of the most popular fine import bars and usually at decent prices. Check expiry dates closely though. Garvey Nuts its a wholesale place in City of Commerce (just off the 5 near the outlet mall Citadel). They sell lots of novelty candies, including the better ones like Madelaines Mel & Roses Wine & Spirits immense selection of both upscale chocolatiers & bars as well as import consumer candies from all over Europe, Japan & Australia. Mr. Marcel at the Farmers Market. Good selection of chocolate bars, though the prices are often 50% more than Cost Plus which is just a few yards away. Munchies a little gem tucked away in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood thats completely Kosher. They have a large selection of international stuff, mostlybars and a great sale on Ritter (what can I say, Im a sucker for Knusperflakes & their Rum Trauben Nuss). Surfas - Culver City kitchen supply company that has a good selection of baking products and just plain old bars, including just about every Valrhona.My local grocery stores tend to carry some good stuff too. I stumbled on a nice selection at Vons the other day that included the full line of Chuao bars and a great sale on Ritter (what can I say, Im a sucker for Knusperflakes & their Rum Trauben Nuss).I keep pretty copious notes about them on my blog in the Los Angeles category .

Cybele:This is a great list and I hope others will add to it. Is the l'Artisan du Chocolat an outpost of the London-based chocolatier of the same name?


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

No, this is a completely different L'Artisan. This one is run by Christian Alexandre and Whajung Park. It's a tiny little storefront and their inventory changes seasonally as the ingredients are available. I think the most surprising bonbon I had there was a white chocolate ganache with cucumber & vodka. The more traditional tea infused ones were also nice.I know that they've attended the Chocolate Show in San Francisco before.

FYI I saw these same kiosks in San Francisco airport- that means they are being placed by some airport consortium because all the choc co's are totally diff- wouldnot be one brand putting them out. Look for these at the airports you fly too and report back! They are not stands with ppp llike a shop, just oneof the display kiosks in the news/ magazine areas.

LAS VEGAS- who knew Vegas was such a choco lovers town? I have a layover there next week flying to OR so I casually looked into whats available and found a lot!ETHEL'S CHOCOLATE LOUNGE- at Fashion Show Mall and the Ethel chocolate Factory nearby in Henderson, NVETHELS Choc shops- inside Flamingo Hotel and in every Terminal at McCarren Airport (LAS)CHOCOLATE HEAVEN- inside Riviera HotelVOSGES HAUT CHOCOLATE- Inside the ultra fancy Forum shops at Caesars Palace hotelCHOCOLATE SWAN- inside Mandaly Bay hotelTEUSCHER SWISS CHOC- inside Planet Hollywood hotelLENOTRE- inside Paris hotelM&M WORLD- in Showcase Mall with VERY large marquee on the strip next to MGM hotel - can't miss it!CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN inside Bellagio Hotel @ Jean Phillip PatisserieGODIVA- inside Fashion Show Mall and Planet Hollywood hotelROCKY MT. CHOCOLATES- inside Planet Hollywood hotelGHIRARDELLI- inside Imperial Palace hotelif anyone has any to add, please do!
updated by @chocoflyer: 06/08/15 15:58:17

SAN FRANCISCO is truly a chocolate lovers paradise! I just visited and WOW was I impressed, here's a rundown of shops (if you need more details let me know- address, ph #s etc)CHOCOLATE COVERED (over 325 diff brands, many rare and new, blew me away!)RECCHIUTI CONFECTIONSSCHARFFEN BERGERTEUSCHERRICHARTLEONIDASCHOCOLATE HEAVENSAN FRAN CHOCOLATE STOREGHIRARDELLIFUDGE HOUSESCHOGGI SWISS CHOCFOG CITY NEWS (over 200 brands)(closed for Presidents Day when i was there- drat!!)CONFETTI LE CHOCMOONSTRUCKLUV BOX CHOCCOCOA BELLA (sells fresh pieces from major artisan chocolatiers grouped by country- awesome)Z CIOCCOLATOXOX TRUFFLESBITTERSWEET CAFEBELGANO CHOCCHOCOLATE ON CASTROJOSEPH SCHMIDTSAN FRAN CHOC FACTORY5 STAR TRUFFLESCHRISTOPHER ELBOW CHOC (truly gorgeous and delicious, brand new in SF)ROCKY MT. CHOCGODIVASEE'STCHO- Opening shop summer 08 on Pier 17PLUS ACROSS THE BAY....Scharffen Berger Factory and Cafe Cacao in BerkleyCosmic Choc in OaklandMichael Mischer in OaklandCharles Choc and Factory in EmeryvilleIf I missed any please let me know! I will add photos soon....

Excellent list.Here are a couple of other general candy stores have have nice chocolate bar selections:Miette ConfisiereThe Candy StoreIn Oakland:Bittersweet Cafe - huge selection of bars plus tasting events

So - we're off to Las Vegas in a few weeks. I'm picturing myself sitting in a chocolate salon being treated to the finest chocolate along with instruction and elaboration on proper tasting techniques. I picture this event lasting an hour or more. I'm willing to pay for a gourmet experience. Any thoughts on where to go?? In the fall we'll be in San Francisco - same question. Thanks in advance. Ian

I had a box of Norman Love's chocolates a couple months ago. Some very complex flavors and some a little too far from center for my tastes. Each piece however was truly a piece of art work.

If you go visit Michael Mischer, make sure to try his root beer barrel piece. I tried it at the COPIA chocolate festival. It reminded me totally of those root beer barrel hard candies. Took me way back to when I was nine or then - those were among my all time favorites at that age.


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

Although my short review won't do it justice, I just have to comment on Biagio Fine Chocolate store in Washington D.C. I went in a few weeks ago and was blown away by the selection! In all of NYC there is not a place like it. It's reminiscent of SF's Fog City News in the wide range of bars sold. Biagio himself is very knowledgeable about each bar in the store and extremely friendly. It was a great experience to be in the store, and a whole reason to go to Washington biagiochocolate.com

Sarah, where can I purchase those "Former USSR" bars online? Names of bars might help me google if you don't have name of that Brighton Beach store.

These will be up soon. I just shot the pix

Here are my favorite online stores for buying chocolate bars:

Caputo's

Chocolopolis

Chocosphere

Cocova

World Wide Chocolate (taking advantage of weekly sales)

More info about all of them at One Golden Ticket .