So here are the spoils of my Italy trip. Chocolatiers visited: Luca Mannori (the pastries, my god, the pastries!), Roberto Catinari (so....much to choose from), Paul de Bondt (why we were you out of honey chocolates???), and Vestri (could not have been ruder and hotter store). Chocolatiers visited who were closed Catinari & Salza (fie! fie on you both!). And of course, Eurochocolate.

I actually came in under budget. I think. Still haven't totaled the receipts yet, but I ran out of room in my chocolate case. Now my husband and I are eating our way through all the pralines & chocolate bars with nut & fruit additives. Its quite a lovely way to get through the work day.

Lovely dark chocs!

Just some pics of the packaging and goodies we bought.

They had their machinery behind a glass partition with an micromini amphitheater seating so you could watch them smooshing beans.

And the box - loved the design!

And the cookies (which were gone in seconds)

Oh, but how we the chocolates you ask? Friggin' divine. Strong, distinct dark chocolate taste perfectly balanced with a variety flavoring and without any acidity or cloying sweetness. One of the best balancing acts I've had in a long time and I'm a woman who loves Marcolini's acidic edges. I like a strong flavor that can be dialed up or down to complement a diversity of flavors -- everything from sweet balsamic vinegar to the earthy almond cluster. Both my husband and myself loved most of the chocs we bought, with the exception of the Douglas Fir praline which I liked, but my husband found tedious. But c'mon, who doesn't want to eat a tree flavored chocolate? I will definitely buy them again, but it may have to be by mail order since I'm switching coasts. Oh and here's their shiny mod website: http://www.somachocolate.com/ , if you're in Toronto stop by.

My husband and I spent an afternoon in Toronto (we live in Buffalo) and we stopped by Soma Chocolates while we were there. I'd been dying to try them and as we only had time for one chocolatier (of the three possible) Soma was the winner. Let's start with some pictures of the store:

I'll post pics of the actual chocolates later. We just got back from Italy yesterday so I also have pics from Eurochocolate and the chocolatier shops of Luca Mannori, Paul de Bondt, and Robero Catinari.