tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18390421836507384662024-03-14T00:41:02.261-04:00Chocolate NYCeating our way through New York City and beyond, one truffle at a timeDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13774705010608065001noreply@blogger.comBlogger363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-78385172869795440102016-10-08T19:49:00.000-04:002016-10-08T19:49:42.098-04:00Here's what goes on at the Big Chocolate Show. Get ready.Yesterday we got a sneak peek at <a href="http://www.thebigchocolateshow.com/tickets-chocolate-expo-ny">The Big Chocolate Show</a>, which is going on this weekend in Chelsea. I'm about to show you so many photos of chocolate, so I hope that you're not hungry at this moment, or that you have a giant bag of chocolate chips to snack on as you work your way through this post. Or that you have tickets to the Big Chocolate Show tomorrow, so you don't have to be too jealous of us.<br />
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Here's what's went down:<br />
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Firstly, here's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chocolatefashionistas/">Drizzle</a>, which makes "chocolate fashionistas"--little mannequins in chocolate dresses. this is all chocolate. Even the zippers. Moran Etstein, the artist, gave me a piece of the sculpting chocolate she makes so I could play around with it. (Well, she gave me two, because I accidentally ate the first one before I even started to play with it.)<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQOsKKBTPgw/V_lyRC715oI/AAAAAAAATS4/M5lpnqZtK8ooGU17cdAU3YQft17weJMcgCLcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B1%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQOsKKBTPgw/V_lyRC715oI/AAAAAAAATS4/M5lpnqZtK8ooGU17cdAU3YQft17weJMcgCLcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B1%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqvwicsKPRA/V_lyVJGK7LI/AAAAAAAATTc/9vuBND9xdyQIkrpUrQ4M_M62k3ZsnwGuQCLcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B2%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqvwicsKPRA/V_lyVJGK7LI/AAAAAAAATTc/9vuBND9xdyQIkrpUrQ4M_M62k3ZsnwGuQCLcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B2%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JObk7U_mSMU/V_lyZE2gEPI/AAAAAAAATUI/I3EJAvgF90gmKB_NPm66o3E8FBJjosPYQCLcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B3%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JObk7U_mSMU/V_lyZE2gEPI/AAAAAAAATUI/I3EJAvgF90gmKB_NPm66o3E8FBJjosPYQCLcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B3%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHG-PykQG58/V_lyRC_-QVI/AAAAAAAATSw/TyF9Goh7zOUAlbOYZMS1wjK84plTqduegCLcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B11%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHG-PykQG58/V_lyRC_-QVI/AAAAAAAATSw/TyF9Goh7zOUAlbOYZMS1wjK84plTqduegCLcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B11%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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Next up, <a href="https://www.johnandkiras.com/">John & Kira's</a>. How beautiful are these truffles?!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlq0Ki4UpVk/V_lydIKCk1I/AAAAAAAATXE/_qhPx2Lvbx0p0HUTogOgrUp8xckwkSDfwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B4%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlq0Ki4UpVk/V_lydIKCk1I/AAAAAAAATXE/_qhPx2Lvbx0p0HUTogOgrUp8xckwkSDfwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B4%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSXKym0goyM/V_lynop_b-I/AAAAAAAATXE/GKlX2niJJlYXnN2ghdYrLJ_Sybg95DHsQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B65%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSXKym0goyM/V_lynop_b-I/AAAAAAAATXE/GKlX2niJJlYXnN2ghdYrLJ_Sybg95DHsQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B65%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.elbowchocolates.com/">Christopher Elbow</a>, I'm obsessed with. <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7dAHWN5eao8/V_lynfNHgmI/AAAAAAAATXE/ttrg8nxImlEbnWmPDQXueCg-Ya5xbfewACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B7%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7dAHWN5eao8/V_lynfNHgmI/AAAAAAAATXE/ttrg8nxImlEbnWmPDQXueCg-Ya5xbfewACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B7%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eILa7kfwsuY/V_lynzm7t0I/AAAAAAAATXE/rrCTljZ9ggY2zixnTK0QB6k9uJL7RPbegCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B8%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eILa7kfwsuY/V_lynzm7t0I/AAAAAAAATXE/rrCTljZ9ggY2zixnTK0QB6k9uJL7RPbegCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B8%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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Here's <a href="http://2beans.com/index.html">2Beans</a>' booth. As you know, we try to single-handedly keep them in business. Like the guy who was exhibiting here recognized David just from how often David is in the store. They carry pretty much everything one could want in this world, assuming "one" is "me."<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lcxApfNnNsk/V_lyRDdXIhI/AAAAAAAATXE/mN7A_aARkn4nfno8WgR5moRTRH-FUHYcACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B10%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lcxApfNnNsk/V_lyRDdXIhI/AAAAAAAATXE/mN7A_aARkn4nfno8WgR5moRTRH-FUHYcACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B10%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRA71Kqquv8/V_lyofTZJrI/AAAAAAAATXE/sJ5xZeZ3cn0pRtVOMDDHMUBodFDazx0DQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B9%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRA71Kqquv8/V_lyofTZJrI/AAAAAAAATXE/sJ5xZeZ3cn0pRtVOMDDHMUBodFDazx0DQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B9%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://harpermacaw.com/">Harper Macaw </a>is based in D.C., so they make some appropriately political bars, which their copy described as "wildly delectably, high electable." So if you like good packaging and good rhymes, these are the bars for you.<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3rktLyxqA8M/V_lySLti5mI/AAAAAAAATXE/hPX-i-Ta1B0MzpJYu8cKcW4GbZV4VFYEQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B12%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3rktLyxqA8M/V_lySLti5mI/AAAAAAAATXE/hPX-i-Ta1B0MzpJYu8cKcW4GbZV4VFYEQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B12%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMh_RG8T89k/V_lySob97oI/AAAAAAAATXM/hdepgdZAwooXSqH-cqRKSw6TEeNSpnLnACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B13%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMh_RG8T89k/V_lySob97oI/AAAAAAAATXM/hdepgdZAwooXSqH-cqRKSw6TEeNSpnLnACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B13%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4D7RFZvvsw0/V_lySu6n3MI/AAAAAAAATXE/Cbwue3MxOFAXByrjsLfWf_dHMC2YO1V5gCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B14%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4D7RFZvvsw0/V_lySu6n3MI/AAAAAAAATXE/Cbwue3MxOFAXByrjsLfWf_dHMC2YO1V5gCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B14%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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Gotham Chocolates are new. They're made by the pastry chef at <a href="http://gothambarandgrill.com/">Gotham Bar & Grill</a>, which I've never been to but apparently has a famous flourless chocolate cake made by this same pastry chef, which I am now desperate to try.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GC4L0a5gR5w/V_lyS_QmbzI/AAAAAAAATXE/5emG-l4oaXY9C-tJEx4QKuQnJOgKgds3QCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B15%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GC4L0a5gR5w/V_lyS_QmbzI/AAAAAAAATXE/5emG-l4oaXY9C-tJEx4QKuQnJOgKgds3QCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B15%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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We love Marou. Not only did they have their regularly wonderful bars here, but they also had brought in flavored bars from their store and factory in Saigon. The only way to get these bars outside of Vietnam would be to buy them at the Big Chocolate Show. Which I wanted to do, but they were $15 apiece, so I restrained myself.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HAvnRard7w/V_lyT7zh0bI/AAAAAAAATXE/M3g7E3XYko8pcfuGxVgsaZ9cBWcJQDirgCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B17%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HAvnRard7w/V_lyT7zh0bI/AAAAAAAATXE/M3g7E3XYko8pcfuGxVgsaZ9cBWcJQDirgCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B17%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phRDymhiVKA/V_lyT84NdqI/AAAAAAAATXE/-mPpM5xG_A0QpneFbYlUeU3Q_TWIX6QRACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B18%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phRDymhiVKA/V_lyT84NdqI/AAAAAAAATXE/-mPpM5xG_A0QpneFbYlUeU3Q_TWIX6QRACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B18%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://pacarichocolate.us/">Pacari</a> has terrific bars, and everything they do is made entirely in Ecuador. Pacari is always there for you when you need them, and they do especially good raw bars.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u8iU7nBqiGQ/V_lyU3fq1BI/AAAAAAAATXE/gwpDJ8OBglA9u-lJRjeCD57dXa7muyAQwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B19%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u8iU7nBqiGQ/V_lyU3fq1BI/AAAAAAAATXE/gwpDJ8OBglA9u-lJRjeCD57dXa7muyAQwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B19%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/glennmade/">Glenmade</a>'s chocolate bars had an INTENSE flavor.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgcyj1PPNmI/V_lyVMmGDlI/AAAAAAAATXE/Cn1FDi35goQeaBcUVuSvP631YQ1n3F3NQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B20%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgcyj1PPNmI/V_lyVMmGDlI/AAAAAAAATXE/Cn1FDi35goQeaBcUVuSvP631YQ1n3F3NQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B20%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bfEO_jQRZv0/V_lyVkfyaoI/AAAAAAAATXE/Y233j3HKxjQdyWCoLpbNj7wUw6VNYzkLgCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B21%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bfEO_jQRZv0/V_lyVkfyaoI/AAAAAAAATXE/Y233j3HKxjQdyWCoLpbNj7wUw6VNYzkLgCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B21%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.tastefruition.com/">Fruition</a> was lovely. They're based upstate in NY, and they told us they're having a fifth anniversary party and open house on November 5, if you want to escape the city for a day and eat some chocolate.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_A8S6GdcqiE/V_lyWD2ymNI/AAAAAAAATXE/ed1PgTmWbsEL2f1VdvygWBqegdR0bhXxwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B22%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_A8S6GdcqiE/V_lyWD2ymNI/AAAAAAAATXE/ed1PgTmWbsEL2f1VdvygWBqegdR0bhXxwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B22%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKLwkZkPkl4/V_lyWSquVPI/AAAAAAAATXE/hqyk0tme1sU_4KIAIqby2__dRPMkPRzKQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B23%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKLwkZkPkl4/V_lyWSquVPI/AAAAAAAATXE/hqyk0tme1sU_4KIAIqby2__dRPMkPRzKQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B23%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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These did not photograph as well as they taste. They are chocolate tasting cups from <a href="http://chocolatmoderne.com/">Chocolat Moderne</a>, and you put each one into your mouth and get this great, complex explosion of different flavors. Like a truffle, sort of, but in a novel shape.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fSPcFG9Isw/V_lyWX4rw-I/AAAAAAAATXE/yh0gxcIF0M4CWX2WbcU99YK0J_SU674AQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B24%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fSPcFG9Isw/V_lyWX4rw-I/AAAAAAAATXE/yh0gxcIF0M4CWX2WbcU99YK0J_SU674AQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B24%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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Ecuador had a big area with a number of different small chocolatiers. It was remarkable how different everyone's goods tastes: even though all the chocolates were from the same origin country, they were from different areas and different plantations, and that resulted in a huge variety of taste. I think it's really cool that Ecuador supports its chocolate makers like this, and now I want to go on a trip down there just to visit all of these plantations. Please check them all out:<br />
<a href="http://www.villakuyaya.com/">VillaKuyaya</a><br />
<a href="http://conexionchocolate.com/">Conexion</a><br />
<a href="http://angovichocolates.com/">Angovi</a><br />
<a href="http://minka.ec/en/home-english/">Minka</a><br />
<a href="http://incakaw.com/">IncaKaw</a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZfzO43SEWo/V_lyYD7L88I/AAAAAAAATXE/pEX7PRq8Vk0HsQy8qHYzDOUbo7sI11NtACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B27%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZfzO43SEWo/V_lyYD7L88I/AAAAAAAATXE/pEX7PRq8Vk0HsQy8qHYzDOUbo7sI11NtACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B27%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvRGhJFzMLY/V_lyYDxc3ZI/AAAAAAAATXE/jXl8R5_JHRE-jI_1bh1UDYnOhq8_0EaOwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B28%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvRGhJFzMLY/V_lyYDxc3ZI/AAAAAAAATXE/jXl8R5_JHRE-jI_1bh1UDYnOhq8_0EaOwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B28%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ5iD2EBIBA/V_lyYzOPhzI/AAAAAAAATXE/edWl7XBuo9sl4R_GlZW_BPZ312RCmKxDACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B29%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ5iD2EBIBA/V_lyYzOPhzI/AAAAAAAATXE/edWl7XBuo9sl4R_GlZW_BPZ312RCmKxDACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B29%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1ZNfYnDi-4/V_lyZbz11BI/AAAAAAAATXE/b3FwGGrg7Q861uCxO62ObyKs54IKD0YogCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B30%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1ZNfYnDi-4/V_lyZbz11BI/AAAAAAAATXE/b3FwGGrg7Q861uCxO62ObyKs54IKD0YogCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B30%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgORwb7YmUw/V_lyZueFWZI/AAAAAAAATXE/rP1YjKuCU4IQ3w3QjE3hM6Zo6XbdMQIEQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B31%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgORwb7YmUw/V_lyZueFWZI/AAAAAAAATXE/rP1YjKuCU4IQ3w3QjE3hM6Zo6XbdMQIEQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B31%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DxLiuxVTRws/V_lyaJYtxtI/AAAAAAAATXE/UlHx-V4C4SYGE64uBCh8X3umcpEE_NWlQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B33%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DxLiuxVTRws/V_lyaJYtxtI/AAAAAAAATXE/UlHx-V4C4SYGE64uBCh8X3umcpEE_NWlQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B33%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjjSKlgSmGo/V_lyageUTHI/AAAAAAAATXE/z4RZGFnsLKUZsDD1rNnjGtrN_zjLIcubwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B34%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjjSKlgSmGo/V_lyageUTHI/AAAAAAAATXE/z4RZGFnsLKUZsDD1rNnjGtrN_zjLIcubwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B34%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://mariebelle.com/">MarieBelle</a> is of course NYC-based, and they've recently opened a second shop, in addition to their one in Soho, called "Cacao Market," out in Williamsburg/Greenpoint. (It's on Guernsey Street. I have lived in this city for a decade and I still have no idea whether Guernsey is technically in Williamsburg or technically in Greenpoint. I may never know.)<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuJK_JZ27yE/V_lybkiu_qI/AAAAAAAATXE/LKUqWJ0oJREoLRdqwT2KiPofwVD5cd38gCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B35%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuJK_JZ27yE/V_lybkiu_qI/AAAAAAAATXE/LKUqWJ0oJREoLRdqwT2KiPofwVD5cd38gCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B35%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HwW2onFZxqk/V_lycK840yI/AAAAAAAATXE/1Pn1Ha0aZTcmkTMphAl23ESeC4CnAA-DgCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B36%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HwW2onFZxqk/V_lycK840yI/AAAAAAAATXE/1Pn1Ha0aZTcmkTMphAl23ESeC4CnAA-DgCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B36%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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We bought bars at <a href="https://www.raakachocolate.com/">Raaka</a>, because of course we did. Some ghost chili pepper bars for a friend of David's, and a maple and nibs bar, for me.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5e8MiS9VNOI/V_lycLksNOI/AAAAAAAATXE/-l6de3DnAj4t1bR4Le74jKaTv1yN8DdmgCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B37%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5e8MiS9VNOI/V_lycLksNOI/AAAAAAAATXE/-l6de3DnAj4t1bR4Le74jKaTv1yN8DdmgCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B37%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KllZ79lgPa8/V_lyc0QAijI/AAAAAAAATXE/4pCndEf8euQaGJTPgfcHN3AO2yziC3cUwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B39%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KllZ79lgPa8/V_lyc0QAijI/AAAAAAAATXE/4pCndEf8euQaGJTPgfcHN3AO2yziC3cUwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B39%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
<br />
I love <a href="http://www.tumbadorchocolate.com/">Tumbador</a>'s chocolate stuff, like their Devil's Food Cake and their peanut butter cups. David is a chocolate bar purist, but I love chocolate confections. Also I boughht a bar of their graham cracker spread, which shockingly has no chocolate in it, but which I think will go well in the batch of lemon verbana ice cream I'm working on.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKe871tdfYw/V_lycYE_prI/AAAAAAAATXE/FkTokV5WqgU62T-jrN6b1ymYfGMo-TgIwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B38%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKe871tdfYw/V_lycYE_prI/AAAAAAAATXE/FkTokV5WqgU62T-jrN6b1ymYfGMo-TgIwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B38%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
<br />
These are some French chocolate liquors that were actually really good. Often I find chocolate-flavored liquor to be too sweet and syrupy, but that was not the case here. The <a href="http://en.mbws.com/major">Chocolat Royal</a> was especially delicious. They suggested pouring it over ice cream, but honestly I think I'd just drink it. Why complicate matters.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IX_VfNKtw6Q/V_lyd-hiIEI/AAAAAAAATXE/2BJB4tt4Ar0sOyUnVBE7t5cKSSfvFiLbwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B41%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IX_VfNKtw6Q/V_lyd-hiIEI/AAAAAAAATXE/2BJB4tt4Ar0sOyUnVBE7t5cKSSfvFiLbwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B41%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://eclatchocolate.com/">Eclat</a> is classic and classy. Check out their sea salt caramel truffles.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70uCAZ1sEZs/V_lyfP_CpFI/AAAAAAAATXE/g8d-bMIfXeADgLz_hE71aBoKuS0FNmMqgCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B44%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70uCAZ1sEZs/V_lyfP_CpFI/AAAAAAAATXE/g8d-bMIfXeADgLz_hE71aBoKuS0FNmMqgCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B44%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ODNc7-ryLZc/V_lyfA6iT0I/AAAAAAAATXE/W5HhnsNvYrY34muV2TCQOH5_Ch0CKiG4QCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B45%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ODNc7-ryLZc/V_lyfA6iT0I/AAAAAAAATXE/W5HhnsNvYrY34muV2TCQOH5_Ch0CKiG4QCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B45%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W9UVZuDxYfM/V_lyfX2keDI/AAAAAAAATXE/v2l82hXt32ooc675TDdNr5K0e4YwdMvJACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B46%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W9UVZuDxYfM/V_lyfX2keDI/AAAAAAAATXE/v2l82hXt32ooc675TDdNr5K0e4YwdMvJACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B46%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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You know what nobody was interested in? Booths that did not have chocolate.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82AMKFrspKo/V_lyfkVjZLI/AAAAAAAATXE/4DKL7eZ2WYghJxOao3-xCqb4CllNSzpPQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B47%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82AMKFrspKo/V_lyfkVjZLI/AAAAAAAATXE/4DKL7eZ2WYghJxOao3-xCqb4CllNSzpPQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B47%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rosestreetpatisserie/">Rose Street Patisserie</a> is from Minneapolis, and they just started shipping their goods! This is an exciting moment in the life of any local chocolate-maker.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyklbrLDfK0/V_lygKTlcOI/AAAAAAAATXE/7-Z06o44clwfZS26ss3TqotAjJJ54BUAgCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B48%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyklbrLDfK0/V_lygKTlcOI/AAAAAAAATXE/7-Z06o44clwfZS26ss3TqotAjJJ54BUAgCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B48%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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I love <a href="http://www.tcho.com/">TCHO</a> always.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl3fQbznrzg/V_lygV9jIrI/AAAAAAAATXE/FRo29atqXkINosFvgCxpsKoNdEnpLavQwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B49%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl3fQbznrzg/V_lygV9jIrI/AAAAAAAATXE/FRo29atqXkINosFvgCxpsKoNdEnpLavQwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B49%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://truffleshots.com/">Truffle Shots</a> are just the inside of a truffle. Like, the gooey bit without any of that hard chocolate shell to struggle through. You eat these with a little spoon. It's a family-run business, and they have dozens of different designs and flavors. This is impressive familial teamwork. If I told any member of my family that I wanted to go into business making truffle shots, they'd be like, "you're on your own, kid."<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbTck9CZUuU/V_lyhF9tgqI/AAAAAAAATXE/nSPTV_i4gRcC81hMskN3jiEK6HPM9rz9gCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B51%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbTck9CZUuU/V_lyhF9tgqI/AAAAAAAATXE/nSPTV_i4gRcC81hMskN3jiEK6HPM9rz9gCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B51%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XgG3A0EgJfE/V_lyhrFGnPI/AAAAAAAATXE/XtetvnGacZ07HIp-T66Ib8UcW04vu7eHQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B52%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XgG3A0EgJfE/V_lyhrFGnPI/AAAAAAAATXE/XtetvnGacZ07HIp-T66Ib8UcW04vu7eHQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B52%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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Chocolate and Star Wars apparently go hand-in-hand. These are from <a href="http://www.fikanyc.com/">FIKA</a> and Jon Goode, respectively.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5wAjm-Z4io/V_lyiFNPCkI/AAAAAAAATXE/X8eN3oa5PaY5tXcpQVQ9udWahYZ_hM_UQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B54%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5wAjm-Z4io/V_lyiFNPCkI/AAAAAAAATXE/X8eN3oa5PaY5tXcpQVQ9udWahYZ_hM_UQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B54%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i32EHtgaDUw/V_lylygj38I/AAAAAAAATXE/-Z2C4y_LRcYx951Ry-yAOmDS3ViAmfWYACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B62%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i32EHtgaDUw/V_lylygj38I/AAAAAAAATXE/-Z2C4y_LRcYx951Ry-yAOmDS3ViAmfWYACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B62%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jongoodchocolates/">Jon Goode </a>also offered some chocolate vulvas, which is not something you see every day.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpjYRPEZPVs/V_lylYUi-AI/AAAAAAAATXE/bTSgBSzDDUcIrIdSFbLWtimiu2YOuJhLQCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B61%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpjYRPEZPVs/V_lylYUi-AI/AAAAAAAATXE/bTSgBSzDDUcIrIdSFbLWtimiu2YOuJhLQCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B61%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rawclates.com/">Rawclates </a>is healthier than I need chocolate to be, since it uses coconut sugar and is raw and vegan etc. I would describe this as "dinner chocolate." Then you can have a Truffle Shot for "dessert chocolate."<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXofsVYSsUQ/V_lyiUeCPkI/AAAAAAAATXE/UWCW_4NcAsg0Ck_IyhyMjzBp-GavaybGACPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B55%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXofsVYSsUQ/V_lyiUeCPkI/AAAAAAAATXE/UWCW_4NcAsg0Ck_IyhyMjzBp-GavaybGACPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B55%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9cTu29OnV7I/V_lyjLGYV6I/AAAAAAAATXE/JO7tkNFVXtskFnWOyvdYccRfF7cZyCsuwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B56%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9cTu29OnV7I/V_lyjLGYV6I/AAAAAAAATXE/JO7tkNFVXtskFnWOyvdYccRfF7cZyCsuwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B56%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://indichocolate.com/">Indi Chocolate</a> is from Seattle, and they had mostly brought cocoa butter hand lotion and chapstick and stuff. But they also had a bag of chocolate chai tea, which I bought because I figure there is little that couldn't benefit from being infused with chocolate chai flavoring.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JQb-HoCKhCA/V_lyjSC1xdI/AAAAAAAATXE/Flh8W48iYvkMxhna1D7NBnIE4XLJaONqwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B57%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JQb-HoCKhCA/V_lyjSC1xdI/AAAAAAAATXE/Flh8W48iYvkMxhna1D7NBnIE4XLJaONqwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B57%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://qns.com/story/2016/03/07/sugarcube-dessert-coffee-new-queens-bakery-uses-3-d-printed-molds-to-create-unique-desserts/">Sugarcube</a> is a dessert and coffee bar in Queens. I've never been there, but I want to. The owner is an architect, so he 3-D prints chocolate items in a MakerBot. Legitimately I do not understand how this works, and I may have just mis-described it all. But I saw the products and they are extraordinary. I asked if I could touch one, and then I realized they were works of art and I would definitely either drop it or eat it by accident. Anyway, here's an example of a chocolate door he made:<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYcjhibirg/V_lym98OI0I/AAAAAAAATXE/TCwnbGvn3CcOgRZXzsYRnVopMJmwRIKuwCPcB/s1600/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B64%2Bof%2B65.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYcjhibirg/V_lym98OI0I/AAAAAAAATXE/TCwnbGvn3CcOgRZXzsYRnVopMJmwRIKuwCPcB/s320/Last%2BImport%2B-%2B64%2Bof%2B65.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</B> If you don't go to the Big Chocolate Show tomorrow, you are a fool. The end.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-10523743558190810912016-10-07T02:36:00.003-04:002016-10-07T02:36:54.889-04:00The Big Chocolate Show (!!!)GUYS.<br />
<br />
GUYS.<br />
<br />
GUYS.<br />
<br />
(This is an NYC-blog, so you should know that is non-gendered)<br />
<br />
GUYS.<br />
<br />
The Chocolate Show is back.<br />
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We think. We're not sure. But at the very least something very much like it is back. This weekend -- Saturday October 8 and Sunday October 9 -- <a href="http://www.thebigchocolateshow.com/">The Big Chocolate Show</a> is coming to The Waterfront NY. If you remember, we threw a <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2014/01/chocolate-party.html">massive chocolate party in 2014</a> because the Fall 2013 Chocolate Show did not happen. The Fall 2014 and Fall 2015 shows also did not happen. It's been rough out there. Will our prayers be answered? Has redemption arrived?<br />
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Stay tuned.<br />
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<b>Bottom Line: </b>Buy tickets here: <a href="http://www.thebigchocolateshow.com/tickets-chocolate-expo-ny">http://www.thebigchocolateshow.com/tickets-chocolate-expo-ny</a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13774705010608065001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-9971024960967325802015-12-18T16:43:00.002-05:002015-12-18T16:43:55.800-05:00The Mast Bros ControversyThere's a Mast Brothers debate raging right now, as Quartz just ran a story entitled <a href="http://qz.com/571151/the-mast-brothers-fooled-the-world-into-buying-crappy-hipster-chocolate-for-10-a-bar/">How the Mast Brothers fooled the world into paying $10 a bar for crappy hipster chocolate</a>.<br />
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Obviously this is a matter that concerns us deeply as a) a chocolate blog and b) a chocolate-in-NYC-specifically blog. So we are coming out of hiatus, at least momentarily, to respond to these claims that the Mast Bros. have basically pulled the wool over all our eyes and tricked us into buying mediocre chocolate by using questionable marketing strategies and perhaps outright lying.<br />
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David has a lot to say about this. He's never been a big Mast Brothers fan, in all the years that he's tried their various bars. But, as he concedes, and I (Leila) agree with wholeheartedly, "They are chocolate, and chocolate is good."<br />
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This article makes three claims to try to damn the Mast Brothers: first, some of the original batches were not bean to bar. Second, Mast Bros. did not invent the chocolate-making process. Third, their process is currently opaque.<br />
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Each of the three points, while technically accurate, is also somewhat petty and pedantic. And taken together, they still do not prove that the chocolate is, as the headline puts it, "crappy."<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtWaWLfbL7A/VnR9ejnmDRI/AAAAAAAARfI/s3lvKb3YbzI/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtWaWLfbL7A/VnR9ejnmDRI/AAAAAAAARfI/s3lvKb3YbzI/s400/IMG_0671.JPG" /></a><br />
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So, first of all, according to all evidence cited in this article, some of the first batches were bean-to-bar and some were Valrhona. Mast Bros. admitted this at the time, and they don't deny it now, so it's weird to start making a big fuss about it. It's especially weird, because Valrhona is actually pretty good -- and in fact a separate bean-to-bar company (though obviously a mass-produced one). I'm very skeptical that anyone could tell on a blind tasting that they were using Valrhona unless they had a Valrhona bar side-by-side (e.g. if their bar said "Trinidad," unless you were very familiar with the Valrhona Trinidad bar, I'm skeptical that you would know that the bar was mass-roasted/conched given that Mast re-tempered the bars. Unless of course their conching machines for their actual bean-to-bar chocolates were of an extremely larger grain than Valrhona's, which I don't think is the case, because then that would have been mentioned in this story.) More importantly, i think everyone knows this ended a long time ago, and they were admitting it at the time, so it's hard to say they are conning people based on this.<br />
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Second of all, the idea that they invented the chocolate making process is obviously marketing hyperbole. No one believes that. No chocolate consumer believes that. No pastry chef believes that. <i>You</i> didn't believe that. Anyone who thinks they re-invented roasting and refining chocolate and never even bothered to google the process is just sticking their head in the sand. Anyone who thinks they built conching machines by hand knows nothing about how this process works. Obviously they went on Chocolate Alchemy. Everyone has. It would be wildly irresponsible not to. That's not the "gotcha" this article makes it out to be.<br />
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Third of all, their current process is opaque because they sell so much chocolate that they are probably not using the best beans or interesting origins. This should surprise nobody. It's the same deal with Valrhona: nothing is wrong with their process, but besides a few single-origin lines, they simply need too substantial a quantity to get from some of these more artisanal plantations. You can criticize that if you want, but again, I don't think they're fooling anyone.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wm9FM5F9rAU/VnR9kkJKkKI/AAAAAAAARfQ/onx-rTOO090/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wm9FM5F9rAU/VnR9kkJKkKI/AAAAAAAARfQ/onx-rTOO090/s400/IMG_0667.JPG" /></a><br />
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All that said, yes, obviously they got popular due to marketing. Their packaging is beautiful and their chocolate has never been that good. It's that simple. They started out as amateurs, and they were successful regardless of their sourcing process, so they've never had the incentive to source particularly well. I don't think they pick good beans, and I don't think they ever did -- even before they got them in large quantities like now.<br />
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But that's not the same as fooling anyone, or scamming anyone, and it's not like they don't do the process right. As they say -- since the beginning, they've made bean-to-bar chocolate using the right procedures. They don't use additives. They make chocolate out of cacao. So even if they aren't super talented at it (as compared to their obviously very talented marketing skills), let's not confuse this with Hershey's or even with Godiva.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</B> If what you're looking for is artisanal NYC chocolatiers, Mast Bros. isn't the best. There are others we love who work in smaller quantities and use higher quality beans: Antidote, Tumbador, Fine & Raw, and Raaka, to name a few. But that doesn't mean Mast Bros. are lying to anyone. And at the end of the day: they are chocolate, and chocolate is good.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-61168383900108556762014-12-16T23:26:00.002-05:002014-12-16T23:26:33.600-05:00Seattle Chocolates: #ChocolateGivesIf there is one thing we love here at Chocolate NYC, it's holidays. That's because everyone else thinks it's a great idea to eat, make, and give chocolate things on holidays. We happen to know that <i>every</i> day is a great day for chocolate, but some other people need a "special occasion," and that is A-OK by us.<br />
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The Christmas/Hanukkah season is perhaps the best time of year for the gift of chocolate, as <a href="http://www.seattlechocolates.com/">Seattle Chocolates</a> has figured out. This December they're running a campaign called <a href="http://www.seattlechocolates.com/chocolategives">#ChocolateGives</a>: you purchase chocolates from them, or just post something using the hashtag, and they will donate food to someone in need through food pantries in Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, and New York. You get to be charitable and eat chocolate at the same time. It's a win-win situation.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFdF32Yxeh8/VJD_la7hheI/AAAAAAAAB4o/ENTcO1DQTkQ/s1600/IMG_3713.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFdF32Yxeh8/VJD_la7hheI/AAAAAAAAB4o/ENTcO1DQTkQ/s460/IMG_3713.JPG" /></a><br />
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So how is the chocolate, you want to know? I'll tell you: it is very good. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_gJH-A3rT3w/VJD_liCLqbI/AAAAAAAAB4s/g8MZArOQhk8/s1600/IMG_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_gJH-A3rT3w/VJD_liCLqbI/AAAAAAAAB4s/g8MZArOQhk8/s460/IMG_3714.JPG" /></a><br />
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They offer a variety of bonbons, my favorite being the candy cane ones: you can't go wrong with dark chocolate with peppermint flecks. I would eat these every day. They have a bazillion other flavors of bonbon, if mint isn't your thing: sea salt and peanut butter and fruit fillings of all sorts, sone dark and some milk chocolate, so you can get whatever floats your personal boat.<br />
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They take a few risks with their "truffle bars," some of which pay off, and some of which do not. I was unimpressed by the Birthday Cake one--it had too many ingredients and tasted too sweet, though I am not the target audience for white chocolate under any circumstances. The dark bars, on the other hand, are lovely, and I'd definitely recommend them.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> I would eat this chocolate even if doing so didn't contribute to charity. The fact that it does (or that it will through the end of the month, anyway) is just icing on the proverbial cake.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-60370953202725078192014-11-17T01:27:00.001-05:002014-11-17T01:27:40.378-05:00Baci Perugina Double Layer Candy BarYou probably know <a href="http://new.perugina.com/">Perugina</a> from their famous Baci chocolate hazelnut-filled "kisses":<br />
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<img src="http://www.doma-italian-market.com/images/Baci_Perugina_Chocolates_D0-94007b.jpg"><br />
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But they now have a NEW product, called a Baci double layer candy bar, and they sent us a few bars to try because they are awesome. So this package showed up in the mail:<br />
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What is inside the package? These things!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJq-XrvdrDQ/VGmNN5v2RNI/AAAAAAAAB3U/CK5QuQF29ic/s1600/IMG_3716.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJq-XrvdrDQ/VGmNN5v2RNI/AAAAAAAAB3U/CK5QuQF29ic/s460/IMG_3716.jpg" /></a><br />
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And what is inside that wrapping? This!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVb9Ok3QLgM/VGmNNy3ctvI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/pJhIe87hwyw/s1600/IMG_3717.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVb9Ok3QLgM/VGmNNy3ctvI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/pJhIe87hwyw/s460/IMG_3717.jpg" /></a><br />
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As you may have predicted from the name "double layer candy bar," these bars have, ahem, two layers. In the dark chocolate bars, one layer is dark chocolate, the other is hazelnut chocolate, and in the middle are actual hazelnuts. The milk chocolate bars are the same, only with a milk chocolate layer in place of the hazelnut layer.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFslyp1Whcw/VGmNOuYJmyI/AAAAAAAAB3g/WIP-I98LqJk/s1600/IMG_3718.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFslyp1Whcw/VGmNOuYJmyI/AAAAAAAAB3g/WIP-I98LqJk/s460/IMG_3718.jpg" /></a><br />
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The hazelnuts added a great textural element, making this extremely edible. I went through a bar much faster than I'd anticipated. It is very much for candy lovers: the chocolate is sweet and straightforward. Even the dark chocolate bars are only 51%, and they're counterbalanced by the gianduia layer, making this a bar that's much better for the milk chocolate fan than for someone looking for an intense dark chocolate flavor. I could see this going over big with the Toblerone crowd.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> A classy candy bar perfect for fans of sweet chocolate, and of chocolate with pieces of hazelnut in it.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-50267993374638973132014-11-11T21:16:00.000-05:002014-11-11T21:16:22.107-05:00La Maison du Chocolat Valentine's and Easter Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sorry not to have updated regularly, but here is some good news: La Maison du Chocolat's Valentine's and Easter collections!</div>
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First of all, La Maison has 4 special bonbons for Valentine's 2015. Apparently these are developed, like, a year in advance, and initially conceived about a year before that. Each year has a theme, and this year's is caramel:</div>
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All four were good and interesting. My favorite, unsurprisingly, was the plain dark chocolate bonbon, sourced from a plantation in Venezuela whose beans gave a strong caramel flavor note. Apparently, many people did a double-take, thinking there was caramel in there. I didn't, but I did love it.</div>
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My second favorite, surprisingly, was the milk chocolate. It has some rooibos tea and some other good stuff. An interesting taste that was still both chocolatey and playful.</div>
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I did not get to taste the Easter design, but wow:</div>
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Check out the detail on the "leather"! This is all carved by hand!:</div>
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<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-AHviSA32NRA/VGLAZLAWkbI/AAAAAAAADfw/o_fXoELZEVM/s640/CAM01044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AHviSA32NRA/VGLAZLAWkbI/AAAAAAAADfw/o_fXoELZEVM/s640/CAM01044.jpg" /></a></div>
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Not many of these are made, and each takes a full day, done in assembly line fashion. It's delivered to the various shops in several pieces, and then "glued" together with ganache.</div>
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<b>Bottom Line: </b>La Maison du Chocolat is good enough to get us blogging again.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xqqvAUeaHh4/U-2DTeihdhI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/vXR15hAieqc/s1600/IMG_2912.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xqqvAUeaHh4/U-2DTeihdhI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/vXR15hAieqc/s460/IMG_2912.jpg" /></a><br />
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No. There is not.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pzz2CYYpJIo/U-2DUxPhfeI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/aXvyT0PZxVQ/s1600/IMG_2913.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pzz2CYYpJIo/U-2DUxPhfeI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/aXvyT0PZxVQ/s460/IMG_2913.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.xoxochocolates.com">XOXO Chocolates</a> is a small, independent Las Vegas chocolatier and bakery. They make fudge and various types of bark and biscotti and brownies and just a whole host of delicious things. So we sampled some of them, as we are wont to do.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQUs46ZHwJw/U-2DVWxr0UI/AAAAAAAAB1c/1qhSFPbJBd4/s1600/IMG_2914.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQUs46ZHwJw/U-2DVWxr0UI/AAAAAAAAB1c/1qhSFPbJBd4/s460/IMG_2914.jpg" /></a><br />
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The white chocolate fudge (upper lefthand corner) was salty and sweet, with an excellent texture, the kind of soft that melts in your mouth.<br />
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The espresso fudge (upper righthand corner) was excellent if you're a coffee fan. It had a strong coffee flavor, and bits of coffee bean throughout it, to add texture.<br />
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The biscotti (lower righthand corner) was not very chocolatey-tasting. It was plain biscotti with raisins, so really the only chocolate came from the white and dark chocolate drizzled on top.<br />
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The bark (lower lefthand corner) was a little milky for my tastes, but the almonds added nice texture, and the white chocolate drizzled on top made it look pretty. I tried only this one kind of bark, but I can see on the website that they have peppermint bark (which is my favorite type) and sugar-free almond bark (which seems useful), so I think you just need to pick your flavor wisely.<br />
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The winner from my perspective was definitely the espresso brownie (in the center, with the bow). The brownie was straight-up delightful, and its frosting was what carried the coffee flavor, so you could easily scrape off some or all of it if you don't love coffee.<br />
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The prices are also reasonable. I think a package of XOXO Chocolates would make an excellent gift for someone--it certainly made an excellent gift for me!<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE</B>: An up-and-coming dessert company that clearly loves chocolate as much as we doLeila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-48449256918450874912014-08-14T23:41:00.001-04:002014-08-14T23:41:28.420-04:00McVitie's plain chocolate digestivesMy junior year in college, I studied abroad in the UK. During the ten months that I was there, I ate roughly one thousand McVitie's plan chocolate digestives.<br />
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To clarify for Americans, I will say that "digestives" are basically cookies, sort of like graham crackers, and "plain chocolate" means dark chocolate.<br />
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When I lived in England, I would go through a pack of these in a couple of days. They are just so compulsively eatable. They taste basically like a s'mores only without the warm marshmallow inside--just something like a graham cracker with some dark chocolate coating it. It's not too sweet, and it's not so intensely flavored--it's like the dessert equivalent of pretzels, in that it's kind of plain and you just want to keep eating it.<br />
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Fairly recently, McVitie's digestives have become easily available in some U.S. grocery stores. They're only a couple dollars; not even priced like an import. When I first discovered this, I briefly felt like, "This isn't right. I only want to eat these when I am in England." Then I got over it. Now I eat three or four digestives every day.<br />
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Since my time in England, McVitie's has refined their packaging, adding this nifty re-sealable top, so you don't necessarily have to eat all the biscuits in one go (though obviously you can if you want to).<br />
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And because this is the U.S. and we have laws here, they've stickered the packages with FDA-friendly nutritional information, meaning that now, for the first time, I could find out just how many calories and grams of sugar are in each of these. I mean, I haven't read the label, so I don't actually know. But I could.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE</b>: If you're buying a pack of grocery store cookies, I would definitely advocate for these over the Oreos, Chips Ahoy, or pretty much anything else on the shelf. Perfect for tea time, snack time, or coming home from a party at 3am.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-44960863130137762422014-07-01T23:55:00.000-04:002014-07-01T23:55:55.283-04:00Ben & Jerry's peanut butter fudge coreAs you probably know--because you are the sort of person who reads a chocolate blog--today is the first day of National Ice Cream Month, which is a real American holiday. Personally I do not need a specific month earmarked to eat chocolate. But, it's as good an excuse as any.<br />
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In celebration of this month, I finally tried Ben & Jerry's "core" ice cream.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zjx_vCowfCE/U7N-8jUZP-I/AAAAAAAABz8/zCaVPxZ6jcU/s1600/IMG_3030.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zjx_vCowfCE/U7N-8jUZP-I/AAAAAAAABz8/zCaVPxZ6jcU/s460/IMG_3030.jpg" /></a><br />
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The idea here is that you have chocolate ice cream on one side, peanut butter ice cream on the other, a peanut butter-fudge "core" running down the center, and peanut butter cups sprinkled throughout. Here's what it looks like.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PP9lg1eg2tQ/U7N-_Oe01jI/AAAAAAAAB0E/ahzRXNJUuqw/s1600/IMG_3031.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PP9lg1eg2tQ/U7N-_Oe01jI/AAAAAAAAB0E/ahzRXNJUuqw/s460/IMG_3031.jpg" /></a><br />
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So, Ben & Jerry's is great. It's not freshly-made or farm-to-table or organic or whatever a lot of the ice creams that we review on this blog are. You know this. It's like $5 or $6 per pint (which you can compare to a brand like, say, <a href="http://shop.jenis.com/ice-creams/">Jeni's</a>, where pints cost twice that.<br />
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But for easily available, grocery store ice cream, it's great. It's thick and flavorful. They do not skimp on the mix-ins. If you're promised peanut butter cups, you are getting a full allotment of peanut butter cups--which is good, because Ben & Jerry's peanut butter cups are THE BOMB.<br />
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I guess I'd say that their mix-ins (peanut butter cups, cookie dough, whatever it may be) are better than their ice cream. I wouldn't eat a bowl of plain chocolate from Ben & Jerry's. Well, okay, I <i>would</i>, because I will eat a bowl of plain chocolate ice cream from anywhere, but it would not be my first choice. But their ice cream provides a totally good foundation for their mix-ins.<br />
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I don't know that the "core" ice cream is so much better than just chocolate ice cream with peanut butter cups, or just peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter cups. The fudge in the middle didn't add a huge amount for me: I was more focused on the ice creams. For me the main benefit of the "core" approach was that I got two different and very good flavors for the price of one. But if you were really into the "core" substance, then this pint would be even more appealing to you.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> This is probably my new go-to choice for Ben & Jerry's pints. I'd even put it above Phish Food. Maybe even above Half Baked.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-48422826458318787222014-06-29T00:33:00.000-04:002014-06-29T00:33:19.566-04:00After my deeply disappointing experience at <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2014/06/morgensterns-finest-ice-cream.html">Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream</a>, I was ready to go to an ice cream parlor that never disappoints: <a href="http://www.brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com">Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCf3i1T6cwI/U6-UYU_zitI/AAAAAAAABzc/oBFoXtHmJwQ/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCf3i1T6cwI/U6-UYU_zitI/AAAAAAAABzc/oBFoXtHmJwQ/s460/IMG_3019.JPG" /></a><br />
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Farmacy is basically everything I look for in a restaurant experience. It's a charming atmosphere, they play 50s music on the stereo, and they offer delicious sundaes.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAbxO4Sp2mA/U6-UTBdCjWI/AAAAAAAABzU/t5oRXBiSR4s/s1600/IMG_3018.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAbxO4Sp2mA/U6-UTBdCjWI/AAAAAAAABzU/t5oRXBiSR4s/s460/IMG_3018.jpg" /></a><br />
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Unlike a place like <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/11/ample-hills.html">Ample Hills</a> or <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2013/07/odd-fellows.html">Odd Fellows</a>, Farmacy does not have lots of ice cream flavors, or very experimental flavors. They offer about a half dozen flavors made by <a href="http://adirondackcreamery.com">Adirondack Creamery</a>, which are made with fresh, hormone-free ingredients.<br />
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The ice cream is very good on its own, but since this is an old-fashioned soda shoppe, you'd be a fool not to dress it up in a milkshake or a float or (duh) a sundae.<br />
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The one on the left is vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and Farmacy's homemade peanut butter. The one on the right, obviously, is mine. It's a scoop of chocolate ice cream and a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream, and cookie crumbles from Farmacy's fresh-baked cookies.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</B> Not my favorite standalone ice cream in the city, but unquestionably my favorite place in the city to eat an ice cream sundae.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-23316649205947419472014-06-26T21:07:00.000-04:002014-06-26T21:07:32.886-04:00Franklin Park bourbon milkshake<a href="http://franklinparkbrooklyn.com">Franklin Park</a> is everything a bar should be. They have pub trivia and a reading series. They have a lovely outdoor area. They have dancing and DJs on weekend nights. Most of all, they have bourbon milkshakes.<br />
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As you may recall from my foray into <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2014/03/kings-county-distillery-chocolate.html">chocolate whiskey</a>, I am intrigued by mixing chocolate and alcohol. Franklin Park's bourbon milkshake is the best way I've found to do this. <br />
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It definitely tastes bourbon-y, so if you don't like that, just get a non-alcoholic milkshake here (which they also make).<br />
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Pro tip: if you're putting bourbon in there, make sure to stir up your drink frequently. Otherwise all the bourbon will sink to the bottom and you will drink about nine ounces of plain chocolate shake, followed by about two ounces of brown-colored bourbon. If you mix it together, it will melt your ice cream, but will make for a pleasant chocolate-bourbon mixture throughout. I learned this the hard way.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> A truly delightful drink for a summer day.<br />
Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-24962924074393988242014-06-25T18:21:00.000-04:002014-06-25T18:21:09.556-04:00Morgenstern's Finest Ice CreamOne month ago, I read about <a href="http://www.morgensternsnyc.com/">Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream</a> and got <i>really excited</i>. Now, there are a lot of marvelous places in this city to get ice cream. <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/11/ample-hills.html">Ample Hills</a>, <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/10/brooklyn-ice-cream-factory.html">Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory</a>, <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2013/07/blue-marble.html">Blue Marble</a>--and that's without even having to think about it. So why, you wonder, would I get so excited about this new ice cream venue?<br />
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Because Morgenstern's menu listed the following:<br />
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<b>CHOCOLATE DELUXE<br />
Chocolate every way.<br />
Chocolate frozen.<br />
Chocolate whipped.<br />
Chocolate crunch.<br />
Chocolate baked.<br />
It's over.</b><br />
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This so-called Chocolate Deluxe is priced at $15, but I will pay big bucks in order to keep you informed about important chocolate news. Plus, that's some really good menu copy.<br />
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So I gathered together a number of friends. And last night we went to Morgenstern's, to try this Chocolate Deluxe and see if it was, as promised, "over." And here's what happened:<br />
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<b>They didn't have it.</b><br />
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The woman who worked there assured me that it wasn't that they had run out for the day. It's that the Chocolate Deluxe actually <i>does not exist</i>. The chef is still in the process of creating it. At <i>some point</i> presumably it will exist, since it is promised on the menu. But she could not tell me when.<br />
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Folks, go to Brooklyn Farmacy, go to Emack and Bolio, go to <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/11/sundaes-and-cones.html">Sundaes and Cones</a>. There is so much good ice cream in New York City. Don't waste your time on a place that promises chocolate they cannot deliver.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</B> You're right, Morgenstern's: It's over.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-18091606854473642182014-06-02T00:03:00.000-04:002014-06-02T00:03:02.182-04:00Mouth chocolate-covered deliciousness gift bagFor Christmas/Hanukkah, the fabulously talented Mallory Kasdan (author of <i><a href="http://ellathebook.com">Ella</a></i>) gave me a gift bag of chocolate-covered things manufactured in Brooklyn from <a href="http://www.mouth.com/products/chocolate-covered-deliciousness">Mouth</a>, which sells indie, small-batch, artisanal foods.<br />
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Basically, I want to eat every single thing that Mouth sells, and ideally nothing else--if it were possible to thrive on artisanal pickles and mayonnaise and chocolate bars alone, that is what I would do.<br />
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I have now eaten every last item in my chocolate-covered gift bag. Here are my bottom-line responses to each item:<br />
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<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/5392/products/NunuGrahamBox900_969a5e62-acce-40a4-897f-68632934fc96_grande.jpg?v=1378927055"><br />
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Nunu Chocolates, chocolate-covered grahams: Loved these. Crisp, chocolatey, sea salt sprinkled on top. More, please.<br />
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<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/5392/products/NunuHokeyPokeyBo900_552c69c5-5f15-4416-bb70-f1225104d571_grande.jpg?v=1378927074"><br />
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Nunu Chocolates, hokey pokey: This was okay, but the texture doesn't do it for me. It's chocolate-covered honeycomb, and it gets stuck in your molars. If you like honeycomb, though, this is a good choice.<br />
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<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/5392/products/CornNutDrageesBox900_25f7207f-f021-411d-902d-175be50a3320_grande.jpg?v=1378926965"><br />
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Tumbador, corn nut dragee: Another good salty-sweet combo, but I liked this less than the Nunu Chocolates graham crackers, again because these got caught in my molars, and also sometimes they had a weird soapy taste.<br />
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<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/5392/products/JacquesTorresCornFlakesPackage900_29054fcf-eb00-484a-9023-a50963757311_grande.jpg?v=1378926993"><br />
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Jacques Torres, chocolate-covered corn flake clusters: These were awesome. Crunchy, chocolatey, all the appeal of chocolate-covered pretzels only more interesting.<br />
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<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/5392/products/RoniSuePretzel900_de8d1d97-6b16-479d-9368-43b28ebb5f11_grande.jpg?v=1378927241"><br />
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Roni-Sue's chocolate-dipped pretzels: These misled me. You know I love chocolate-dipped pretzels, and these looked so beautiful. The chocolate part was good. But the pretzel they chose to dip was texturally just wrong. <br />
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<img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0100/5392/products/TumbadorHazelnutDrageeGroup900_grande.jpg?v=1383852199"><br />
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Tumbador, hazelnut dragee: Delightful.These were even better than the other Tumbador item, because unlike the corn nuts, these did not get stuck in your molars.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> If I could receive this gift bag in the mail every couple months for the rest of my life, I would be happy. Also, go look at Mouth's website. They offer a lot more items than these. A lot of Brooklyn things worth eating.<br />
Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-41899097102870674382014-06-01T23:38:00.000-04:002014-06-01T23:38:46.891-04:00Convivium Osteria<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-GSoFjTkXk/U4vwqDF2qiI/AAAAAAAAByE/NwvGFuzhxNs/s1600/IMG_2929.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-GSoFjTkXk/U4vwqDF2qiI/AAAAAAAAByE/NwvGFuzhxNs/s460/IMG_2929.jpg" /></a><br />
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Apparently, we are on a <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2014/05/raw-hemp-brownie-from-organic-grill.html">desserts that taste like Lara Bars</a> kick, because this chocolate, fig, and walnut cake (called a "frustingolo") from <a href="http://convivium-osteria.com">Convivium Osteria</a> in Park Slope also tasted like a Lara Bar.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> There was a flourless chocolate cake option. This is what I get for trying to branch out from flourless chocolate cake.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-30847406609313542452014-06-01T23:30:00.002-04:002014-06-01T23:30:41.272-04:00Brief ice cream round-up: Coolhaus and L'Arte del GelatoIt's after Memorial Day, which means we are in full-on ice-cream-every-day-until-October mode. A quick recap of some of the ice creams we're eating:<br />
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First, <a href="http://eatcoolhaus.com">Coolhaus</a> ice cream sandwiches.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3x2Z2KocdQ/U4vrxRkbisI/AAAAAAAABx0/o8EQAAbuOXA/s1600/IMG_2927.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3x2Z2KocdQ/U4vrxRkbisI/AAAAAAAABx0/o8EQAAbuOXA/s460/IMG_2927.jpg" /></a><br />
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This particular one is dirty mint chip ice cream between double chocolate cookies. Coolhaus is a food truck, and it has more adventurous flavors you can try (like Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch cookies, and Fried Chicken and Waffles ice cream). And they have more chocolatey flavor combinations, <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/manhattan-espresso-cafe-featuring.html">as we have eaten previously</a>. But this one hit the spot. Fresh mint, chewy chocolatey cookie, and I am happy.<br />
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Next up, <a href="http://www.lartedelgelato.com/en/index.html">L'Arte Del Gelato</a>. Continuing in my mint-and-chocolate flavor combination craze, this is a scoop of mint chip gelato with a scoop of Valrhona chocolate gelato. I got it from the L'Arte del Gelato stand on the Highline.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl2DBjFoOK8/U4vrx4ENLTI/AAAAAAAABx4/P2dC_EkTJy8/s1600/IMG_2946.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl2DBjFoOK8/U4vrx4ENLTI/AAAAAAAABx4/P2dC_EkTJy8/s460/IMG_2946.jpg" /></a><br />
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It's okay. I mean, if you're nearby, and you're in the mood for gelato, definitely eat it. But I have to <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/10/larte-del-gelato.html">agree with David</a>: I've eaten L'Arte del Gelato a number of times and have never been blown away. There is gelato in this city that I would journey to eat--<a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2013/08/lalbero-dei-gelati.html">L'Albero dei Gelati, for example</a>--but L'Arte del Gelato is not one of them.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> Thank goodness it is ice cream season at last. I mean, I was eating a lot of ice cream even when it wasn't ice cream season. But at least now that feels more culturally desirable.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-40139167904487034322014-05-19T08:45:00.000-04:002014-05-19T08:45:23.232-04:00Russ and Daughters CafeOur beloved <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2013/07/russ-and-daughters.html">Russ and Daughters</a> has recently opened a <a href="http://www.russanddaughters.com">cafe</a>, so naturally I went to check it out and order all the chocolatey things on the menu.<br />
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The cafe is really lovely, all clean and white decor, delicious bagels and challah. It feels very soothing. It is also super-crowded, probably because it is still so new. I managed to secure a table by showing up for brunch around 3:45 in the afternoon. Feel free to employ this technique.<br />
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Elyse got an egg cream:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tV920AN-qsw/U3n8eZlhgeI/AAAAAAAABxY/2sjOjv6mdD8/s1600/IMG_2925.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tV920AN-qsw/U3n8eZlhgeI/AAAAAAAABxY/2sjOjv6mdD8/s460/IMG_2925.jpg" /></a><br />
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Classic U-Bet syrup, milk, soda. I tasted a sip and it was chocolatey. I can't say any more than that because I don't like fizzy beverages. It cost $7. <br />
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We also split a chocolate babka french toast:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQe95PGwli4/U3n8deYXlrI/AAAAAAAABxQ/_SciAh9Cb00/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQe95PGwli4/U3n8deYXlrI/AAAAAAAABxQ/_SciAh9Cb00/s460/IMG_2926.JPG" /></a><br />
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UM, what can I say about this. It was freaking delicious. I used the word "perfect" while I was eating it. It's the perfect crispy-soft texture. No gross eggy bits. Just warm, moist, somehow slightly crispy on the outside, very chocolatey bread product. Emily theorized that maybe they didn't fully bake the babka, and that's how it stayed so moist when they french toasted it. It's a good theory. All I can say for sure is that I loved it.<br />
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Unfortunately, it costs $10. Before tax and tip. And then there's that previously mentioned long wait for a table, most of the time. After brunch someone asked me if it had been "worth it," and I found this a hard question to answer. It was expensive, for a small piece of chocolate french toast. But can you really put a price on perfection?<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> Definitely go to Russ & Daughters Cafe. Ideally, go on someone else's dime.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-20190265521019712052014-05-16T12:26:00.002-04:002014-05-16T12:26:37.722-04:00Where is your favorite place of worship?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mine is in Heathrow:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1_QqpaHcTM/U3Y7jbsGE0I/AAAAAAAACwU/XKFbyoh6Ln4/s1600/matt+heathrow+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1_QqpaHcTM/U3Y7jbsGE0I/AAAAAAAACwU/XKFbyoh6Ln4/s1600/matt+heathrow+chocolate.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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(photo courtesy of my brother)</div>
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<b>Bottom Line: </b>I'm pretty ready to support dark chocolate in a holy war against the imposter chocolate faiths.</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13774705010608065001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-5121918683029722202014-05-10T14:39:00.001-04:002014-05-10T14:39:54.448-04:00Raw Hemp Brownie from Organic Grill<p dir="ltr">That's no brownie.  It's a Larabar.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Bottom Line: Though I guess we do like Larabars...</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pWUYLdp4vww/U25yd2elqdI/AAAAAAAACv0/Pu76xbF2luA/s1600/CAM00261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pWUYLdp4vww/U25yd2elqdI/AAAAAAAACv0/Pu76xbF2luA/s640/CAM00261.jpg"> </a> </div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13774705010608065001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-79857748379977449682014-04-24T23:36:00.002-04:002014-04-24T23:36:40.342-04:00Mast Brothers dark chocolate with sea salt barYou may be looking at this chocolate bar and thinking, "Well, that doesn't look all that attractive to me. That wrapper does't look like a jaunty shirt worn by Ralph Lauren on his sailboat." And to you I say, "That's because I tore through three-quarters of the bar before I stopped to take a photo. Of course it looks bedraggled now."<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-Mwi1qmTyg/U1nXP46GCyI/AAAAAAAABwY/RjH0L8LwtgY/s1600/IMG_2871.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-Mwi1qmTyg/U1nXP46GCyI/AAAAAAAABwY/RjH0L8LwtgY/s460/IMG_2871.jpg" /></a><br />
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There is a LOT of sea salt in here, and it works great. It reminds me of what I like about dark chocolate pretzels. A great salty-sweet combo.<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</B> <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/11/mast-brothers.html">Mast Brothers</a> does it again!Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-20307885268587383452014-04-24T23:31:00.000-04:002014-04-24T23:31:26.991-04:00Chocolate Bar iced hot chocolateEarlier this week, the temperature rose to 70 degrees for a brief but glorious afternoon (before it started raining). That meant it was at last time for my go-to summertime beverage: the <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2012/09/chocolate-bar.html">Chocolate Bar's</a> iced hot chocolate.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YF4WkD2dRGM/U1nWSfvbLxI/AAAAAAAABwQ/rmhbj2PSN9o/s1600/IMG_2872.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YF4WkD2dRGM/U1nWSfvbLxI/AAAAAAAABwQ/rmhbj2PSN9o/s460/IMG_2872.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> I have missed you, warm weather. And I have missed your beverages.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com019 West 8th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA40.73292 -73.99738715.2108855 -115.305981 66.2549545 -32.688793000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-53434176638863236092014-04-09T23:33:00.000-04:002014-04-09T23:33:06.405-04:00Shake Shack concreteI go to Shake Shack a fair amount, but I've never actually gotten a milkshake there, despite its name. Instead I go for the concretes. A concrete is custard (so frozen, but soft) with different toppings spun into it.<br />
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There are a lot of toppings to choose from, but I generally go with a Shack Attack, because it is chocolatiest: chocolate custard with fudge sauce, chocolate truffle cookie dough and Mast Brothers dark chocolate chunks, topped with chocolate sprinkles.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRauslLhsh4/U0YQFW-m_oI/AAAAAAAABvo/VRHmfWw055U/s1600/IMG_2817.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRauslLhsh4/U0YQFW-m_oI/AAAAAAAABvo/VRHmfWw055U/s460/IMG_2817.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> How can you possibly go wrong with this?Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-67369044118318185802014-04-09T23:25:00.000-04:002014-04-09T23:25:15.343-04:00Happy 30th birthday, David!On Sunday we had a surprise 30th birthday celebration for my co-blogger David. Obviously that meant we had 30 cakes. Here is what they all looked like:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3VJY5lvTDo/U0YNXkiuIJI/AAAAAAAABu8/ykG2FTVVols/s1600/IMG_2833.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3VJY5lvTDo/U0YNXkiuIJI/AAAAAAAABu8/ykG2FTVVols/s460/IMG_2833.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdgD6d0brA4/U0YNXpwTIKI/AAAAAAAABvA/j2XMgpbizVE/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdgD6d0brA4/U0YNXpwTIKI/AAAAAAAABvA/j2XMgpbizVE/s460/IMG_2837.JPG" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjIseUEEGec/U0YNa-zRvmI/AAAAAAAABvU/_3YrnUBKT5Y/s1600/IMG_2839.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjIseUEEGec/U0YNa-zRvmI/AAAAAAAABvU/_3YrnUBKT5Y/s460/IMG_2839.JPG" /></a><br />
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We'd had a lot of leftover chocolate chips from our <a href="http://chocolatenyc.blogspot.com/2014/01/chocolate-party.html">chocolate party</a>. Our friend Danielle took them all--I mean like hundreds or possibly thousands of chocolate chips--and baked them into vegan cakes. <br />
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Here is the birthday boy himself cutting into a cake:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aj61VnmuxrI/U0YNa3RzwFI/AAAAAAAABvQ/kDahM1IPc8g/s1600/IMG_2840.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aj61VnmuxrI/U0YNa3RzwFI/AAAAAAAABvQ/kDahM1IPc8g/s460/IMG_2840.jpg" /></a><br />
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Here is what a plate with samples from the various options looked like. There was also milk, as you can see, but I didn't touch it. Milk is just a thing that takes up room in your stomach when that room could be better used for more chocolate.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ7ogeIhnVI/U0YNak_MxlI/AAAAAAAABvM/87QH2-I1eOE/s1600/IMG_2844.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ7ogeIhnVI/U0YNak_MxlI/AAAAAAAABvM/87QH2-I1eOE/s460/IMG_2844.jpg" /></a><br />
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We'd asked every party guest to bring with them two bars of chocolate. So at the end of the party we sent David home with all the bars pictured here, on the bottom shelf. Stay tuned as we review them over the weeks/months to come. You know, just in case you were worried we were running out of material.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRxjz05d9PI/U0YNV25IlFI/AAAAAAAABu0/37mXmBOWF_Q/s1600/IMG_2835.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRxjz05d9PI/U0YNV25IlFI/AAAAAAAABu0/37mXmBOWF_Q/s460/IMG_2835.jpg" /></a><br />
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Happy birthday, David, and many happy returns of the day! Thanks for giving us an excuse to eat 30 chocolate cakes.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-69547969185949015712014-03-23T23:30:00.000-04:002014-03-23T23:30:33.067-04:00Macaron Day round-upThursday was <a href="http://macarondaynyc.com">NYC Macaron Day</a>, which is an annual day of amazement and wonder when you can walk around the city and get free macarons from participating bakeries. I took my lunch break to hit up the West Village stops.<br />
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First up was <a href="http://www.payard.com">Francois Payard</a>, which is the originator of the amazingness of Macaron Day. I got a chocolate macaron and it was so, so awesome. Perfect texture, flavor, everything.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bc2rCdXzgkk/Uy-kyxq4y1I/AAAAAAAABtQ/7ysyhVKF4qA/s1600/IMG_2789.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bc2rCdXzgkk/Uy-kyxq4y1I/AAAAAAAABtQ/7ysyhVKF4qA/s440/IMG_2789.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RTRm-boRPs/Uy-kw1_pJDI/AAAAAAAABs8/RyjCHr0ikwM/s1600/IMG_2790.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RTRm-boRPs/Uy-kw1_pJDI/AAAAAAAABs8/RyjCHr0ikwM/s440/IMG_2790.JPG" /></a><br />
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I would have eaten about a zillion more. Fortunately, there were two more stops on my walk.<br />
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Next up was <a href="http://www.millefeuille-nyc.com">Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe</a>. They weren't offering chocolate macarons when I was there, only caramel. But even the caramel was delightful, despite its handicap of not being chocolate. They also had other appealing-looking chocolate baked goods on display. I would go back.<br />
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Third stop was <a href="https://www.bisousciao.com/home/">bisous, ciao</a>, which you know is going to be good because they <i>only</i> sell macarons. They had more than a dozen flavors, though not all were available for the free sample.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SEWoq585qN8/Uy-ky6FpLAI/AAAAAAAABtE/3u3rWoT-4wc/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SEWoq585qN8/Uy-ky6FpLAI/AAAAAAAABtE/3u3rWoT-4wc/s440/IMG_2793.JPG" /></a><br />
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The one I got was blood orange with a dark chocolate cream in the middle. Phenomenal. So flavorful. I would go back here, too, and try more of their many flavors, like the peppermint dark chocolate one, which sounds like it's designed for me.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ivSK11jQljg/Uy-kysFkHUI/AAAAAAAABtA/oaJ64W2OCPo/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ivSK11jQljg/Uy-kysFkHUI/AAAAAAAABtA/oaJ64W2OCPo/s440/IMG_2794.JPG" /></a><br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</B> Macarons are expensive. So it's really nice to have a day when you can eat them for free.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-2950902227909784612014-03-23T23:15:00.002-04:002014-03-23T23:15:40.737-04:00Madecasse citrus and pink pepper barWe got this <a href="http://www.madecasse.com">Madecasse</a> bar at Whole Foods. What makes Madecasse unique is that they not only harvest the cacao beans in Madagascar; they actually make the chocolate bars there, package them, the whole bit. What happens out of their Brooklyn factory is the distribution, not any of the chocolate-making.<br />
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According to <a href="http://www.good.is/posts/cuckoo-for-cocoa-processing-making-chocolate-not-just-picking-it-helps-madagascar-develop">this article</a> I read about Madecasse:<br />
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<blockquote>Seventy percent of the world’s cocoa beans come from Africa, but less than one percent of the world’s chocolate is produced there. Most African cocoa winds up in chocolate factories in Belgium, Switzerland, and France. </blockquote><br />
There are people who farm cacao plantations who have never actually tasted chocolate, or, even if they have, they may not have tasted chocolate created from the beans that they're harvesting. This is why you can go to a country like Ecuador, which grows great cacao, and have trouble finding a decent bar of chocolate to eat. This is why Madecasse is special.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r8OWpkFYzgc/Uy-ge2EyMqI/AAAAAAAABsw/N0Hecrw38TU/s1600/IMG_2796.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r8OWpkFYzgc/Uy-ge2EyMqI/AAAAAAAABsw/N0Hecrw38TU/s460/IMG_2796.jpg" /></a><br />
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So, that's the sociopolitical background. The question now is: how's the chocolate?<br />
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Answer: it's interesting. The pepper is not too spicy, and it's not textural, either, but you can definitely taste it. It works well. The "combava fruit" advertised on the package is just a lime. This lends the bar an almost juicy taste, like biting into one of those pieces of gum that has a fruity liquid interior.<br />
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Overall, it was good, and unlike other bars. But it was not very chocolatey. I mean, it clearly <i>was chocolate</i>, but the flavor notes were not "chocolatey."<br />
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<b>BOTTOM LINE:</b> A tasty, unique bar, but without a strong chocolate flavor.Leila Saleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16309887254760145097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1839042183650738466.post-30139521344387145332014-03-19T09:39:00.001-04:002014-03-19T09:39:32.461-04:00John & Kira's "Urban Garden Mint" 62%<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I bought this on a whim, walking through Philadelphia.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VZ-xNM3BNnc/Uv9yRj9UmVI/AAAAAAAAChc/lcbBKBcf2-g/s1600/20131221_143544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VZ-xNM3BNnc/Uv9yRj9UmVI/AAAAAAAAChc/lcbBKBcf2-g/s640/20131221_143544.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Ok, I had sort of heard of them before. Maybe because I googled chocolatiers in Philadelphia. Maybe.</div>
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Anyways, it is very aptly named. It tastes like a garden.</div>
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<b>Bottom Line: </b>If you want your mint chocolate to taste like a garden, you should buy this bar.</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13774705010608065001noreply@blogger.com0