Valentine's Day Chocolate
I'm looking for some GOOD chocolate for my girlfriend for Valentine's Day. This is THE girl for me, so I want to get her something special and live down the horrible grocery store purchase of last year! I did a google search and there are DOZENS of chocolate stores in New York. I'm in over my head! A co-worker suggested this would be a great place to get pointed in the right direction. Thanks!
Mac
Mac
Feb 06, 2006 09:37PM
If you want some interesting, very good chocolates, go to Kee's Chocolates on Thompson St (and Spring?). It's a tiny little store with flavors like black sesame, creme brulee, green tea, tiramisu etc. You should probably go early because later in the day they are often sold out or don't have many of certain flavors left. And I think it's always nice to know you're buying from a small, local place.
Permalink | Reply
that is a very good point. But please don't buy all the cherries. I just ate the last piece and I need several of those every week!!!
Permalink | Reply
I strongly suggest Li-Lac,recently moved to a new location on 8th Ave. south of 14th Street. Every chocolate is freshly made and even the simplest treats, such as chocolate covered pretzels or seafoam robed in dark chocolate, are rich and made with the best ingredients. The french mint bars are refreshing as well as beautiful.
Permalink | Reply
I have tried Maison, Kee, Vosges, Pierre Marcolini, Michel Cluizel among others, and nothing comes close to
Jacques Torres.
Jacques Torres on Hudson street has DELICIOUS chocolates!
Permalink | Reply
"Teuscher Champagne Truffles" are my favorite, and they do amazing presentation boxes for an additional fee. They have a store in Rockefeller Center and on the UES. Just remember to keep them in the fridge as they are made with fresh cream, etc. and consume within a week. Consuming them is never a problem for me. p.s. If they are too pricey, try "Martine's Chocolates" on the UES. Very old fashioned and very romantic. Good luck!
Permalink | Reply
perhaps not the most consistently tasty, but i'd put a vote in vosges (spring st at greene). the spices (chili powders, ginger, wasabi, curry powders, etc) and flavor combos in the exotic collection make for a more exciting gift and frankly an extra turn-on for many a gal.
there's also a place on prince st, btwn mott & elizabeth, i forget the name, that has chocolates that are individually and artistically silk screened. you can assemble a variety to make a very nice box. not gonna rank in taste with some of the bigger guns mentionned earlier -- but also something different.
Permalink | Reply
Re. Vosges - "thievery" is the perfect word. They are good, nothing special, their attitude is that they are the bee's knees, and the prices are ridiculously high.
Kee's has a similar range of flavors, no attitude, and much better prices.
Jacques Torres ain't no bargain basement but the chocolates are very good, and made locally (unlike Vosges which, I believe, flies theirs from Chicago.)
Permalink | Reply
I'm a Jacques Torres fan too and suggest that you check out his website because there are bound to be special gifts for Valentine's Day.
Link: http://www.mrchocolate.com
Permalink | Reply
I agree. Jacques Torres' chocolates are good. Someone got me one of those hatboxes for xmas. I thought it was presented very nicely and provided an excellent sample of most of the items you see on the website. I enjoyed the 45 piece box of assorted chocolates more than the champagne truffles. The chocolate covered cheerios are somewhat addictive.
Permalink | Reply
Another vote for Jacques Torres
Permalink | Reply
Don't know about chocolate for Valentine's day, but otherwise I have pretty much tried them all, many times over. La Maison du Chocolat and Kee's are my only two options. My wife thinks La Maison du Chocolat's truffles, four flavors, are unbeatable. I also think they achieve the best balance and texture. Kee's for ultimate freshness. However, if you are talking about pure chocolate my favorite is no longer sold in NYC as far as I know. It's Amedei's Procelana and Chuao. I had to buy them on the net when my supply ran dry. Dean and Deluca had them for a short while but no longer. Zabar's carries Domori's chocolate, for how much longer I don't know. Last time I was there they had just a handful left. Domori is also one of my favorite. Michel Cluizel's bars are excellent and easier to find. My favorite is the "Los Ancones", totally unique, one can almost taste olive oil. My wife likes "Mangaro" even more though. Someone just brought us "Marquise de Sevigne" chocolate from Paris, will have to try those really soon! Eli's Manhattan on 3rd ave carries them too. Sorry I am not much help when it comes to presentation. Maybe you can try Debauve & Gallais on 65th between Madison and 5th avenue - about the same price as La Maison du Chocolat at $88 a pound, also shipped from Paris. I like La Maison du Chocolat more, but my best friend disagrees. She thinks they taste more fresh. Whatever you do, forget about Godiva, even Lindt bars are much better (but the Lindt truffles are just horrid, and they keep giving those out as samples!!) . Let me take that back, actually Godiva has this G collection that is unlike the rest of its products. This collection truely is beautiful to look at. they are like little gems, and the quality is a lot higher too. However, they are all very sweet and they really are more like exotic candies than chocolate.
I hope that helps a little.
Permalink | Reply
very nice and helpful post.. thanks..
Permalink | Reply
I would take Lindt truffles over the most expensive Godiva piece anyday. They're not trully 'truffles', but I really like them especially now they have ones made of 80% choco. Wouldn't give them as a gift (unless i know that the person absolutely loves them too), but for my own consumption they are pretty good.
My friends from Switzerland gave me this higher end Lindt box of chocolates (dark squares with marzipan-like filling) - soo good. Sadly they don't carry it in the US.
Permalink | Reply
Jacques Torres!
Permalink | Reply
Vosges-Haut Chocolat on Spring St. in Soho and Kee's.
Jacques Torres is okay too but he doesn't have the great flavours that Vosges has. In fact I have yet to find anyone that can match Vosges in flavour complexity.
Permalink | Reply
Kee's, and it's cheaper too.
Permalink | Reply
la maison du chocolate, they are always consistent and always excellent. no matter what flavor you prefer you will not miss with them, they hold the gold standard here in nyc.
Permalink | Reply
La Maison du Chocolat, Vosges and Debauvais & Galais are my favorites.
Permalink | Reply
For a beautiful presentation, either Maison du Chocolat or Pierre Marcolini. Both are comparable quality IMHO.
Permalink | Reply
La Maison du Chocolat, Vosges and Debauvais & Galais are my favorites.
Permalink | Reply
I don't think I saw a post re: Christopher Norman. If you happen to be downtown (financial district), their standalone shop is on New Street near the stock exchange. He makes some excellent exotic flavors like basil chocolate--one of my favorites. Although already mentioned, one of my favorites in the city is Kee's on Thompson..they're wonderful and I love that they're a small shop that makes the truffles by hand every day.
Permalink | Reply
I like Kee's Chocolate in Soho, very fresh handmade, excellent flavors and textures.
But in my family, my wife gets my chocolate covered ginger from Lilac Chocolates and I give her roses.
Permalink | Reply
Really good chocolate that's not too way out--Leonidas on Madison Ave and Neuhaus (do they still have the store at GCT?). You can buy by the piece or they have preslected trays/boxes. No weird fillings/topping/ingredients. Just the good standards--creams, ganaches, etc.
Happy V day.
Permalink | Reply
i definitely prefer Leonidas over Neuhaus. For the price, Leonidas is as good as they come. Definitely go for the ones with liquer filling!
Permalink | Reply
Like almost everyone else on this post I'm going to recommend Kee's in SoHo. I've never been disappointed in anything I've bought there and Kee is so nice and accomodating. I would check it out this weekend because by Tuesday she could be sold out on some things. Also, since she makes everything herself some of her chocolates have a shorter shelf life than the mass-produced variety. The Creme Brulee stands out in my mind and I want to say you can't keep it around for more than a couple of days. I also prefer to support the little guy rather than a large corporation.
Her website isn't fully operational yet but it does have a menu for you to check out.
As for Vosges, there are some things I really like (the bars, the Bianca cocoa) but everything else I've tried I've been somewhat disappointed in (the truffles, that fabulous looking caramel marshmallow dipped in chocolate). I love the decor and their graphics (I'm a graphic artist and always look forward to their latest catalog) but the chocolates in general aren't anything special.
I recently also made a couple of purchases at Chocolate Bar that went over well. For the holidays I got my boyfriend their "Save CBGBs" box of truffles. I tried a couple and thought they were very good, better than Vosges. They're another shop with fun graphics and packaging. I also bought some Retro Bars for my co-workers that seemed to enjoy. They also have a website: www.chocolatebarnyc.com
One place I would stay away from would be Fauchon! My BF got me chocolates for our anniversary and we were both very disappointed. Especially because I think he spent a small fortune on them.
Link: http://www.keeschocolates.com/
Permalink | Reply
If you are a true chocolate lover that means you like dark chocolate and you will love VERE Chocolate.
www.veregoods.com
Permalink | Reply