Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, Windsor

Open for three weeks now, I stopped by this evening on the way home. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” plays continuously on video. The candy casino features a baccarat table and roulette wheel studded with treats. Americana, such as turtles, truffles, pecan logs, and fudge, rather than European frou-frou, are featured in the chocolate case. Although it does have it’s share of chocolate exotica from around the world – the Chocolate Bar features a couple dozen bite-size bars for 40¢ each to sample Russian, Belgian, Swiss, French, Italian, and chocolates of other origin before springing for the full-size. Select specialty sodas are also available.

A display of Russian chocolates by A. Korkunov intrigued (http://www.korkunov.ru/eng/raz1.html) me. I bought one “Viliena”, dark chocolate with whole hazelnutu and praline filling, 89¢ for one 0.5 ounce piece to take home. Trying it after dinner, I’d have to say that it’s more of a curiousity item. The hazelnut filling is too stiff and lacking richness of flavor and the chocolate shell is too waxy. The hazelnuts are whole though.

The Gelato Bar offers Gelato Classico in nearly 20 flavors. They’re kept at the right temperature to have the elastic texture unique to gelato. After sampling, I bought a small, $2.50, of pumpkin (seasonal flavor) and tiramisu (espresso with chunks of sponge cake). The counter man packed this with care, making sure it was solid with no gaps and overflowed the top. While the container is the standard Gelato Classico size, by the weight of it, it felt like it was about a third larger serving.

My first impression of the place was that is was a Disney-esque imitation of a candy store. This has been dispelled by the discovery thatthere’s quality to be found here and I’ll be sure to return.

Powell’s Sweet Shoppe
720 McClelland Ave.
Town Green Village
Windsor
Open 10-6 daily,
Will open later once the other stores and restaurants in the development open their doors

Link: http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/20...

Image: http://www.korkunov.ru/eng/bigimg/8.gif