|
Old Swiss House, Lucerne, Switzerland
Right near the Lion Monument has phenomenal chocolate mousse that is served from a gigantic bowl, so you can keep it coming!! We love it.
We loved the hot chocolate from room service at the W Times Square- I think it may be Valrhona. Yummmmmm.... Since we live near Berkeley, we like to take other chocoholics to the Scharffen Berger factory. It's great to learn about and even better to taste that delicious chocolate! http://www.scharffenberger.com/ The dark chocolate macaroons at Laduree in Paris were dinner for 2 nights of our last trip. :) |
I also vote for anything from La Maison Du Chocolates-BUT you must order from them directly and pay for next day air,or it is not worth the expense.
Is it really cheaper in Paris?By how much? I only buy 1 1/2 lbs at Christmas-it is VERY expensive but Robert Linxe is a master. |
Originally Posted by bigguyinpasadena
Is it really cheaper in Paris?By how much?
http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com/ I'll be in Paris next week for Roland Garros. I can't wait to go to their store to pig out. I have only had the opportunity to try their chocolates. I know they have pastries as I'm sure they are also delicious. BTW, in France I have seen both La Maison du Chocolat and Valrhona in chocolate milk form. |
The little hot chocolate counter at the back of Maison du
Chocolat - the cup of Caracas was probably the best pick-me-up possible after accompanying a young lady on an exhausting round of shopping. But my favorite chocolates are Teuscher and Puyricard (retail store on Boulevard Rapp in the 7e). |
Originally Posted by cordelli
I've got a bar of 85% on my desk today I've been sharing with some co-workers forgetting to mention it's 85%. Few people love it (I love it) most make the most incredible faces thinking it's milk chocolate or something.
Lindt had them on sale in the outlet last weekend, two for $5 if anybody is near one. It's rare to see bars of it meant for eating. oh lucky you, Lindt on sale! I've actually seen them in a few stores and always buy them when I do. I just tried a new kind from Trader Joe's this past weekend, can't remember the name but it was really good. The higher the percentage the better :) My boyfriend's mother will actually buy the entire box (in bulk) when she finds a store that sells it! When I go over there I usually am lucky enough to walk out of there with a bar or two! |
I just tried a new kind from Trader Joe's this past weekend, can't remember the name but it was really good. |
Cholocate - clearly an important topic...
It's the wrong season now, but in wintertime a great few days in NYC can be enjoyed checking out the city's best hot chocolate offerings. I based my last chocolate run (frigid week last January full of snow and perfect hot choc weather) on the article in New York Magazine (and www.nymetro.com):
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/...696/index.html (Perform a search for "chocolate" on the homepage of this site and get 845 references! Yeah!) My personal faves from this article were (in order of chocolate enjoyment): City Bakery at 3 W. 18th St. with a big VAT of hot chocolate in the center of the restaurant, stirred by a kind of robotic arm. Highlight: fab, homemade, huge, square marshmallows which cost a little extra and are so worth it. What the heck, have a pastry to go along with the beverage. Lunettes Et Chocolate at 25 Prince St. (mentioned by Letiole above) with a complex hot chocolate menu requiring consultation with the preparer/server who customizes your cuppa to your personal chocolate preference. All right! Sit on one of the two stools and enjoy the comings and goings of the regular customers coming in for their tins of hot chocolate mix. And yes, half the shop is devoted to designer sunglasses. Payard Bistro at 1032 Lex, near 73rd, where we had pre-theatre dinner and I forgot to order hot chocolate (slap myself), so oops, no report. Great find while stumbling around Soho the morning after a huge snowfall: Chocolate Garden at 80 Thompson St. where the proprietor makes the heavenly chocolates by hand and is generous with samples to help you decide. She makes different recipes each day, so call ahead to be sure she's concocting the superlative Creme Brulee Truffles on the day of your visit. Mmm... |
Originally Posted by francophile
...If any of you are here in Chicago on a Friday or Saturday evening, you should consider going to the chocolate buffet at the Peninsula Hotel. It was a wonderful indulgence. The macarons, though not as good as Fauchon or Laduree, were still very good. It's $19.50. Yes, it's expensive but it does include unlimited coffee, including espresso and cappuccino:
Indulge In "Chocolate At The Pen" At The Lobby In The Peninsula Chicago Executive Chef Terry Crandall and Executive Pastry Chef Michael Gillet are pleased to announce "Chocolate at the Pen" the launch of Chicago's premier chocolate bar in The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago (108 E. Superior Street). "Chocolate at the Pen" takes place Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight, and promises sweet satisfaction for those looking for a little indulgence after dinner, or who are looking for that perfect accompaniment to "Jazz at the Pen" (jazz trios perform weekly in The Lobby). Decadent chocolate delights are presented at a designated area in the room, highlighted by a magnificent chocolate centerpiece created by Chef Gillet. "Chocolate at the Pen" is $19.50 per person, and includes unlimited coffee, cappuccino or espresso and a selection of petite chocolate delicacies. Choices include Opera Cake, Chocolate Moelleux Raspberry Compote, Brownie Key Lime Cream, Chocolate Coffee Tart, Chocolate Tapioca, Chocolate Pecan Tart, Chocolate Tiramisu, Chocolate Pot de Crème and more. The Lobby is located on the fifth floor of The Peninsula Chicago at 108 East Superior Street and offers all-day dining Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight. The Peninsula's legendary afternoon tea is served from 3 to 5:30 p.m., accompanied by daily performances by a cellist–pianist duo. Dress code is smart casual. Guests can dine in five different venues at The Peninsula: Avenues, Shanghai Terrace, The Lobby, The Bar and Pierrot Gourmet. To learn more about The Peninsula Chicago or to make a reservation, please call (866) 288-8889 or (312) 337-2888. Reservations can also be made online at www.peninsula.com. A couple of friends and I have been talking about Chocolate at the Pen since we heard about it (one of them works at the Pen). If anyone is up for this on a Friday or Saturday night, I'd be interested in going! I'll never forget my first trip to Paris...hadn't eaten all day after spending the day on my feet wandering the city, and stopped for a crepe at a cart outside the Galleries Lafayette....chocolate hazlenut & fresh banana as the fillings....mmmmmmmmmmm.... Otherwise my favorite chocolates come from Mary, smaller independent in BRU. |
The Godiva in Europe is made in Belgium and is worlds better than the American stuff. Try some in duty-free and you won't regret it!
For more moderate prices, try Green and Black organic chocolate in England. It is available in supermarkets and the praline flavor is fabulous. I really don't enjoy eating chocolate bars that much, but this stuff is a definite exception!! |
Originally Posted by cawhite60156
A couple of friends and I have been talking about Chocolate at the Pen since we heard about it about a month or so ago (one of them works at the Pen). If anyone is up for this on a Friday or Saturday night, I'd be interested in going!
A client used to rave about: Belgian Chocolatier Piron 509 Main Street Evanston, IL 60202 Phone: 847/864-5504 Fax: 847/864-5573 The owner of Piron's went to Belgium and studied chocolate-making with one of the country's leading chocolatiers, and makes it right there in a little back room at the shop. After trying it, I can see why, incredible stuff. Most chocolate I've been having lately is in various Mexican Mole sauces (including my own). a good mole is heaven. :) |
chocolate as art?
The FT Weekend has a picture of the ultimate chocolate: at the new Barbican Art Gallery, a BritArt exhibit titled 'Cacao" - a hot, bubbling fountain of 1 ton of melted chocolate. Clearly, the artist saw Willie Wonka one too many times.
|
Another Chocolate Bar
There's also a chocolate brunch at the former Le Meridian in Boston (now the Langham) on Saturday afternoons. Tons of choices, including chocolate crepes! Made a good impression on the gf. ^
http://www.langhamhotels.com/langham...ining/cafe.htm |
Originally Posted by susanrob
oh lucky you, Lindt on sale! I've actually seen them in a few stores and always buy them when I do.
Nothing devine and special, but if you are gonna lay down $5.99 for a dark chocolate easter bunny may as well get one at the outlet after easter for seventy five cents. It's a great way to buy chocolate for bulk for decorating and the rest, though it's sad to see the bunnies melting. :) |
Paris --
christian constant -- mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm hot chocolate and verveine chocs debeauve and gallais -- great ballotins richart -- over rated, but some interesting fruit flavors, cute gift boxes la maison du chocolat -- good rochers, tablettes, eclairs gerard mulot --- rochers/mendiants/bars and ballotins Belgium -- Pierre Marcolini -- hit of miss, great mendiants ditto for wittamer neuhaus -- okay, not great, good for airport buying. london -- roccoco -- overrated, but okay edinburgh-- bought chocolate somewhere on the royal mile, delicious so I heard, but I waited too long and mine were the fresh cream ones, euuw. Must be eaten in a week. seattle -- fran's -- overrated, but great lattes and ice cream sandwiches, they give samples (misdips) with each latte purchase -- 2.19 for a single tall and a truffle, great value that is all I can think of at the moment. |
Nestle Noir in France (but only in France, the Noir sold in Switzerland is nowhere near as good). Wonderful chocolate and hard to believe that it is a mass market product, sold dirt cheap (10% of the price of Neuhaus or Godiva and very similar). Now why can't Nestle sell Noir in the US? I suppose they don't think the market exists for fine chocolate for the masses. The closest in the US is Scharffen Berger which is OK (better than average) but not quite in the same league.
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 1:02 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.