210513 Wed May 19 14:57:16 -0700 2004 7 18 Manhattan 0 1120746 I need to bring a thank you gift to my Boston chow friends who I am visiting this weekend. Since I figured, most everyone likes chocolate and noticing that a few local NYC chocolate shops get discussed here a bit, I thought that might work. Thing is now I am thoroughly confused as where to go to get local, interesting (but not overly exotic flavored) chocolate and not go either insane or broke in the process. So, can anyone suggest which of the following (or any other place) offers a nice balance between great chocolate, gift-like presentation value and cost? Current places under consideration are between Jacques Torres or Kee's Chocolates (formerly Chocolate Garden in SOHO) or Black Hound Truffles or Marie Belle. Wed May 19 14:57:16 -0700 2004 0 bk 1 1120747 Black Hound truffles rule. Wed May 19 15:27:25 -0700 2004 1120746 0 kirk 1 1120793 love them all. Chocolate bar wraps them up nicely (see their website for prices) - they have a pretty big selection of Jacques Torres. also, fat witch brownies in a tin are always popular(my friends from Boston loooove them) Wed May 19 18:46:53 -0700 2004 1120746 0 Jen T 2 1120953 what did you like about Fat Witch brownies? I thought they were awful. pretty amazing how we all taste things differently! Thu May 20 15:57:55 -0700 2004 1120793 0 poetess 1 1120797 Just sent a box of La Maison du Chocolat to a friend, and she loves them. I prefer them to Marie Belle, and I believe Jacques Torres is significantly worse than either. Richart on E 55th has nicely presented chocolates as well, though again, not as good as La Maison. The most affordable box of La Maison is around $38 for either the truffles or the assortment of flavors--not cheap, but won't break the bank either. Wed May 19 19:27:46 -0700 2004 1120746 0 papermate 1 1120880 Love Jacques Torres! They have such amazing flavors an the packaging makes a great gift. You can get a nice box for around $30-. Plus it is fun to visit their store in Brooklyn and pick out what you want. Thu May 20 12:35:38 -0700 2004 1120746 0 mimosa37 1 1120907 Well....I ended up getting a hand-picked assortment of 18 chocolates from The Chocolate Garden (80 Thompson 212-334-3284). The selection ranged from the more traditional (cognac, champagne, mousse, almond, etc) to tea flavors (green tea with or without mango, earl grey) to spices (lemon basil and chili). It is small shop where you can see the chocolates being made and the owner is the one who assists you. I tasted the last creme brulee and also a champagne, both were wonderful. The packaging is an understated brown box with a twine bow. I still may shoot over to fatwitch and pick up some brownies as well. Finally, on my trip I stopped into BlackHound and was dissapointed to learn that the shaker boxes are only available for pre-packaged assortments. If you pick your own truffles, they are packaged in the plain white pastry boxes used for the mini cakes. Made me miss the old days when BH was on 1st Ave (where Flor's Kitchen is now) and offered more customized items/service. Another long gone BH touch I miss is their cakes that were decorated with fresh flowers. Oh well... Thanks all and one of these days I will head out to Bklyn and check out JT for myself. Link: http://www.chocophile.com/stories/storyReader$122 Thu May 20 14:02:23 -0700 2004 1120746 0 bk 1 1120952 Best Chocolate in NYC - little known - Belgian chocolate place called Leonidas - it's in the 50's on the East side (mad ave?) Get the "Casanova dark" - it's dark chocolate with praline (hazelnut). I guarantee you will never taste anything more delicious.(I don't know about the other varities.) It's also not that expensive; you'll be surprised. My entire family are chocoholics; we've eaten chocolate all over New York as well as Europe. Let me know what you think. Thu May 20 15:56:32 -0700 2004 1120746 0 poetess