Manhattan Chocolate Tour

[ElenaRS]

If you were going on a tour of Manhattan's best little chocolate/truffle shops, where would you go?

[mahler5]

Having tried virtually all those mentioned, I'd put Bespoke Chocolates and Kee's at the top of the list.

[gutsofsteel]

No list is complete without Teuscher, which, in my opinion, is the best of what's available in NYC. Followed closely by Maison and Marcolini.

Teuscher's champagne truffles, in my opinion, are the best truffles available in the U.S., flown in weekly from Switzerland (as are all their chocolates).

[kathryn]

The original thread is from 2008 so I forgive them for not mentioning Bespoke.

[mahler5]

Forgiven.

[roxchoco]

If you are walking, I suggest going downtown, you will cover more ground that way and hit Kees, Vosges, Marie Belle, Jacques Torres, Pure Dark, and Roni Sue.

[shivohum]

Chocolates: Pierre Marcolini, Maison du Chocolat, Kee's, Mondel's, Neuhaus
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Chocolate Bar, Jacques Torres
Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Bread Pudding: Dessert Truck
Chocolate Cake: Two Little Red Hens
Chocolate Gelato: Il Laboratorio di Gelato
Chocolate Sorbet: The Chocolate Room (Brooklyn)
Chocolate croissant: Petrossian's Cafe
Chocolate milkshake (or milkshakes generally): Stand

The Vegetarian New Yorker: http://vegny.blogspot.com/

[gutsofsteel]

Don't miss Teuscher. Chocolates flown in fresh from Switzerland twice a week. Very, very good.

[abrocadabro]

Evelyn's Chocolate at 4 John Street. Delicious hand-dipped chocolates. Favorites include the milk chocolate turtles, almond butter crunch, and a wide variety of chocolate covered foods, including pretzels, potato chips, oreos and others.

[qwerty123456]

I second kees, scharfen berger, maisonduchocolat (i like their "quito"), li-lac. Jacques Torres, which is also good, gives you an insulated bag for purchases above $25, which is useful in this weather. I also like tumbador, which freshdirect sells. I have heard good things about Michel Cluizel too; need to try them. I like ordering guittard.. and seattlechocolates too.

[Aimliz]

If you love truffles you should try roni-sue's chocolates in the LES in the Essex Market. I ordered truffles for my rehearsal dinner and she was very accommodating! I can't say what my favorite flavor is but you should definitely try Dark and Stormy, Margarita, mint, coconut, diablo, portly fig, blueberry. I'm addicted!!
http://www.roni-sue.com/main.html

[MMRuth]

While she was very nice, I was less than impressed with the chocolates I bought from her - too sweet for my liking.

[josephsm]

It may be helpful to see a map of the places recommended on this thread (plus some of my own). Google Maps is cool. The map shows a few clusters of places that you could string together for a tour. But I couldn't figure out how to give commentary about recommendations at each place.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF...

[ElenaRS]

WONDERFUL!!!!

thank you!

[kathryn]

Very nice josephm!

To add text about each place, you need to go to My Maps -> [name of your map] -> Click on a blue marker -> Click on "Edit" on the map's bubble.

[josephsm]

Ah, that's how you do it. Google pre-populates the description with a picture and address info and I didn't realize I could add to that. Thanks Kathryn. And yeah, Martine's is way expensive -- I'll have to try the oyster next time I'm there.

[kathryn]

PS If you go to Martine's, get the oyster, it's the best thing on the menu there. Martine's also seems quite pricey in comparison to other places.

[kam0424]

maybe a chocolate cupcake at Kyotofu in Midtown. sooo good!

[LES Snob]

There is a new chocolate place on Clinton in the LES called Cocoa Bar. i only go for coffee, but it seems to have a good selection.

[kathryn]

It's by the same folks who do the Park Slope location, yes? I imagine there are reviews on the OB board...

[LES Snob]

Same people - correct.

[LNG212]

oh, and i forgot to mention, 92nd St. Y periodically does a "chocolate walking tour". you could always do that or look at their program to see what they cover as well.

[LNG212]

there's a newhaus near fairway (is that what another poster meant?). it's on broadway at about 75th or 76th. there's also scharffen berger on amsterdam (around 82nd-ish).

[kathryn]

Neuhaus Belgian Chocolatier
2151 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
[phone]
neuhaus.be

[kathryn]

I love love love Kee's, Jacques Torres, and La Maison du Chocolat. I'd skip the truffles at Vosges and do the hot chocolate or the chocolate bars (Mo's bacon! Naga!). The truffles are better at Kee's and Jacques Torres. Vosges does have good hot chocolate though.

If you are going to Jacques Torres, skip Chocolate Bar. They carry a lot of Jacques' stuff and I've never been impressed with their other offerings, save for maybe the retro bars (pretzel flavor, especially).

Don't forget to make a pit stop for a chocolate croissant, at, say Ceci Cela or Patisserie Claude. Although Ceci Cela doesn't run out quite as quickly.

La Maison has some great chocolate maracons for their anniversary, and they currently have ice cream and sorbets (and a unique chocolate sorbet), so I would get my chocolate ice cream fix there.

A friend of mine actually done a hot chocolate crawl of the city and proclaimed Michel Cluizel in ABC Carpet and Home's as the best.

http://flickr.com/photos/17024162@N00...

(And if you still have room at the end of your tour, stop by WD-50 and have their soft chocolate dessert. Or the chocolate miso cake at Kyotofu.)

[ElenaRS]

love the hot chocolate crawl! and the pictures - haha!

isnt' there a chocolate place on broadway around 72nd street, near that fairway? or am i imagining this...
and if there is one around there - is it any good?

[ElenaRS]

and next question: where would you guys suggest i stop in to eat a very light but delicious salad for lunch during this day-o-chocolate?

[kathryn]

If you're up there anyway, you should probably stop by Scharffenberger.

They have very very good chocolate covered fruit items, especially the champagne grapes! They are like upscale Raisinettes.

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Makers
473 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
[phone]

[Lucia]

Kee's, Pierre Marcolini, Maison du Chocolat, champagne truffles at Teuscher, Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven, Chocolate Bar, City Bakery for hot chocolate

[MMRuth]

Definitely don't miss Kee's - wonderful chocolates, made fresh daily - Kee is lovely - some of my favorites include the various nut truffles, including pine nut, and the creme brulee chocolate.

-----
Kee's Chocolates
80 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

[williej33]

Kee's is great. Also really like Vosges on Spring Street in Soho-- some great truffles there, as well as excellent hot chocolate and specialty chocolate bars

[ElenaRS]

oh i LOVE kee's, but she's closed until the 17th!! very very depressing :-(

thanks for the great suggestions