Chocolate Shops?

[Got Cake]

My friend who is a chocolatier is coming to LA and we want to check out a few chocolate shops. Are there any I should add to the list? Independent rather than chains. TIA
Jin
Boule
L'Artisan du Chocolat
Valerie Confections

[revets2]

CHOCOLATE BOX CAFÉ in la cañada. anything chocolate by adrian vasquez at PROVIDENCE. also, i have never seen the italian confection assortment in LA in any italian market as BULGARINI GELATO has. terrific!

[wideeyedraven]

what about Chocolaat on Wilshire, just east of Bundy? The guy has really terrific stuff.

[yogachik]

My favorite, Chocolatt:

http://www.chocolatt.com/

[caveatempty]

I envy you! It's been so long since I've been to L'Artisan du Chocolat. In fact, I used to grab lunch at Picholine beforehand! Christian and his wife are great.

[Kris P Pata]

Here's another testimonial for L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT and while I'm a fan of BOULE, JIN and LEONIDAS through and through, I'm partial to this specialist mom and pop operation. Ms. Park is such a nice person and if it isn't evident by her careful descriptions of her creations, it's certainly clear while watching her at work, hand-dipping her pieces that she is indeed an artist passionate about her art. For me, every visit to the tiny, tidy storefront in Historic Filipinotown is, fittingly, a bittersweet one. I too was a regular devotee of our dear, departed PICHOLINE from when Chef Patrick was a two table and long counter operation to his ambitious expansion with L'ARTISAN as tennants at its apex. Damn. He made a mighty fine sandwich too.

[sku]

L'Artisan is my go-to place, but I Boule is also fantastic. (I don't really think Leonidas is in the same league). I recently tasted the full selections from Boule and L'Artisan and they were both the highest quality, with L'Artisan doing best with pure chocolate and experimental flavors and Boule blowing me away with light and creamy versions of more traditional ganches:

http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2007/0...

[Diana]

what about Comparte's?

What's that place in Main in SM?

Nata's does some nice chocolates.

Leonidas

Edelweiss

Valerie's Confections

Frankly, I know your friend has been, case they're all over, but I lvoe See's buttercremes.

[JeetJet]

Two years ago I tried a dozen High-dollar chocolate shops around L.A., and had some good stuff. What I learn from it all was that if you hand over enough money to someone who knows a little about chocolate you probably will get something at least half good in return. With that in mind I developed the opinion that what really makes for a good Chocolatier is in what they can hand you when you give them a small amount to work with. Therefore, "Frankly, ..." I agree with See's. I like the nut, and chews selection. I can eat a pound of Califoenia Brittle ad a box of those "Awesome Nut & Chew Bars."

See’s
http://www.sees.com/?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=Trusted%2BFeed&utm_term=TLP

"K" Chocolatier (I liked this place for the chocolates)
http://www.dianekronchocolates.com/

In tem pe ran tia (I haven't been here in over a year, probably still around)
15324 Antioch Street
Pacific Palisades,
CA, 90291
[phone]

Leonidas Chocolate Café (Belgium chocolates,but I really love the BEST ice blended Mocha in L.A.)
49 W. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena , CA 91105-1922
(626) 577- 7121
http://www.myleonidas.com/leonidas_stores.html

Leonidas Chocolate Café (Belgium chocolates,and the BEST ice blended Mocha in L.A.)
331 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica , CA 90401-2205
[phone]
http://www.myleonidas.com/leonidas_st...

[Emme]

Love Edelweiss, Comparte's and See's.

[Woolsey]

There's Compartes Chocolates in Brentwood, too.

http://www.compartes.com/

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Comparte's Chocolatier
912 S Barrington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90049

[lalawgirl]

Also Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland in Beverly Hills on the corner of Brighton & Camden. Really cute store with tables to enjoy chocolates and coffee. Expensive, but exquisite chocolates. As far as I know this is not a chain -- I've never seen one of these anywhere else in the US (I lived in NYC for several years) -- but given the name it is possible that there are more in Switzerland. It is very close to K Chocolatier, that another chowhound recommended for you.

[sku]

Actually, Teuscher is a chain, with 13 locations in the US.

See www.teuscher.com/northamerica.php

[slacker]

I've done Teuscher in BH, NY, SF, and Chicago. First time I went to the BH one was waaaay back when they were GIVING away the champagne truffles as samples to lure people to buy their chocolates. Way back.

[sku]

Your list looks pretty good. I would add K Chocolatier in Beverly Hills

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K Chocolatier
9606 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[NYCnowLA]

Madame Chocolat