Looking for really good chocolates in western suburbs of Phila.

[Fjordstone]

Hi, Chowhounds...I'm in Malvern, and I'm wondering if there are any good chocolate shops nearby, along the lines of The Chocolate Box in Lambertville (NJ). I've seen listings for Eclat in West Chester, and Christopher Chocolates in Newtown Square, but have never been to either. Any recommendations? Obviously I can order online from Teuscher, Vosges, etc., but I'm looking for a solution when one has an IMMEDIATE chocolate craving. Thanks!

[Mawrter]

double post

[Mawrter]

Aux Petits Delices in Wayne. On the North side of Lancaster Avenue. It's am authentic French bakery and they make chocolates to die for.

I'm sure the others recommended are fine (god knows I'd love to find out myself!), but I have a hard time believing any imported chocolate could possibly stand up to the freshness of locally-made high-end stuff like Aux Petits Delices makes. Of course, I say that but I simultaneously give them props for the imported Franch butter - hardly a consistant point of view, eh? :-p

Also - gonna put in a plug for Betty's Tasty Buttons. Organic, Fair-Trade fudge. Tiny, artisanl. Made with esoteric (well, esoteric for fudge!) ingredients like goat cheese. Know this: I am not a fudge person. It's cloying, it's sweet. Betty's makes me think aboout fudge in a whole new way. Seriously. It's "serious" in a way that normal fudge is not.

http://www.bettysfudge.com

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Betty's Artisanal Fudge
Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia, PA

[Mawrter]

? Technical problems. Somehow I can't linkt o Aux Petits Delices? Trying again...

http://www.auxpetits.com
Aux Petits Delices
162 East Lancaster Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087
610-971-0300

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Aux Petits Delices
162 E Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA

[barbjack]

I also think Eclat is the best chocolate around.The fleur de sel caramels are outrageous!
If you can find John and Kira's (philly couple) it is good too.They also had some nice dark chocolate bunnies and pates des fruits at Strawberry Bakery in Frazer this week.

[outsidein]

Is it better than droste? You can find droste chocolates at Trader Joes.

[pamd]

Sweet Ashleys in Royersford is another nice local place. The owner/family were very nice & friendly too.

(and I had delicious pancakes at the place next door!)

[Whitethorn]

It's not very close to Malvern, but the best Chocolate west of Phila is
Neuchatel Chocolates. It is in Oxford, just head south on Rt1 and exit at Rt 10 in Oxford, head north about 300 yards and turn left. You can check out their web site
http://www.neuchatelchocolates.com/

[Bride of the Juggler]

Zwahlen's in Audobon has some excellent truffles. THank you.

http://www.zwahlens.com/

[Buckethead]

Go to Eclat immediately, they're some of the best chocolates I've ever had in my life.

[Fjordstone]

Thanks to all, but especially Buckethead -- I'm going to stop in at Eclat tomorrow. I wanted to find a _really_ close place, so it's good to hear positive things about Eclat. (On the other hand, I'm astonished that I've missed hearing about Naked Chocolate before now, and will DEFINITELY be giving it a visit, soon!)

[Buckethead]

Get some caramels, Jeffrey Steingarten recently called them the best in the world. I don't know about that, but they're really good. They also had a mint chocolate there recently that was fantastic.

[JugglerDave]

Eclat chocolate is great. I haven't visited the WC store but have purchased them at Fork in Old City.

[bluehensfan]

Eclat and Vosges are both available at DiBruno's near Rittenhouse too, as are a number of other high-end chocolates.

Teuscher has a store in the Bellevue but on our last visit there we walked out after five minutes without being helped, as the manager was apparently unwilling to help the one employee wait on customers.

[JugglerDave]

I guess while we're listing Center City chocolate options...

Andro's (21st / Pine) carries Leonidas (Belgian), which is OK but not the best brand coming out of Belgium.

[bluehensfan]

And the marquis and orionoco chocolates are great at Naked Chocolate. Also, (albeit not haute chocolate), those peanut butter and chocolate covered pretzel's at Mueller's in Reading Terminal are pretty good too.