Looking for a Chocolate Shop in NJ

[jerseygirl1969]

I have some diehard chocolate lovers coming to visit me in about a month and was hoping I could pick the board's brains to see if there were any neat chocolate/candy shops anywhere in NJ?

I know of a few in NYC but was hoping to find one in NJ that would be fun to visit and have a large variety of different types of chocolate. The only "different" kind of shop that I know is "Its Sugar" on the A.C. boardwalk (that's sort of fun but doesn't really offer a great deal of high end chocolate).

Any suggestions? I'm in Central NJ but would not mind traveling.
Thanks!

[debbiemazzie]

This is a great site. I have just started a blog on North Jersey specialty, gourmet, and home made foods. To start and celebrate Valentine's day I am looking for great and different shops in North Jersey. I know there were some older posts. These places still in business? Any new ones? Thanks for any help. http://www.northjerseyfoodies.com/

[shabbystorm]

In Allentown Nj found a charming little chocolate shop and LOUNGE owned by a lovely women, Debra.
In the spirit of supporting the local guy will give it a try in the future.
http://www.chocolatendreams.com/event...

[chocolate]

For really high end good chocolate, Jacque Torres now opened in the Harrahs Casino in Atlantic City. Also, if you head further South, to Wildwood at the Jersey Shore, theres a candy store called Douglas Fudge on the Wildwood boardwalk. Their also known for their salt water taffys and make all their own chocolate. I recently had them mail me a lb of their Cashew Turtles for my husbands b-day and another lb of all of my favorites(almond bark, marshmellow delight, molassas patty, coconut creams) Then my family, not knowing the following week also sent us candy from there. Good thing I like chocolate. Anyway, its kind of nostalga for me since I grew up in that area but its a neat place and if your friends have never been to that area of Jersey it might be kind of fun for them too. Visit Cape May and. Stone Harbor also. Both have some great restaurants as well and are really nice coastal towns.

www. mrchocolate.com
www.douglasscandies.com

[shabbystorm]

Was at Godiva in the Short Hills Mall today - they had a limited edition Mini Ice Cream Cone Truffle. Basically a mini ice cream cone with a limited edition ice cream chocolate truffle on the top.

The one I sampled was Neapolitan ice cream covered in chocolate. It was Yummy!
They did have a few other flavors.
Have no idea if they are offering this at all locations but it was a HAPPY and super creative treat! Thought I would share.
Here is a link with the general idea but at the store they were selling the product.
http://www.godiva.com/recipes/recipe_...

[jerseygirl1969]

Wow - these are amazing places! Thanks for the heads up - I will definitely venture out and try some of them.

A friend of mine actually gave me some chocolate from a place called "2 Chicks with Chocolate" - it was amazing. The collection was dk and milk chocolate with a Merlot and Spicy Cabernet fillings. The fillings weren't your normal liquid alcohol junk but a smooth almost truffle-like consistency. Very delish. She said that the chocolatier for the company was a guy that is one of the judges on the Food Network challenge. They are supposed to have a website up and running soon - I'm guessing it will be "2 Chicks with Chocolate.com"? I'm just anxious to try more of their stuff b/c it was very different and I had never heard of them before.

[shabbystorm]

Thanks - Cool!
Will check out this local central NJ Place

http://www.2chickswithchocolate.com/i...
2 Chicks with Chocolate, Inc.
1056 Highway 9 South #220
Parlin, NJ 08859

[shabbystorm]

This is NOT a storefront.
They are mail order only and there is no where to try the chocolate before buying it.

[shabbystorm]

Visited Pierre Chocolat today - A Must Try In NJ!
An example of amazing Food Art!

Located in Wall NJ and Point Pleasant NJ
www.pierrechocolat.com
The chocolates are creative, unique, and delicious.

Tried the following flavors:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffle
Green Tea Buddha
Guinness Chocolate Cup
Wasabi Pyramid
Champagne Truffle
Chocolate chip cookie sandwich dipped in chocolate

[shabbystorm]

Had a Chocolate Covered Brownie from my Pierre Chocolat box today

It was Instant Sunshine!

Had to mention it because it was that good!

[frogman2]

mmmmm I just had a box of chocolate from Pierre Chocolat. Luckily someone in my family bought me one for new years! It was a dream as always. Here is some of what I had.
Cookie dough truffle
Torona( amazing little cake treat!)
Port Wine Bon Bon
Rasberry Truffle
Cookie Extreme!(2 chocolate covered cookies with buttercream inside!)
champagne truffle(i think?)
Coconut Truffle
(It was a big box! hehe)

It was all amazing with my favorite being the Torona! My wife picked it all up from Pierre who says the Point Pleasant Beach location has wireless internet for free! You may see me in there using that pretty soon!

[fatnut]

You can't go wrong with Brummer's in Westfield and Lee Simm's in Jersey City.

[jrd303]

Washington is one of the nicer areas in NJ and is home to The Chocolate Shoppe.

"We are famous for our hand-dipped chocolate-covered fruit, melt-in-your-mouth mousse and cordial cherries, as well as our homemade caramels and buttercrunch."-from their website

The Chocolate Shoppe (10-5:30 Mon-Sat)
22 E Washington Ave
Washington, NJ 07882
Phone: [phone]

website: http://www.washingtonchocolateshoppe.com/
list of chocolate: http://www.washingtonchocolateshoppe.com/ourchocolates.html
map (at the top of the actual map you'll see a button that says "more", click that button and then select "photos" and you can see photos of the area: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=22+E+Washington+Ave,+Washington,+NJ+07882+Chocolate+Shoppe&sll=40.761561,-74.980252&sspn=0.006485,0.01178&g=22+E+Washington+Ave,+Washington,+NJ+07882&ie=UTF8&ll=40.761805,-74.981647&spn=0.005997,0.01178&z=16&iwloc=A
If anyone travels there I'd suggest a sidetrip to Valley Shepherd Creamery for sheep products.

Valley Shepherd Creamery
Hours: Thur-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
50 Fairmount Rd, Long Valley, NJ‎ - [phone]‎

website: http://www.valleyshepherd.com/
list of cheeses: http://www.valleyshepherd.com/cheeseTypes.htm
map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&s...

[arpad]

There's Chocolate Alley on Avenel Street of Rte 27 , St Georges Ave , in Avenel . Not far from Rte 1.

[shabbystorm]

Visited a quaint chocolate shop today.
The Chocolate Box Lambertville NJ.
http://www.chocolateboxusa.com/
An interesting assortment of imports and dipped items.
Unique items that caught my eye were the Pear Truffle rolled in walnuts and Chocolate Covered Peeps!
A good stop while walking in Lambertville or New Hope.

[gucy]

I love The Chocolate Box! If they happen to have the Earl Grey truffle when you're there, it's worth the calories.

[stormie267]

When you walk into Jean Louise on Third Ave in Spring Lake, you know you're in a very good chocolate shop. That wonderful smell of chocolate! Their truffles are excellent, and the store has had the same owner for many years--and she started out as a salesperson there as a teen. The store itself has been around for about 80 years.There are benches just outside the shop at the corner, near the town clock. The other cholocate shop (Third Ave Chocolate) is just okay.

[njfoodies]

I drive past this place every day, but haven't stopped in yet:

Criterion Chocolates Incorporated
125 Lewis St, Eatontown, NJ 07724
[phone]
http://www.criterionchocolates.com

[vtt7]

In my opinion, Criterion has the best chocolates in the area. I live really close and try to only stop in once a month. Criterion had been on the Asbury Park boardwalk so I've been buying their chocolates for a long time.

[fershore]

My grandmother worked in Criterion on the boardwalk. They do have the best chocolate.

[fourunder]

In Englewood, Bergen County.......there's a great chocolate shop named Matisse Chocolatier. They do some very great and creative things with dipped chocolate fresh fruits(strawberries, apples, oranges and pineapple) and also with items such ad Oreo Cookies. I have a friend who throws a few parties each year at her home coinciding with the seasons and the chocolate party platters she has made are the talk and delight of each one,

http://www.matissechocolate.com/

If you do decide to make the trip up north, as an added bonus there are many nice restaurants located nearby Matisse all within walking distances, including:

http://www.benniesofenglewood.com/

http://www.baumgartscafe.com/

http://www.wild-ginger.biz/

http://www.itsgreektome.com/

Sol & Sol Kosher Delicatessen...voted Best Pastrami in Bergen County

http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/20...

[angelo04]

David Bradley on Route 9 in Manalapan, high end prices, great chocolate covered pretzels and hazelnut truffles. The also just added an old school Staten Island and Brooklyn favorite, a Sedutto's ice cream parlor. When I was a kid, their tortoni was the best, I am anxious to see if they can still deliver after all these years.

However, David Bradley isn't my idea of high end chocolate sourced from around the world.

Outside of NYC, can’t think of any place. I would recommend simply going to Wegman's, they now carry a complete line of Vosges chocolate bars fro about $5. ( http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/ ) My personal favorite is the dark chocolate with almonds and sea salt. The chocolate with bacon, yes bacon was yummy and weird at the same time as was the dark chocolate with chili pepper.

[JerzeyShore]

Angelo,

We love Sedutto's ice cream. It is worth the trip just for that alone. Thanks for the mention. Can you pinpoint the location?

[angelo04]

On the North side of 9, just after the gordons corner road exit, by that long stark white strip mall across form that nursing home and a bit south of Covered Bridge, the entrance to that golf course. Can't seem to get the exact address on-line.

http://www.dbchocolate.com/

[JerzeyShore]

Good directions - thanks much.

[angelo04]

You are welcome but based on this link, I am afraid you and I might be disappointed. Seems Sedutto's isn't the same local yocal brand we new from the '80's

http://www.seduttosicecream.com/where...

[JerzeyShore]

Yes - this does not look good. But maybe I'll try a chocolate cone anyway the next time I'm over on Rt 9. Thanks much for the link and your follow up.

BTW an excellent product is Double Rainbow out of San Fran California.
http://www.doublerainbow.com/

Hard to find in NJ but the Starving Artist in Ocean Grove carries it. Their Ultimate Chocolate is the best chocolate I've ever tasted including Seduttos.

[dj487]

(I know this is a chocolate topic, not ice cream but...)

Funny you mentioned Starving Artist. I was just there this past Friday afternoon. The ice cream shop is actually called "Days," is it not? I think the just breakfast/lunch place is Starving Artist. I didn't realize their ice cream was "imported." It is *really* good, though. My wife and I left the beach early in order to make a trip over there before we needed to get on the road. Had the Cappuccino Chocolate Crunch -- yummy!!

[jerseygirl1969]

Thank you all so much for these places to visit! I plan on going to Spring Lake today and may visit the Chester location next week b/c I have friends that live in Long Valley.
Thanks a bunch!

[JerzeyShore]

Be sure to visit and sample both shops in Spring Lake as they each have their stong points...

[Passadumkeg]

There is a chocolate shop on Washington Rd in Sayreville, between Union St. & Ridge Ave, next to Sayreville Seafood.

[RPMcMurphy]

really? trying to picture it where it's at...it's not in the "house-turned-store-that-has a different nail salon every month" is it? I drive that road weekly...how can i miss it!

[njeggy1]

Birnn Chocolates in Highland Park - www.birnnchocolates.com

[val ann c]

When you say die-hard chocolate lovers, do you mean they love single source chocolate from various parts of the world, and interesting mixes like chocolate with curry? Or are you looking for a shop that sells homemade chocolates in a glass case, like you would select for a gift box?

If you're near Middletown, Harmony Natural Foods has a great selection of single-source and fair-trade chocolate bars.

[jerseygirl1969]

You hit the nail on the head - that is EXACTLY what they are interested in.
They enjoy trying chocolates from different regions (they once brought me some truffles that they had made w/ chocolate from Madagascar) and like also trying different types of infusions. I was hoping to find a place that also dealt with more "exotic" chocolate like this that was sold in a fun candy shop type atmosphere.

[Felixnot]

The Chocolate Path in Montclair would probably fit the bill. Chocolate from all sources, exotic, organic, interesting...On Lackawanna Plaza.

[CompareFranco]

The Fudge Shoppe on Route 202 just north of Flemington hand makes its own chocolate candies on site.

They also have a load of old fashion candies from suppliers.

There is or was an excellent chocolate shop in Chester - I haven't checked in out in years so it might be gone. Something like J Emmanuel is or was the name.

[fatnut]

Brummer's in Westfield. They were in Jersey City for sixty years and moved to Westfield about twenty years ago. The Best

[shabbystorm]

Tried Brummer's for the first time - The Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle was wonderful. IMO better than Godiva.

Then we walked to Chocolate Bar also in Westfield NJ tried a brownie covered in chocolate on a stick, this was good but sadly not good enough to eat the whole thing. They serve Gelato as well.

[flourgirl]

I love the Fudge Shoppe!

[ambrose]

Yes, J. Emanuel Chocolatier is still in Chester and yes, it's a wonderful little shop. The last time I was there they were advertising chocolates that the owner had developed in conjunction with Craig Shelton, late of the Ryland Inn. If you haven't been to J. Emanuel for a while, it has recently moved and is now right in town - much more convenient for foot traffic.

http://www.jemanuel.com/

There's also a pretty good chocolate shop on South Main Street in Phillipsburg. It's called Antoinette Chocolatier and is owned by a woman who used to practice law!

http://www.antoinettechocolatier.com/

[flourgirl]

I've never been to either of these shops - I'm making a point of checking them both out this summer.... (but I still love the Fudge Shoppe - different kind of store, but sometimes I just don't want the fancy stuff and get a craving for the Fudge Shoppe's almond bark... I just find it's old-fashioned atmosphere appealing too and it reminds me of the "old days" out here in
Flemington when I was little.)

[shabbystorm]

Stopped in at J Emanuel Chocolatier.

This was a great chocolate shop!
Tried a Ginger Truffle that was very good.
They have an interesting assortment of Wine Truffles.
We tried a Cabernet Dark Chocolate Truffle that was AMAZING!

They also have chocolate covered gummy bears.

[ambrose]

For what it's worth, Antoinette's was recently featured on WCBS's Small Business Report as an example of a business that had an internet following before a store was opened.

Phillipsburg is out of the way for most people but if you're in the vicinity you should definitely stop in. It's a tiny little place in the old part of P'burg (right by the Delaware River) but part of the fun is that you can actually see the chocolates being made.

[shabbystorm]

All of your suggestions are much appreciated! :)

[mschow]

there is a store in Merchantville called Aunt Charlottes that is an old timey candy store. It has the old wood floors and candy all over the store. I think there is also an old fashioned candy store in Spring Lake that my mother talks about. Sorry, I don't remember the name.
http://www.auntcharlottescandy.com/in...

[MGZ]

The store in Spring Lake is called Third Avenue Chocolate Shop. It is, appropriately, located on Third Avenue. There is another location in Manasquan. Each is relatively small.

I am not a big sweet fan, so I will not offer an opinion on the candies. I do, however, have in-laws who routinely ask us to send Third Ave. chocolates to Charlotte.

[SusieQQ]

Also Jean Louise on Third Ave. in Spring Lake is known for it's chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate houses at Christmas.

[vtt7]

Jean Louise is the better shop.

[MGZ]

I had forgotten about Jean Louise. Perhaps that helps the OP most - two chocolate shops virtually across the street from one another!

[Lisbet]

I can safely vouch for Aunt Charlotte's. When we lived in Cherry Hill and had two little boys growing up, that is where all our Christmas and Easter chocolates came from. Everything was top quality, wholesome, and delicious. Don't know if it is still so, but just about everything was made in their own candy kitchen. Family owned and a family conducted business.

Very friendly people to deal with, too. Our two "little boys" are now in their 50's! We now live some 25 miles away from Merchantville, but when we drive into that direction, we always stop at Aunt Charlotte's to buy something to bring home with us.