Connecticut Chocolatiers

[kattyeyes]

Nice article in Thursday's Hartford Courant featuring chocolate makers in the Land of Steady Habits. Of course, they left out Belgique in Kent. Pourquoi?!

http://www.ctnow.com/lifestyle/food/h...

Namely, they are:

Bridgewater--doesn't rock my world, but I only tried it once. If it rocks yours--please share.

Munson's--my personal favorites are the peanut butter centers, covered in milk chocolate, perfect for enjoying while watching a movie, but their new Tipsy Cherries sound tempting: "The stem cherries are soaked in port wine, bon-bon dipped in sugar to make a glaze, then dipped in dark chocolate." HELLO!

Divine Treasures--Manchester, hadn't heard of this one--anyone been?

Knipschildt (SoNo)--this is Chocopologie, what is not to love? :) They'll also be featured on the Food Network this weekend.

Tschudin (Middletown)--a dangerously convenient local Willy Wonka for this poster. The white chocolate rose photo in the article is far too beautiful to eat. I have downloaded it and am attaching it for posterity as I don't think the link from The Courant "lives" forever, and this rose should. I do enjoy Rob's white chocolates, too, among too many of his other treats.

Life could only be better if Jacques Torres opened a Connecticut store...

Happy Valentine's Day!

[bakinggirl]

Thanks for the thread, kattyeyes!
I enjoy Munson's malted milk balls (esp. dark chocolate). However, mr. bakinggirl, the chocolate snob, does not like their stuff (probably good for me overall...).
Those cherries sound wonderful - I'll have to take a road trip!

[Ima Foodie]

Bridgewater's English Toffees are really good. On a related note, did anyone catch Knipshildt on Chopped the other day?

[DonShirer]

They don't mention Madison Chocolates (Rt. 1) either. Their website
http://www.madisonchocolates.com/
shows many dreamy confections made by Chef Paul Staley.

[dugbee]

NBC30 just had a bit on Divine Treasures:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/around-...

Just yesterday, I saw the episode of Chopped with the Chocopologie guy. He was entertaining, but was the first to get chopped, unfortunately.

[hotwing]

I read about Divine Treasures on this board a couple of years ago. Since then I have been buying an assortment of chocolates from them onevery occasion for my wife and she loves them. They are gluten and dairy free and she does not use corn syrup. The owner Diane is very helpful. I am not sure about all of the locations, but they also carry her chocolates at the Whole Foods in West Hartford. Her store is located in the Manchester Parkade.

http://www.divinetreasureschocolates....

[rbailin]

And in an amazing coincidence, Connecticut Chocolatiers are also featured in this Sunday's NYT Conn. dining section, in lieu of a review by Patricia or Stephanie.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/nyr...

[SeoulQueen]

Isabelle et Vincent in Fairfield doesn't make their own chocolates (they do fab French pastries & desserts instead) but I noticed they had a separate counter filled with an extensive selection of chocolates. It might be Valhrona.

[LenaInNE]

I & V actually do make their own chocolates... you can see it being done if you walk to the back of the cafe and look through the glass ...

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I was at Isabelle et Vincent this past Tuesday. The young girl that waited on me told me they no longer make their own chocolates. Instead, I had to choose from their selection of Valhrona chocolates.. I usually buy Bridgewater which my wife loves but I wanted to try something different this time.

[LenaInNE]

I stand corrected... that's too bad.. last time I was in there I had a warm chocolate caramel right off the line...

[jfood]

with a bag of stuff from chocopologie on the counter, jfood votes for them as well.

[javaandjazz]

I have stopped at a place in Bethel in my travels called Hauser Chocolate and in Milford is H. Mangel. Both are very good too!

http://www.hmangels.com/

http://www.hauserchocolates.com/eoneC...

[kattyeyes]

Good to know--thanks. Who needs The Courant--we can build our own list! We know better, anyway. ;)

[javaandjazz]

I would like to try that place in Middletown next. By the way, if you have been down to SONO for Chocopologie...get down there. It's a great place!

[kattyeyes]

I love Chocopologie! And not just for chocolates--their coffee and chocolate beverages are SO special and I've always enjoyed our lunches there. Have you ever sat in the galley where the windows are and watched the chocolate makers do their thing? I never sit anywhere else but next to a window. :) Lunch and a show!

[javaandjazz]

Yes, we have sat watching them on a few occasions. Once we went there in a driving rain and someone, maybe the owner came over and gave us each a box of chocolates just for coming in the bad weather.