When you give chocolate, you give a taste of yourself.
The chocolate you give reflects back on you – so step it up and make sure you’re giving good chocolate. There’s an abundance of artisanal chocolate out there these days, so pick up something worthy of your reflection.
Jacques Torres Chocolate Amsterdam is located at 285 Amsterdam between 73rd and 74th Streets in New York City. © Jacques Torres
Better known as “Mr Chocolate” (check out his domain name), Jacques Torres was a pioneer in Williamsburg, causing Manhattanites to flock over the river for his Wicked Hot Chocolate.
The star chocolatier’s flavors include grand cru, Earl Grey, pineapple pastis, Bin 27 port, golden espresso, ginger – and on and on with enough imaginative appellation to make you salivate in your sleep.
© William Dean Chocolates
Founded in 2007, William Dean Chocolates is named in honor of the founder’s father and grandfather. Everything at William Dean is made by hand in their Largo, Florida shop, in small batches without preservatives.
If you haven’t yet seen William Dean Chocolates, you’re in for a surreal surprise. The decorative chocolates appear in a wide range of evocative flavors such as key lime, bananas foster, crème brulee, pumpkin, linzer, lemongrass & coconut, port with fig and plum, and PB & J.
Personally, we’re partial to William Dean’s Mexican Mango, an award-winning bon bon of milk chocolate ganache infused with fresh lime juice and a layer of mango pate de fruit with a green chile infused sea salt. Try repeating that – or better yet, hand a boxful to your Valentine right before you roll into bed.
© William Dean Chocolates
