La Maison du Chocolat offers special treats for holiday and all-year round (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
This has been a very tough few years for chocolate connoisseurs. First, the remarkable Richart closed its only New York City location, followed by Fauchon shutting its Midtown doors. Then Hershey closed the Joseph Schmidt factory, depriving the world of their magnificent truffles that were sold here at Macy’s. Last year, rent increases forced François Payard to shut down his elegant restaurant and dessert counter. And the Ritz-Carlton turned its Rise bar into a private party room, meaning no more chocolate art from pastry chef extraordinaire Laurent Richard. But that doesn’t mean there still isn’t plenty of delectable chocolate out there aside from the dependable but standard Godiva. For something completely different, try the addictive chocolate mochi at Minamoto Kitchoan. Dolf Teuscher began making chocolate back in the 1930s in Switzerland, and we are the proud beneficiaries of his legacy. Teuscher is renowned for their champagne truffles; for Valentine’s Day, they have Fantasy Figures (including a love bug and a heart clown?!), Red Velvet Heart boxes of truffles, and a Puppy Love Box. Other tasty options include the Lindt XO Classic Heart Box and Drawstring Heart Bag, the Leonidas Valentine’s Day Ballotin, MarieBelle’s Valentine’s Day Love Boxes with all-new designs, a festive fondue set from the Chocolate Bar, a Heart Truffle Box from Jacques Torres, a Handmade Paper Rose Box with Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles from Charbonnel et Walker at Sacks; and La Maison du Chocolat’s Tree of Hearts Coffret.