Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A Boston Visit: The Changing Chocolate Scene

 Last weekend, I got to go visit one of my favorite cities.



Boston!

As I've written here a few times before, Boston has many, many opportunities for enjoying delicious chocolate treats. I was, however, saddened to learn that one of my favorites, JP Licks on Newbury Street, had closed.

 Shedding a few tears was an appropriate reaction.

Just like anger was an appropriate reaction to seeing much lower caliber shops open up on Newbury Street instead.


Apparently, they are spreading. Like a disease.

However, I was happy to see that some things weren't changing. For example, Teuscher is still opening their doors for everybody seeking high-quality Swiss chocolate, and I was able to pick up a 77% cacao bar, which is one of my favorite dark chocolates from their shop.



Just down the street, Hotel Chocolat beckoned, and I stepped in to grab a few single-origin bars, a nice orange dark chocolate bar, and some dark chocolate pistachio pieces.


The best thing I came away with was some insider information about potential Hotel Chocolat expansion plans in North America. They made me very, very happy.

Finally, I found one good change - a new storefront for LA Burdick, this one in the Back Bay, right near where I was staying.


Though I passed on the single origin hot chocolate this go-around, I did pick up their Brazilian dark chocolate bar out of curiosity, and will, of course, report back on how it turns out.

Such a short weekend. So many chocolate shops. So many delicious dark chocolate bars to nibble at until my next trip up north.


Friday, October 5, 2012

Cocova: This Time, With Company

Yesterday was an outstanding day. Sure, I got to bike AND run in the morning, which always makes me happy, even in oppressive DC humidity. But even better, I got to meet this special lady.

Hannah! Here all the way from Australia. When I found out she was going to be in DC, I pestered her for an in-person meet up, and bribed her with a visit to Cocova with all its delightful chocolate offerings from the U.S. and around the globe.
Evidently, many European chocolates are harder to come by in Australia, so she and I both admired the Cluizel and Pralus, and I even sent her away with one of my favorite bars - the Virginia-made Potomac Chocolate Upala 82% cacao bar.

Come back soon, Hannah. We have more Vosges bars to dissect.