Thursday, 18 November 2010

• NYC Chocolate Show 2010

  
  
  
  I wanted to do a quick review of the delectable annual NYC Chocolate Show, if only to remind my senses of the delights they experienced this past Sunday, but also to tantalize a few of my fellow chocolate worshipers and invite you to join me next year (same bat time, same bat channel).

  The line around the corner may have seemed daunting at first, but upon realization that my pre-printed ticket was my salvation, I strolled right past the front of the line into the arms of that which I adore - ce que j'adore!  And, voila! 
  
  Sights and sounds of all that is good and chocolate with the world!

  It's literally a room of eye candy, abuzz with crowds huddled around booths, sampling wee bits of 60-100% cacao products.  The drone is groans of pleasure, sighs of delight, the exchange of chocolate education and understanding, and the crinkle of cash for a take-home encore.

  One could veritably travel to South America, Africa and France in the space of an hour and without wings. 
  
  Though it could be argued that after a taste of some of the products, one could feel the ability to fly.

  For accompaniment, one could indulge in Peanut Butter from Peanut Butter & Co (www.ilovepeanutbutter.com), a New York sandwich shop which ships their myriad of unique peanut butter flavors (including Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, The Heat is On, Dark Chocolate Dreams and The Bee's Knees) all around the world!

  Or stroll by the Puerto Rican Rum booth to be instantly transported to the coconut groves with an incredible rum-based cocktail.  Taste and order California wines across the aisle. Get the picture?

  Now, I want to share my favorites:

  All-time yummiest chocolates goes to a chocolatier based in Paris.  I'm hoping I'm not partial just because I love France so much, but the chocolate, hailing from all over the world (Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Ecuador, Ghana, Caracas, Jakarta, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Dominican Republic, Venezuela...to name a few) was smooth 75-100% cacao with flavor throughout, heightening at the back of the palette! 
  
  Divine, to say the least!

  The awardee calls himself Francois Pralus, Maitre Chocolatier.  You can check out his stuff online at www.chocolats-pralus.com or, better yet, visit them in Paris!  If that's never going to happen, just peruse the pictures on their website and you'll feel like you've died and gone to heaven!

  Second place, in my mind, goes to Co Co Sala (cocosala.com), hailing all the way from Washington D.C.!  Kudos to them for their originality and artisinal chocolates, starting with the to-die-for banana ginger filled ones to chipotle, curry coconut and mango lassi, amongst others. 
  
  Beauty and savor form the ultimate partnership here!

  Others worth mentioning were the melt in your mouth truffles at Overseas Food Trading, Ltd., Neuchatel Swiss Chocolates and No Chewing Allowed. 
  
  The dark chocolate covered lavender almond clusters from Maha Chocolates had me at "hello" and the chocolate covered peanut brittle at Jer's Handmade Chocolate gave me something to ponder.

  For those who are all about organic, Gnosis Chocolate was available to cater to your every need with raw, vegan, organic, handmade chocolate with no refined sugar, no gluten, no soy and low GI.  Flavors included Coconut Almond, Pomegranate Acai, Cashew Goji Berry and several other surprising flavors. 
  
  My only beef here was the texture, which was a bit grainy for my taste, but still, quite interesting!

  The last one I want to mention, based on it's holiday marketability and the fact that I just love the combination of chocolate and toffee, is  Sendall Chocolates, from Pittsburgh, PA.
  
  They showcased Toffee Taboo Holiday trees, comprised of "dark or milk chocolate with toffee encrusted almonds and cashews, topped with a drizzle of creamy white chocolate."
  
  I'd personally love to get this for Christmas, and I think it's a great gift for any sweet-tooth in your life who is in the hard-to-buy-for category.

  And there you have it!  I hope I've tantalized your tastebuds!  Mine were surely entertained for an hour and a half and I'm already anticipating next year!

  I'd like to know if there are any other chocolate events out there that I'm missing.  If so, please tell me!  I'm always on the prowl for new sensations for my chocolate loving lips!

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