Best Valentine’s Day Chocolates

If your special someone is the type who gets teary-eyed over those Jared jewelry commercials, she/he will be probably expect a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day.  Of course, you could take the easy way out and grab a Whitman’s Sampler or even Russel Stover’s “Private Reserve” from Duane Reade.  Instead, we suggest you seize the opportunity to indulge in the city’s finest chocolates.  We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite chocolatiers and their truffles:

Jacques Torres Chocolate
(pictured right)
350 Hudson Street at King Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 414-2462
One
of the world’s premier chocolatiers, Torres celebrates Valentine’s Day
with his “Champagne Kiss,” a box of champagne-laced chocolates for
$15.  Torres takes a more daring turn with its dark chocolate sauce labeled “Love Tonic” and raspberry “Body Paint,” both for $9.

Roni Sue’s Chocolates
Essex Street Market #24
120 Essex Street at Delancey
New York, NY 10002
(212) 260-0421
This
Lower East Side shop harbors several distinctive chocolates
flavored with everything from banana and sweet red pepper to Margarita
and “Portly Fig.” Red chile and cinnamon-infused “Diablo,” as well as
pine nut and fennel-flavored “Pinon” capture the exotic allure of
these off-the-beaten-path confections.

Kee’s Chocolates
80 Thompson Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 334-3284
This
charming Soho shop has a number of luscious flavors, including Thai chili,
champagne, and blended pepper. Stolid standards like hazelnut praline,
chocolate mousse, and raspberry also make the rounds, but never fall
short of superior taste and beautiful presentation. Prices range from
$12 to $48.

La Maison du Chocolat
30 Rockefeller Center
New York, NY 10020
(212) 265-9404
This
French chocolatier has designed a unique Valentine’s Day offering: The
Book of Love, which pairs six different truffles with written love
stories in book-shaped boxes. While caramel ganache takes the more
classic route, ganache with licorice and passion fruit appeal to the
exotic. Prices range from $10 for two truffles to $112 for sixty
truffles.

Vosges Haut Chocolat

132 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 625-2929
Vosges’ stylish boutique matches its
avant-garde chocolates.  For $25, the Aphrodisiac Mini Bar box contains
nine different bars that stimulate the senses with spicy hints of
curry, pasilla chiles, and wasabi. At $43, Vosges’ signature purple
heart-shaped box is filled with sixteen truffles, including
absinthe and ambrosia.

Bouchon Bakery

10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor
(212) 823-9366
Solid pink, red, and white “Valentine’s Tablets” feature whimsical
designs on one side and crispy milk, dark, and white chocolate
non-pareils on the other ($15). For $25, the bakery offers twelve dark
and milk chocolates with flavors as distinct as mint tea, honey thyme,
and tart grapefruit.

Debauve & Gallais
20 E 69th Street
(212) 734-8880
This French chocolate shop’s signature bonbons come twelve to a box at $95, featuring an assortment of marzipans, truffles, and pralines.  If you’re looking to splurge, the $210 Le Royale includes a luscious selection, including gold-flecked ganache and earl grey tea.

Teuscher

620 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10020
1-800-554-0924
This famous Swiss chocolate shop offers the best champagne truffles in
New York.  For Valentine’s Day, those and other truffle varieties like
nougat and dark cocoa come in red velvet heart boxes of varying
sizes at $29.75 and up.

Payard Bistro…

1032 Lexington Avenue

(212) 717-5252
Laced
with actual Pop Rocks, Payard’s Passion Rocks truffles combine white
chocolate, almonds, passion fruit and raspberry for a funky but
sensuous gift at $28.  For a bigger splurge, $120 fetches a devil’s food
cake made with white chocolate mousse, crème brulee, red currants and
balsamic vinegar, all crowned with a porcelain heart.

Richart Design et Chocolat

7 East 55th Street
Utilizing spices, herbs, and flowers, Richart offers 79 different
flavors in its Intense Love box for $79.50.  If that doesn’t tickle
your fancy, the Ultimate Desire comes with a solid chocolate card and
heart-shaped chocolates infused with Tahitian vanilla and fleur de sel
caramel for $143.50.

Pierre Marcolini

485 Park Avenue btwn. 58th and 59th Sts.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 755-5150
This Belgian chocolate shop offers a vast selection of beautiful
Valentines confections. Blood red chocolate raspberry hearts come in
single boxes, edible “handbags,” and towering heart boxes.

Until we eat again,
Restaurant Girl
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