Top Chocolate Shops

I spent many years walking around the streets of Manhattan looking for a new chocolate shop. Searching for new flavors and concoctions, hoping that amongst the mediocre chocolate factories I would find gems. Indeed I did find some divine chocolate shops and now I can share my findings with the world!

1 - Jacques Torres

There is something so delightful about the combination of chocolate and chiles. Spicy and sweet at the same time - its definitely addicting. A lot of chocolate shops/cafes make spicy hot chocolate but Jacques makes just about the best one I’ve had. Its thick and creamy without being overly sweet - its also doesnt have just cinnamon and chiles in it. The Wicked Hot Chocolate Try the Wicked Hot Chocolate features allspice, cinnamon, ground, sweet ancho chili peppers, and smoked, ground chipotle chili peppers!   Their french kiss cookies are so sinful - I can’t resist. Also, Jacques still mans his stores - I’ve seen him in them working solo. Man that guys got class….

2 - Vosges Haut Chocolat

If you are really into exotic flavors - you are going to love Vosges. Katrina Markoff pairs chocolate with just about everyone and gets wonderful results. Boring chocolate combinations are a thing of the past with her Exotic Truffle Boxes. The Absinthe truffle shines with chinese star anise, fennel and pastis, the Black Pearl pops with ginger, wasabi, and black sesame seeds, and the Naga delights with a mix of coconut and curry. She even has truffles mixed with Taleggio cheese, Wild Tuscan pollen, Balsamic vinegar, and first pressed extra virgin olive oil. Katrina, my tastebuds love you.

3 - Maribelles

Maribelles also boasts a lot of exotic truffles but my favorites by far are the Caipirinha, Cardamom, and the Saffron. So good! Maribelles also takes hot chocolate one step further than Jacques and Vosges with 4 different flavors: Aztec Original, Aztec Dark, Mocha, and Spicy (cinnamon, nutmeg and chipotle). They are all fantastic and you could do so many different things with them! They even have mixes for Iced Hot Chocolate - in Regular‚ Spicy and Cardamom. Mmmmmmm Cardamom….

4 - Chocolate Bar

There are a lot of things to love about the Chocolate Bar. They have a different spin on truffles called ‘ The Atomic Collection’. These are like truffles but bigger and have more fillings. Examples: the Elvis - which is homemade banana marshmallow & crunchy peanut butter enrobed in dark chocolate. Mmmmmm. They also have delicious biscotti caramel clusters - chocolate biscotti/creamy caramel enrobed in dark chocolate. So good. The only thing that gets me angry is that I can never find the place. Is it just me or are they ALWAYS moving?

5 - Evelyns Chocolate

This is quite possibly the oldest chocolate shop in the Financial District. I worked 3 blocks away from this place for about 2 years and would visit Evelyn and her team about once a week. You could not find nicer people. Plus, they have an awesome selection of treats. Classics like peanut clusters, coconut clusters, grand marnier truffles, caramels, orange peels, etc are positively delightful. Looking to purchase a box of chocolates for a loved one? Come here. Ya I know its in the Financial District…just come on your lunch break ok?

6 - La Maison du Chocolat

If you’re looking for super rich chocolate La Maison is for you. The ganaches are scrumptious, the pralines are yummy, and most importantly fruit pastes are divine. These are what I come here for - they taste just like the ones I got the last time I was in Paris. They arent super sweet and are made from untreated fruits. They come in 5 different flavors: red fruits, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit and mandarine.

My Love of Asian Buns

“Come along inside… We’ll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.”

-Kenneth Grahame, ‘The Wind in the Willows‘

I was introduced to the wonderful world of Asian buns - both steamed and baked -  when a new coffeehouse named ‘Honey Cabin’ opened up a few blocks away from my house. I remembering walking in for the first time and being hit in the face with a waft of sweet/savory bread aromas. It smelled amazing. I was already enthralled before I got to the counter to see the array of delicious bready foods on display. It soon became my favorite place on the Island to eat both for its delicious food and insanely cheap prices.

My saliva is increasing just looking at it

I created a list of new favorite snacks. The coconut cream buns were one of their truly irresistible treats. Fluffy sweet dough, baked to perfection,  stuffed with a not-too-sweet coconut flaked cream, and then covered in coconut flakes. Sometimes the bun was stuffed with an eggy custard, or a sweet red bean paste, or even a chocolate/peanut butter combo. All for under $1.  For $5 I would stuff my bag with goodies and eat them all throughout the day during my classes - needless to say I fully blame Honey Cabin for my increase in mass during my college years.

Then there is the delicious roasted pork bun  - my ultimate downfall. Savory moist meat packed into a light and fluffy bun with just the hint of sweetness surrounding it. Never too heavy and always the right price. I could literally eat 5 of them in one sitting.  Ever so often I would go for the steamed buns - the best and fluffiest you could ever order.

Honey Cabin closed a few years ago and I have beeen lamenting the loss ever since. Now I have to travel to get my Asian bun fix. Here are a few places I go out of my way for:

Fay Da Bakery - you can also pick up a great bubble tea here

327 Canal Street

Golden Fung Wong Bakery

41 Mott Street

Canal Bakery

242 Canal Street

Top Six Places for Tea

Marianne chowin down on some Alices goodies...I love the Mad Hatter

Beverages make me giddy and tea is one of my favorites. So comforting. So soothing. I went through a phase in college where I drank nothing BUT tea. I went to every tea establishment I can find. These are my current top ten and the reasons why I love them.

1 - Alices Tea Cup

Yes, this place is a bit kiddie but I love it. I usually order the Mad Hatter - scones, tea sandwiches, cookies, and tea  - for two. Its always more than enough.

2 - Saint Alps Teahouse

This is the best place when you have $5 in your pocket and need to fill your stomach and drink a delicious tea. Stay away from the Deep Fried Chicken Chunks…however the Classic Toast with butter & condensed milk is amazing. You’ll want to order 3 and at $1.65 per order you just might!

3 - Franchia Teahouse

Food is kinda ok - its very healthy Korean. Which is great if thats what you are in the mood for - but make sure you read the menu before sitting down to eat. However, the iced kiwi tea is scrumptious, the rose tea is light and refreshing, and the iced Korean Pear Fantasy is divine.

4 - Sanctuary

The restaurant teahouse for those of us who want tea but need an actual meal to accompany it. Try the tea smoked duck or the thai curry scallops along with your delicious sencha. Try the Chocolate Moose tea for dessert…mmmm dessert teas….

5 - Tea and Sympathy

The ‘afternoon tea’ here is good but not the best I’ve ever had. The real treat is the other goodies they have: black forest ham and cream cheese sandwiches, scotch eggs, steak and guiness pie, english breakfasts and a ton of british ‘puddings’. The tea selections themselves are great for anyone missing foggy London town.

6 - Soy Luck Club

This is one of the healthy restaurants that I really love  AND they have free wifi! Like chai? Try a dirty chai latte (with chocolate) or a tiki chai latte (with coconut milk). I usually enjoy either the chocolate coconut steamed soy soother or the ginger honey soy soother…which is like Fall in a cup…seriously. Try some - you won’t be sorry.

 Also, if you are hungry and in a rush get a latte to go along with an apple, soynut butter, and jelly bagel.