new york city for the chocolate lover
Living in New York City during the winter months, I’m forced to remind myself of the importance of rallying constantly. There’s literally nothing harder than dragging yourself out of the warmth of your apartment (and your sweatpants). It’s nearly impossible when you have to trudge through the rain, or worse, snow. All to get on the subway for some sort of winter time activity? No, thanks. Work, social gatherings, food shopping, and general interaction with people other than your roommate and television all take a backseat from January til March. Unless, of course, you’re a chocolate lover invited on a chocolate tour of New York.
Recently, my friend and fellow fun-loving New Yorker, Amy, asked me to join her on iAdventure’s Chocolate Walking Tour in Soho. I hemmed and hawed until finally she convinced me that eating chocolate in the presence of OTHER HUMANS is probably better for my morale than eating handfuls of chocolate in bed as I’m prone to do in the winter months.
And so, on a rainy Saturday afternoon, I found myself in Soho touring four of the best chocolate destinations in the city. And guess what? I kind of loved it.
Our tour guide, Karen, was both knowledgeable and informative without being overly intense. This is a combination I’ve found to be rare in many tour guides. Better yet, the 90 minute tour was the perfect length for someone like myself who lacks the attention span and energy to partake in anything structured for much longer. In an hour and a half, we visited four delicious and drastically different chocolate makers:
Mariebelle // 484 Broome Street
Walking into Mariebelle, you could almost convince yourself that you wandering into a European chocolatier. Gilded mirrors, chandeliers dripping with crystals, and rows upon rows of hand-painted and delicate chocolates line the Tiffany blue walls. While I waited, I helped myself to one of the many samples strewn around the room. This included chocolate pearls (heavenly) and a whisky infused ganache. Tucked behind the main store is a small cafe where they serve up their signature hot chocolate, pastries, and a full lunch menu.
Don’t skip the: Aztec Hot Chocolate
Vosges Haut-Chocolat // 132 Spring Street
Vosges Haut-Chocolate is decidedly more “Soho” than our first stop, and it shows in their chocolate selection. The first item we tried was a coconut curry truffle, which tasted exactly like it sounds. From chocolate bars infused with coconut ash to chocolate covered bacon, Vosges brings forth highly original and inventive confections.
Don’t skip the: Pomegranate & Goji Super Dark Chocolate Bar
Kee’s Chocolate // 80 Thompson Street
Photo courtesy of Dexigner.com
Kee’s Chocolate is tiny and unostentatious, with a small counter displaying a handful of its signature chocolates. It started as a joint chocolate and flower venture by Kee Ling Tong in 2002. But it soon became a business entirely focused on her selection of handmade fine chocolates. All of Kee’s chocolates are made without preservatives, which means the shelf life is short. This also means that its totally acceptable to eat all the chocolate you purchased in one day.
Don’t skip the: Crème brûlée bonbon
Jacques Torres Chocolate // 350 Hudson Street
Photo courtesy of Jacques Torres Chocolate
You can’t talk chocolate in New York City without mentioned Jacques Torres. World renowned chocolate maker, Chef Jacques Torres, began his chocolate empire over a decade ago in Brooklyn. Over the years, he built his workshop and factory from the ground up. Today, Jacques Torres has five locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn, all which offer his award winning confections. Here, we got to choose our own “bon bons” and sip on decadent hot chocolate.
Don’t skip the: Chocolate Chip Cookie
I’ll be honest, group tours aren’t a part of my normal repertoire. Even so, I enjoyed spending the afternoon in a neighborhood I rarely visit. All things considered, eating my weight in chocolate wasn’t too terrible of way to spend an otherwise lazy Saturday. If you’re interested in taking this tour, you can purchase tickets through iAdventure for $80/person. For more information, drop iAdventure a line on Twitter or Facebook, and make sure to browse their full tour and event offerings here.
xo!
the wino
Thank you to Bob Gelber of Walkin’ NY and iAdventure for graciously hosting me on this tour. All opinions are, as always, my own.
7 Comments
Lance | Trips By Lance
Don’t tell anyone but I don’t care for chocolate. But I’ve been married for more than 14 years and know when I come across a solid chocolate tour like this in a city we love to visit, well, it must be saved for future reference.
Lance | Trips By Lance recently posted..Five Experiences: American D-Day Beaches
Lazy Travelers
you don’t CARE FOR CHOCOLATE? that’s nonsense!
Traveling Ted
I discovered running the marathon that I have a major chocolate sweet tooth. Nothing beats kicking back and drinking a half gallon of chocolate milk after a 20 mile run. I think I would love one of these tours, especially after a run.
Traveling Ted recently posted..Five tips to #Turnitgreen while traveling or at home
Lazy Travelers
chocolate after a run? so not what i crave!
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lola
mmmm chocolate. i don’t have a BIG sweet tooth but there are times where i just gotta have some CHOC O LATE!!! this looks like a fantastic tour. i love the diversity of the storefronts.
lola recently posted..One Day Stay: Montreal, Canada
Craig Zabransky
Ah, Vosges Haut-Chocolat used to be a short walk from my apt… I felt like I was traveling the world in chocolate when I shopped there……and they made perfect gifts for all occasions (when gifting to a women of course).
sounds like a neat tour for folks… an adventure in chocolat
stay adventurous, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted..Are There Beaches in Singapore? A Visit to Siloso Beach in Sentosa
@mrsoaroundworld
This is so getting bookmarked. And Im so getting myself on one of these next time i am in town!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..Portugal, you let me down