Where to Buy Chocolate
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Clay asked me to add my list of places to buy chocolate in Los Angeles. Here are the places where I've tried so far:
BonBonBars (no store, order online)
www.bonbonbar.com Boule another bonbon shop. They make great macarons in the French style and two different styles of bonbons (one molded buttons and the other enrobed with transfer styles on top). Interesting flavors, I like some of them but others I find a little greasy in texture. Great ice cream.
Chocolate Box Caf in La Canada. Not locally made but imported from Belgium. They have an interesting line of buttermilk ganache chocolates that deserve a look. Their best pieces are in milk chocolate.
Chocolates a la Carte not the best chocolates in the world, but the factory store has some surprises, especially when theyre doing repack work for another brand and have items made with Valrhona (usually they use Callebaut) and of course everythings very fresh at the factory.
Chuao Chocolatier technically the closest one is in Orange County, but I enjoy their use of flavors and textures. El Rey chocolate.
Edelweiss Chocolates very traditional chocolate sweets in Beverly Hills, their preserved fruits are very good.
Jin Patisserie in Venice, known far and wide for their tea room and chocolates. I thought they were interesting but tiny and overpriced.
K Chocolatier wildly expensive and quirky hours (weekdays) but some very tasty alcohol filled chocolate, generous samples.
LArtisan du Chocolat fresh, innovative & attractive. Oh, and expensive.
Littlejohn Toffee & Fudge the fudge is okay, I think they have some great sponge candy covered in chocolate and New Orleans style pralines. Not really a chocolate shop.
Valerie Confections right next door to LArtisan du Chocolat, more on the elegant comfort side of things. Toffee, nougats, bonbons and now petit fours & tea cakes.And stores for bars & boxes:
Cost Plus World Market a decent selection & prices of the most popular fine import bars and usually at decent prices. Check expiry dates closely though.
Garvey Nuts its a wholesale place in City of Commerce (just off the 5 near the outlet mall Citadel). They sell lots of novelty candies, including the better ones like Madelaines
Mel & Roses Wine & Spirits immense selection of both upscale chocolatiers & bars as well as import consumer candies from all over Europe, Japan & Australia.
Mr. Marcel at the Farmers Market. Good selection of chocolate bars, though the prices are often 50% more than Cost Plus which is just a few yards away.
Munchies a little gem tucked away in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood thats completely Kosher. They have a large selection of international stuff, mostlybars and a great sale on Ritter (what can I say, Im a sucker for Knusperflakes & their Rum Trauben Nuss).
Surfas - Culver City kitchen supply company that has a good selection of baking products and just plain old bars, including just about every Valrhona.My local grocery stores tend to carry some good stuff too. I stumbled on a nice selection at Vons the other day that included the full line of Chuao bars and a great sale on Ritter (what can I say, Im a sucker for Knusperflakes & their Rum Trauben Nuss).I keep pretty copious notes about them on my blog in the
Los Angeles category .
biagiochocolate.com
