ChocolateBar

François Chocolate Bar at Mauboussin in NYC

If you live in the NYC metro area or will be visiting for the holiday season, and love chocolate, let me share with you a sweet spot I recently learned about: François Chocolate Bar. Famed pastry chef and chocolatier François Payard has teamed up with Parisian jeweler Mauboussin to open the François Chocolate Bar on the fourth floor of Mauboussin's Madison Avenue flagship boutique. Described by Payard as "a chocolate jewelry shop," the Chocolate Bar is entirely devoted to chocolate and features signature pastries from Payard as well as a new line of verrines, macaroons, and the "François Quatre Quarts" (pound cakes), along with hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and cappuccino. All the chocolate items are reasonably priced -- from $2.00 for the macaroons to $6.50 for the verrines. The Chocolate Bar also offers signature gifts.

The Chocolate Bar is running a special holiday promotion. Until December 24, customers who spend $100 or more at the store (or a bit more if ordering online) will receive a complimentary Payard signature Voyager Bag and a 15% discount at Mauboussin. One idea for how to ring up $100 is a gift basket. The Chocolate Bar's baskets range from $100 to $200, or you can customize one starting at $15. See the gallery for photos of the Chocolate Bar as well as four gift basket options.

François Chocolate Bar
714 Madison Ave. (between East 63rd and 64th Streets)
Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
212-759-1600

There are 11 tables of two and three seats at the bar. Save me a spot!

Gallery: Francois Chocolate Bar at Mauboussin in NYC

Tags: chocolate, chocolate bar, ChocolateBar, Francois Payard, FrancoisPayard, Mauboussin, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, payard

Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon Bigger Than Ever

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

Get your taste buds ready, the third annual Taste TV Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon will be held on October 11th 2009, 11am-5pm at the Pasadena Center. It's even bigger this year, with over 16,000 square feet, over twice as much room as last year. Participants include over over 35 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans, such as: Choclatique, Happy Chocolates, Rushburn Toffee Co., The Tea Room chocolate, Quady Winery, Chocolatl, Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate, Helen Grace Chocolates, Mignon Chocolate, TCHO, Amano Artisan Chocolate, Plush Puff Gourmet Marshmallows, Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa and many more. In addition to the delicious sampling opportunities there will also be demonstrations, chef and author talks, wine tasting and a chocolate chef competition. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

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Tags: chocolate, chocolate bar, chocolate tasting, ChocolateBar, ChocolateTasting, events, food, taste tv, TasteTv

Gilded £1000 Wispa Gold is the World's Most Expensive Chocolate Bar

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Charity

People can be very attached to their favorite childhood candy bar, so it should come as no great surprise that a public campaign to get Cadbury to put the Wispa Gold back on the shelves got what they wanted. But while the average store-bought example will sell for a modest 55 pence in the UK, the confectionary company has created one very special example to commemorate the brand's relaunch.

Initially launched in 1995 as an alternative to competitor Nestle's Aero bar, the Wispa bred several varieties, including the caramel-filled Wispa Gold, the Wispa Mint, caramel and biscuit Wispa Bite and the coffee-flavored Wispaccino. But when Cadbury relaunched the Dairy Milk in 2003, the similar Wispa was discontinued. Now back by popular demand, Cadbury crafted on special edition, covered in gold leaf, was delivered by gold-record singer Tony Hadley to the Selfridges department store in London where it is being displayed in the jewelry department as a promotion. After that, it will be put on sale to benefit the UK Lowe Syndrome Trust for a whopping £961.48, the exact value if the chocolate bar were actually a real gold bar, making this the most expensive candy bar ever made.

[Source: Telegraph]

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Tags: cadbury, cadbury wispa, cadbury wispa gold, CadburyWispa, CadburyWispaGold, candy bar, CandyBar, chocolate bar, ChocolateBar, gold bar, GoldBar, lowe syndrome, lowe syndrome trust, LoweSyndrome, LoweSyndromeTrust, selfridges, wispa gold, WispaGold

Original Beans Inc. $13 Chocolate Bars

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green

There are few things better these days than an indulgence that also helps the environment, since luxury has been getting such a bad rap lately in that department. But Original Beans Inc. out of San Francisco prides itself on not only super premium chocolate creations, but also on serious eco-responsibility. Started by chocolatier Lesal Ruskey, Original Beans has been making headlines lately for their ultra-decadent chocolate bars that cost a steep $13 for just 3 1/2 ounces. Is the indulgence worth the price tag? Can't say that I know personally, but I imagine it's pretty tasty (plus the promise of a tree planted for every purchase helps defray the spending guilt).

Via Slashfood

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Tags: chocolate, chocolate bar, ChocolateBar, original beans, OriginalBeans

Valentine's Day Gifts from Chocolate Bar NYC

by Paul Rogers (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Holiday Guides

Why not do yourself and your sweet-toothed mate a favor this year and buy your Valentine's Day chocolate ahead? Alison Nelson's award-winning Chocolate Bar-which counts Sarah Jessica Parker, Scarlett Johansson and Leonardo DiCaprio among its not-so-secret admirers-is offering a selection of new holiday gifts. The 2009 Booty Box ($28) contains a six-piece truffle box, traditional sweethearts, sea-salt caramels, a heart-shaped puzzle and eight stencil bars (snack-size squares bearing designs by Brooklyn-based stencil artist Ed Roth). Gourmands can go with the Signature Truffle Boxes, featuring fair-trade, single-origin truffles in confectionery flavors like raspberry, Cointreau, salted caramel, Tahitian vanilla and (just for good measure) passion fruit; prices range from $9 for six pieces to $64 for 48. The gifts are available at the Chocolate Bar at Henri Bendel in New York (712 Fifth Avenue) and online at www.chocolatebarnyc.com.

Tags: caramels, chocolate, Chocolate Bar, ChocolateBar, Henri Bendel, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sarah Jessica Parker, scarlett johansson, truffles

Glenda Geis Aqua Bella, Handbag of the Day

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

I discovered Glenda Geis while browsing at Alison Nelson's Chocolate Bar, where they offer two of her limited edition bags filled with gourmet chocolates and teas. They are both lovely, as are all the other designs at Layla Grace, but it is this one that I love and must have. Typical of her bags, the Aqua Bella features a beautiful vintage fabric donning a simply styled frame bag. With a removable blue leather flower, very little hardware and a plain strap, the bag is spare and clean, yet still stunning. Even the interior of this bag is gorgeous, with a contrasting fabric in blue and brown and a single zip pocket. Because these bags are made from vintage fabrics, each one is a limited edition. $270.

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Tags: alison nelson, AlisonNelson, chocolate bar, ChocolateBar, clutch, designer handbag, DesignerHandbag, fabric, fabric bag, fabric handbg, FabricBag, FabricHandbg, frame bag, FrameBag, glenda geis, GlendaGeis, layla grace, LaylaGrace, luxe, luxe purse, LuxePurse, luxury, vintage, vintage handbag, VintageHandbag