Thinking-Drinking
  • Blog
  • Erin
  • Index
  • Articles
  • News
  • Contact

Drink Inspired Chocolates

4/26/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The chocolatier scene in Manhattan is creative, inspiring, and inventive. Chocolatiers all over the city make whimsical treats, and the world of chocolates often overlaps with savory flavors, pastry concepts, mixology, and wine. 

I see chocolatiers as an elite group of pastry chefs, known for their creativity and ability to work well with such a finicky product. They work at a unique intersection where all flavor concepts are viable: a chef may rarely get to work with cacao, but a chocolatier will work with any of a chef's main ingredients on a given day. A pastry chef may send out for truffles, but a chocolatier must know how to work with all sorts of pastry concepts. A bartender may never use chocolate behind the bar, but chocolatiers work with alcohol on a regular basis. 

Chocolate has always overlapped with beverages; it has been drunk as a beverage for several thousands of years, and only over the last few centuries have solid chocolates emerged as a mainstream concept. 

Especially when considering chocolate's beverage-oriented history, it is interesting to see how today's beverages have influenced the production of solid chocolates. When it comes to drink-inspired chocolates, sometimes a chocolate will be inspired by a particular wine, at other times, a chocolate will emulate a popular cocktail. It is popular to fill chocolates with booze and ganache. Tea powders or essences might be used, or chocolates might be meant to artistically resemble or evoke the idea of a beverage.

Here are a few of my favorite drink-inspired chocolates from around Manhattan:

Picture


At Bond St. Chocolates, the chocolatier is a former restaurant pastry chef veteran. She is not messing around with her Elijah Craig bourbon chocolates, or her rum chocolates. Once you are good and buzzed off of these, it is interesting to ponder the gilded chocolate mini-statues she makes of the Buddha, Mary, and other religious figures.  

The shop is very tiny, and the chocolate making area is right behind the counter, so you can always smell what fresh chocolate is in the works. 

Picture
Green Apple and Calvados Caramel from Chocolat Moderne




<--- Here is Chocolat Moderne's Green Apple & Calvados infused caramel. 

They also make one called "Player," filled with Peaty Single Malt Scotch flavored caramel. 

Picture
Chardonnay Oak Smoked Chocolates at L'Atelier






<--  L'atelier makes this interesting chardonnay and oak-smoked chocolate. 

Picture
Caipirinha Chocolates at Marie Belle



At Marie Belle, they offer several cocktail-inspired chocolates. 

Here is their "Caipirinha" made with white chocolate, cachaca and lime---->

They also have a "Mojito" chocolate made from rum and mint. 

Picture
Frangelico Chocolate at Marie Belle


<---  At Marie Belle they also have some chocolates inspired by spirits, like this Frangelico chocolate. 

Picture
Xocolatti Interior and Sake Truffle





Xocolatti




<--- At Xocolatti their wall is lined with chocolate boxes; you feel as if you are literally inside of a chocolate box! They have a blue-tinted sake flavored truffle. 

Picture
Champagne flavored chocolate at Royce

Royce

Royce chocolates are a bit different- these come from Japan, and you can purchase boxes of chocolate covered potato chips, green tea flavored chocolate bites, or Champagne flavored chocolate. 

Picture
Kee's

Kee's is one of my favorites in the city-- these chocolates are always homemade and fresh. Their drink-inspired chocolates include:  Cognac, Green Tea, Mango-Green Tea, Mint Mocha, and Champagne. 

Picture
Maison

Maison is old school and professional-- all the employees have perfect posture and are always buttoned up. The chocolates line up ever so perfectly, and the service is on point; but you might want to let lose when you have a bite of their "Bacchus" chocolate made with rum and flambe raisins!

<---Bacchus - Rum & Flambe Raisins 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    _

    Erin

    I’m Erin, and this is my wine blog. Here, you'll find information about wines from around the world, and Virginia.  



    Top Posts

    Elizabeth Bird
    Sommelier History
    Stars & Terroir
    Dry German Wine
    1962 NYC Wine List

      Want to subscribe?

    Submit

    Archives

    March 2024
    February 2023
    December 2021
    May 2021
    June 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    January 2016
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.