Saturday, September 25, 2010

Artisanal Chocolates

While man-chatting and looking over the vintage motorcycles at Cafe Racer, my husband and the owner of the shop struck up a conversation with another customer in the store. He was wearing a chef-style uniform. They asked where he worked and that is how we first learned of a little piece of heaven on earth - Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates. So, "Chris" is a chocolatier. No, no... Chris is an Artist!


Luke and I were amazed this jewel was right here in our city.  The chocolate boutique is in the Crossroads District of downtown Kansas City, Missouri.  There is one other store in San Francisco.  The shop is extremely modern and chic in design with all the chocolates for sale lined up in a glass case like precious jewelry.  Gems for my tummy!  Through a glass wall, you can view the chocolatiers at their work.



There are several treats to be had.  The little chocolates, chocolate bars, an assortment of different chocolate covered nuts, AND the most wonderful inventition EVER - Drinking Chocolate.  This is not your Mama's hot coca.  Nope.  I could have died right then and there a very happy woman. 



And you can sip your Drinking Chocolate at this swanky, Drinking Chocolate Bar under the chandelier while gazing out at the poor chocolate-less souls walking on the downtown sidewalk. Indeed, Christopher Elbow chocolates were ranked #1 on Food & Wine magazine's chocolate Top Ten!



The selection of chocolate was truly amazing. I tried a strawberry balsamic, a vietnamese cinnamon, and a raspberry chocolate. But my favorite was the Venezuelan Spice (dark ganache infused with a chili-spice blend).  OMG!  So if you are in Kansas City (or San Fran) you MUST stop by.  Luckily for the rest of us, you can also mail order your own little bit of heaven.



 

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