Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Dark Horse

I always say that I love chocolate but can't be bothered with chocolate desserts.  Chocolate on its own is so fabulous that I find that few chocolatey confections can top the deep pleasure that is an 85% Valrhona bar.  I do make a notable exception for excellent chocolate truffles, which heretofore essentially meant anything from La Maison du Chocolat and virtually nothing else.

But a few months back I discovered a La Maison competitor mere blocks from my office.  In the old Fleur de Sel space on West 20th Street, the exquisite L.A. Burdick has taken up residence.


The shop itself is charming, as are the shop girls who man the chocolate laden counter.  But most importantly, the product is stunningly good.


Their little chocolate mice and chocolate penguins are adorable, the coffee is quite good (although it still doesn't hold a candle to my beloved Stumptown, but then nobody does) and the orange hazelnut cake is tender as can be, but I have to admit that once I discovered the pave glace I pretty much abandoned all other L.A. Burdick related pursuits.


These smooth cubes of hazelnut and dark chocolate dusted with bitter cocoa are perfection.  Well, not quite.  I'm afraid I do end up with a light dusting of brown down the front of an otherwise pure white button down shirt more often than I'd like.  But it is a small price to pay.  

8 comments:

Carla said...

I am with you La Maison du Chocolat could make a grown girl cry it is so good. Carla

brismod said...

It looks divine. They should supply a special chocolate bib for their customers.

French Fancy... said...

I can't remember when I last ate a piece of proper chocolate. I am sublimating my choccy desires with Weight Watcher chocolate desserts -which are about as far removed from your lovely brown rich sticky stuff as possible.

Laura said...

Carla - I daresay it HAS made a grown girl cry!

Brismod - yes, brilliant idea

French Fancy - You don't think you deserve at least a little bitty treat once in a while? I will have to send some of these over to Kent post haste.

materfamilias said...

Hmmmmm, vicarious enjoyment isn't quite as satisfying as the real thing. I'm off to hunt for some chocolate, but it won't be as marvellous as your sounds . . .

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

I'm with you, Laura. Chocolate itself, in bars (or chunks or bits or...), is the noblest expression of this amazing food. I even like run-of-the-mill chocolate bars. But the stellar stuff you describe here? One more reason I should live in New York. Regarding the dusting of your white button down shirts, maybe shopping for something in a nice dark brown is in order.

Sneaky Magpie said...

it looks like heaven, drooling now ;)

French Fancy... said...

There are lovely chocolates here but I'm one of those people who can't just leave it at one - I have to keep going till the bitter (sweet and glorious) end.

In fact I could even have one and incorporate it into my daily points but I'd rather have none than one - maybe after the next stone has gone.

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