Serious Eats: New York
Sugar Rush: Charles Chocolates
At the 11th Annual Chocolate Show New York two weekends ago, I received a box of truffles from Charles of Charles Chocolates. His headquarters are based in California, but you can find them here in New York City at Whole Foods. The Classic Collection Assortment featured above bears twenty truffles—two each of ten flavors. I enjoyed some more than others, but there is not a single miss.
The Bittersweet Peanut Butterfly is a personal favorite, closely followed by the Passion Fruit Heart—fresh lilikoi ganache enclosed within a 65% chocolate heart. Fleur de Sel appears in two forms: silky plain in the first, and coupled with bittersweet chocolate in the second. Each is locked within a crisp, thin dark shell that easily gives way upon the heat of the mouth. For those fond of citrus, Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon creations cater to fruity whims with orange/lemon marmalade ganache in bittersweet and milk chocolate. I sampled my way through the entire Chocolate Show and can confidently conclude that these chocolates ranked among the best at the event, for both taste and presentation. Not included in this particular boxed truffle set, but equally loved were aromatic squares of Jasmine Tea chocolates and Caramel Almond Sticks hinting just a touch of Fleur de Sel. Available at Whole Foods or online at charleschocolates.com