This Halloween weekend, getting dressed up as "Sexy Nurse No. 22" shouldn't be
your only option for getting some good treats. The New York Chocolate
Show continues through Sunday and, after buying your Golden Ticket, you can fill your
treat bag with some of the best chocolates from around the world and in
the city.Of the local chocolate makers, Roni Sue's Pig Candy (chocolate-covered bacon, which we featured in last year's gift guide) and new chile-themed chocolate truffles are amazingly good combinations, while Fika's Milk Chocolate with Baileys melts in your mouth in a perfect balance of creamy smoothness and whiskey undertones. Spicy chocolates are quite popular right now, and Pure Dark's rounds are exceptionally smooth with a not-so-subtle kick and finish, while Jacques Torres' Wicked cocoa is a perfect gift for staying warm in the winter. After about the 15th sample, portion control becomes a bit more important, and the Sweet Riot girls have chocolate covered cocoa nibs that are crunchy and rich, and come in great little tins. Finally, the chocolate bars of Madecasse are the best dark bars around, with a great fruity depth, especially the 67% bar. Even better, their company is the first to produce the chocolate IN Madagascar(!), keeping the profits with the local community. Nothing like virtue and chocolate in one delicious package.
Then there are the purveyors that don't have local shops. By going to the chocolate show, you get to try chocolates that otherwise have to be cold shipped here. As you buy product, you totally try to justify the costs, since it's much cheaper than flying to Italy, California and Florida just to get your chocolate fix. Top picks for justifying the ticket price of the show: Jer's Peanut Butter Cara Mello bars are perfect for candy bar lovers who need to step up to the real stuff with organic peanut butter, and Christopher Michael's truffle flavors are combinations like spicy pomegranate with lime, which will delight all sections of your taste buds—except the umami.
Those are just a few of the over 50 vendors and my personal favorites. The average American eats 10 pounds of chocolate a year. It's time to make sure that it's good chocolate.
