NYC Tastes

One of my favorite moments from the Summer Fancy Food Show came at the Louis Sherry Booth, where my eyes lit up at these gorgeous pastel colored tins filled with chocolate.  I had seen these tins before growing up.  I'm not quite sure exactly where, but they immediately brought back a feeling of love and nostalgia. Turns out Louis Sherry opened in NYC back in 1881 at 662 Sixth Avenue.  His elegant tins became an instant success during that era as did his restaurants and the name became synonymous with the elite social gatherings in NYC.   Today the Sherry Netherland Hotel pays tribute to the Sherry name and his delicious chocolates in flavors like Jamaican Rum, Coffee Costa D'Oro and Pistachio Di Bronte continue to be sold around the city.   I love the Sherry story and it's quite possible I found one of these tins at my grandparents house growing up- they are absolutely beautiful.  This is a fantastic gift for that special occasion and a won...

I tend to embarrass myself quite a bit when I'm walking around the city.  I'm klutzy so I trip over things a lot, I'm easily distracted so I also walk into things a lot and I get very excited about things in the moment and tend to scream a lot like I did the other day inside 2Beans when I saw this incredible new delight- the NYC Street Nuts Bar from Chocolat Moderne. Those sweet and salty caramelized peanut, almond and cashews from the NYC Nuts for Nuts carts enrobed in Chocolat Moderne's rich, creamy milk chocolate. Two of my favorite things combined into one incredible bar! Of course it would be my favorite chocolatier in the city who came up with this genius concoction. Joan and her crew at Chocolat Moderne never disappoint and this is truly a New York City classic.   Chocolat Moderne 27 West 20th Suite 904 New York, NY 10010

Fika is probably my favorite espresso place in the city.  This little shop translates to "coffee break" in Swedish and they make the perfect macchiato and churn out some of the best chocolates in the city. My go-to is the Macadamia but recently I've been switching it up with these other three...a silky white chocolate champagne truffle, creamy Bailey's and a crunchy Hazelnut Gianduja. You really can't go wrong with anything they make be it coffee, chocolate or one of their delicious pastries.  So do as the Swedes do and take a little fika once in a while. Fika

Have you ever opened up a box of chocolates that smelled so incredible you felt downright intoxicated off the aroma?  I had this experience at Royce' just last week and let me tell you the taste is even better than the smell. Royce' was founded in Sappora, Japan in 1983 and has been making chocolate ever since using only the highest quality ingredients and artisan techniques.  This isn't just ordinary chocolate, it's chocolate that is so silky, smooth it literally melts like butter in your mouth.   Ken Romaniszyn, the owner of Lady M Cake Boutique on the UES is the company's American partner and they now have three locations in New York: Midtown East, Bryant Park and their newest store which I visited on Bleeker Street.   The shop is tiny but filled with incredible products along the stretch of two walls.  I highly recommend tasting one of their Potatochip Chocolates in either Fromage Blanc, Chocolat Caramel or Mild Bitter. The chocolate caramel I ...