Phil's Picks: The Best Chocolates

Published on: November 15, 2003

The 6th Annual New York Chocolate Show brought together some of the world's most indulgent and beautiful chocolates. We came, we saw, we talked, we indulged.

Here are our picks for the best of the new chocolates from this year's Chocolate Show:

Valrhona presents the new vintages of its estate grown chocolates in a wooden case. Each of the six tasting chocolate bars includes the aromatic expression and the wealth of the soil of its estate of origin. An illustrated travel booklet details the different cocoa plantations in Trinidad, Venezuela and Madagascar used to create the bars. www.valrhona.com 310-277-0401

E. Guittard Vintage Collection offers two premier chocolates to consumers. The 64 percent dark L'Harmonie, made from criollo and trinitario beans, is excellent for chocolate mousse, truffles and cold desserts. Soleil d'or, a 38 percent milk chocolate, is a versatile blend that can be used in cr?me brul?e, ganache or as dipping chocolate. www.guittard.com 1-800-468-2462

Knipschildt Chocolatier - NEW products include Chocolate Dipped Pear Slices and Corn Flake Clusters in Dark, Milk and White Chocolate. Knipschildt's hot chocolate and coffee sticks; Pyramid shaped chocolates on a bamboo stick come in three flavors: Mocha, Chai and Butterscotch. www.knipschildt.com 203-435-0895

Chocolat Moderne - Silky truffles, crunchy pralines and soft caramel are all made with the finest French extra bitter chocolate and exotic ingredients. Molded and decorated by hand using airbrushing and stencils, signature flavors include Mon Petit Kumquat, Pumpkin Pique-Nique and La Dolce Grapefruit. www.chocolatmoderne.com 212-229-4797

The Art of Chocolate - Celebrated pastry chef Patrick Coston's signature line of handmade artisanal chocolates, where each piece is a culinary canvas, hand molded in a unique shape. Patrick creates fillings with clean, focused flavors and subtle highlights and pairs them with the ideal chocolate. The outcome is a beautiful chocolate with an equally impressive taste and flavor. www.theartofchocolate.com 1-888-880-1472

Chocmod USA, the largest supplier of truffles in Europe, will offer the American palate Truffettes de France. These delicate French truffles rolled in cocoa powder come in assorted flavors such as Fine Champagne and Grand Marnier. www.chocmodusa.com

Belgravia Imports is the exclusive U.S. importer of the luxury organic chocolate Green & Black's. Made from only the purest organic ingredients and the highest percentage of cocoa content, Green & Black's delivers a bold chocolate taste. Green & Black's cocoa beans are certified, organically shade grown under the canopy of indigenous rainforest trees in the Dominican Republic and Belize in harmony with nature. NEW Chocolate bar flavors: Caramel (milk chocolate with a soft caramel center), Almond (milk chocolate with whole almonds) and Mint (dark chocolate with a soft mint center). www.greenandblacks.com 1-800-848-1127

Ethel M Chocolates was founded in 1981 by America's foremost chocolate entrepreneur, Forrest Mars Sr., to honor his mother Ethel. NEW: The essence of their signature chocolate pieces has now been combined with one of America's favorite treats, fresh popped popcorn. Indulge in flavors such as Almond Butter Krisps, Pecan Brittle, and Lemon Satin Cr?me. www.ethelm.com 1-800-438-4356

Artist Rita Jackson from Rabbitville Road in Indiana has been sculpting in clay for over thirty years. Her whimsical creations are the result of a unique artistic style of slab construction and a delicious imagination. She brings her new collection of chocolate-covered rabbits, "pupcakes" (Chocolate Lab in a chocolate cup) and chocolate-decorated gingerbread houses this year. (These are not edible). www.ritabunny.com 812-849-5014

Neuchatel offers superb gourmet Swiss chocolate confections including their addictive milk chocolate covered potato chips. www.neuchatelchocolates.com 1-800-597-0759.

SweetBliss NEW: Black and White Moos- handmade marshmallow, caramel and graham cracker, enrobed in dark chocolate with white chocolate drizzle. www.sweetbliss.com 212-246-0417

Kopper's Chocolates - The inventors of the chocolate covered espresso bean and chocolate covered gummy bear have introduced (NEW) Kopper's Savoury

Collection, real spice and herb infused savory chocolate. Flavors include Cayenne Pepper, Tea Leaves, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Curry. www.kopperschocolate.com 1-800-325-0026

For more information about the NY Chocolate Show, visit www.chocolateshow.com.

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