Let’s face it: On some level, all chocolate is great, no matter where you are. When you’re traveling or in a new place, and you need chocolate, almost any chocolate will do.

If I have one goal in life, it is that I never have to settle for anything less than amazing, at least when it comes to chocolate.

So when I travel, I always bring my own chocolate with me as backup. That way, I don’t have to settle for anything less than the best.

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I was headed out on foot to meet chocolatier Joan from Chocolat Moderne. One of the very best things about NYC is that you can walk everywhere and the view is never boring. You always see interesting objects and a huge slice of humanity.

When I arrived at the address, I walked through the narrow entrance to the industrial building. I signed in with the doorman and took the elevator to the ninth floor.

Chocolat Moderne was not what I expected, though I am not sure what I was expecting.

When you first walk in, you see an L-shaped partition and are greeted by the smell of chocolate!

There are trays upon trays of freshly made chocolates as far as your eye can see. You are in the shop that the chocolate is made!







This is the fun part of being in food!

Meeting Joan was wonderful and it is exciting and inspiring listening to her talk about pairing flavors with chocolate. It certainly makes you want to taste them! And when you do, you are NEVER disappointed.

Joan described the flavors and told me all about what she looks for and how her combinations take shape. It is way, way cool!

I got to sample some of her faves and they were magnificent! I shared a box of 12 with a friend and she thought they were the best bonbons she had ever had! And my friend rarely, if ever, says that about any chocolate.



We are pleased to offer our hand-selected assortments of 12, 24, and 48 different Bonbons that will be made to order so they are super fresh for the holidays.

These Bonbons are special! We have never felt compelled to offer anything like this since freshness, timing and logistics conspire to make it difficult to ensure success.

I could not stop myself from closing my eyes with every bite to fully concentrate and enjoy the flavors. Each chocolate has a combination of flavor nuances that are indescribable.

Yes, I taste the sesame tahini, but how it blends together with the chocolate is eye-closing. The blend of dark and white chocolate ganache with bergamot reminds me of an ice cream sundae. Another super smooth chocolate tastes like a luscious olive?

The subtle explosion of creative flavors is magical!



Please place your order by Thanksgiving, the cutoff for shipping as a gift, for yourself or for pickup in the shop. It will take roughly 10 days to get the chocolate made and then time for shipping.

See all the Chocolat Moderne’s here!

There is something special about these spice cookies! They have this wonderful chewy bite that for me is totally addictive.

My first taste of these cookies brought back a rush of memories. I had tried this cookie before, in Switzerland on a whim I expect, as a treat that looked interesting. By the time I realized I really liked them, I had moved on to another country.

Many years later, sample packages of Leckerli arrived at my door, and that rush of memory flooded my tastes buds.

The first thing I noticed about the cookies was the thickness—too tall for a gingerbread man and too short for a cake; firm to the touch but not hard, squeezable if you put your thumb into it.

You see white sugar splashes and almonds that tell you that the bite is going to be interesting.

When you do take your first taste, you are very aware of the firmness, yet the bite is easy with the occasional crunch from the almonds. It takes more than one chew, which I am thankful for as it is so enjoyable to eat. To me, this is the most addictive element to this cookie. It is super pleasurable!

The flavor showcases a wonderful blend of ingredients—honey, almonds, orange peel, lemon peel, kirsch and spices—perfectly balanced. Not one element stands out over the others.

If you have just one a day, the larger offering will last you for 24 days. This assumes you don’t share and can manage enough restraint to eat only one at a time. I ate 12 just writing about them. And now I need to eat 12 more to confirm my taste memory. ;o)

Shop now for Andres Leckerli 24 Cookies!

Shop now for Andres Leckerli 10 Cookies!

A new twist on a brownie classic. The bitters adds an uptick in the flavor, enhancing the chocolate essence.

See the Chocolate Brownie with Chocolate Bitters Recipe Here!

Made with organic roasted cacao nibs, these chocolate bitters deliver a third chocolate element to all those baked chocolate goodies. With just a hint of spice and oak, chocolate bitters impart the essence of chocolate into any drink - hot or cold. Hot chocolate, chocolate brownies, chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, you name it. But beware - it will also add richness.

Shop now for Scrappy's Chocolate Bitters!

One of the very early cocktails, an old fashioned is made by muddling bitters and water, adding whiskey and garnishing with a citrus slice, candied peel or cocktail cherry.

On the back of this wonderful wooden box are 2 recipes for each of the 3 bitters.

Let your imagination go wild with Grapefruit & Rosemary, Orange, or Scorched Pear & Ginger bitters!



Shop now for King Floyd's Old Fashioned Craft Bitters Kit!

The combination of cherry and chocolate is simply joyous - and irresistible! Perfect for French toast or bread pudding -- or just eat this cherry and chocolate panettone bread toasted. You can't go wrong.

Started by three brothers in the 1930s, Flamigni continues to make their panettone in the main square of Forli in the Romagna region of Italy. Flamigni has a knack for not only making classic panettone, but putting scrumptious taste combinations together that are hard to resist. All their cakes are made the traditional way, with the original mother yeast, along with quality, all natural ingredients.

Shop now for Flamigni Cherry and Chocolate Panettone!

Panettone filled with Limoncello Cream, with candied lemon peels, and no sultanas (raisins). If you like lemon, then this is the panettone for you. Creamier and moister than the Albertengo, because of the cream.

Best Flavor Available!
"As I had the opportunity to taste-test many flavors of panettone at the shop a few years ago, I knew what flavors I favored. The top-selling Sorrento Lemon has always been a family favorite, but this one has moved ahead on my list. What makes it different is the lemoncello that is soaked into the cake (and gravity has most of it settled in the bottom.). When I bite into the creamy lemoncello-soaked panettone, I am in Heaven! It remains very moist even when lightly toasted. I will continue to purchase this flavor for years to come!"
-- lynelle

Shop now for Borsari Limoncello Panettone!