Samples are awesome!
We took a Chocolate walking tour in San Francisco yesterday. It's a 2 hour walking tour primarily south of Market. We started at Fog City News, and walked and ate our way through the following stores. We liked them all for a variety of reasons.
NewTree Chocolate (my overall favorite, see why below)
Teuscher's (champagne truffles, oh yeah!!)
Ghirardelli at the Palace Hotel (essential San Francisco)
Cocoabella (Passion fruit and lychee truffles)
Minamoto Kitchoan (chocolate mochi, check)
It is a very good thing we walked.
NewTree Chocolate (my overall favorite, see why below)
Teuscher's (champagne truffles, oh yeah!!)
Ghirardelli at the Palace Hotel (essential San Francisco)
Cocoabella (Passion fruit and lychee truffles)
Minamoto Kitchoan (chocolate mochi, check)
It is a very good thing we walked.
Tried and approved by all in our party
By far, my favorite (and remember, I don't really like chocolate) was NewTree Chocolate. They are a Belgian-based boutique and their spin is that they are environmentally and socially responsible chocolatiers.
They had great variety. Honestly, some were kinda weird--thyme chocolate was no one's favorite, quinoa got mixed reviews, and orange jellies were good, but not for someone with orthodontia.
But, Speculoos (a Belgian biscuit), Kola, Blackcurrant, Superfruit, and Cherry (plus Lime Quinoa and Lavender) are Very Seriously Amazingly Yummy. As are the chocolate-covered Belgian waffles.
That big-picture organic stuff is all good high-minded spin. But what makes this place really stand out is their staff. It's pretty clear they love and believe in what they are doing, and they are just plain nice.
They had great variety. Honestly, some were kinda weird--thyme chocolate was no one's favorite, quinoa got mixed reviews, and orange jellies were good, but not for someone with orthodontia.
But, Speculoos (a Belgian biscuit), Kola, Blackcurrant, Superfruit, and Cherry (plus Lime Quinoa and Lavender) are Very Seriously Amazingly Yummy. As are the chocolate-covered Belgian waffles.
That big-picture organic stuff is all good high-minded spin. But what makes this place really stand out is their staff. It's pretty clear they love and believe in what they are doing, and they are just plain nice.
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So nice that as we were leaving at the end of the day, they offered some of their unsold sandwiches and salads to us. At no charge.
We even tried to pay, but they kindly, but steadfastly declined. The manager said that since all of their food is organic and made fresh, it simply doesn't keep, and what they do with the unsold stuff (besides give it out to fortunate tourists at the end of the day) is donate it to the homeless. OK, we did buy a bit of chocolate, but she simply would not let leave without sending us on our way with some food. And that is really Feeding Your Ohana. Go to NewTree for good chocolate and even better people. |
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