Choicolate-Artisan Chocolates

Choicolate-Artisan Chocolates

Move over Willy Wonka for this chocolatier.  Located in a chic Stone Oak location are these delicious hand-crafted chocolates that look almost too pretty to eat.  After a stroll from Auden’s Kitchen we wondered in this white on white spot, so clean it was hard to believe that any cooking went on inside.  We were enthusiastically greeted by part owner Young Yang, husband to Jaime Choi (notice a similarity to the name of the shop?).  He spoke with us about his wife’s education, the Belgian chocolate and fresh ingredients.  He encouraged us to try the sample’s in the window, and no one had to ask us twice.  The two available for sample were the Pecan Caramel Ganache and the Strawberry Balsamic.  The Balsamic in the chocolate was sutle.  It had that “what is this factor?”.  The sample’s is what drew us in, you could taste the quality in the chocolate.  We purchased a five piece box for $11.  The boxing is equally aesthetically pleasing and in each box comes a chocolate guide to let you or the gift receiver know what chocolate they are eating.  We choose 5 of the 14 flavors.  The honey hazelnut, cut into a dark jewelry style cut.  Honey is a subtle flavor and the dark chocolate didn’t pack as much as a punch as you typically get from a dark chocolate at the supermarket.  The next one we got was a Dulce de Leche Coffee.  In each of the chocolates the filling has a very velvety texture.  The coffee is the predominant flavor, for me it masked the Dulce de leche flavor, but for Joseph he said he got the flavor immediately after the coffee.  It could be because I don’t care for coffee.  The third and my second favorite was the Grapevine.  It has a golden raisin on top and is made with port wine.  I LOVE red wine with chocolate so the creamy, mousse middle with the co-star wine flavor was excellent.  I loved the small tartness of the raisin in the end.  The fourth one, and surprising favorite of mine was the Pumpkin Caramel!  Again, middle filling was excellent texture, after the visit here I can definitely tell the different between quality ingredients and the ones you get from chocolates made for the masses.  You definitely get the pumpkin spice, this one would be a holiday favorite.  Perfect for a small gift, or a small, sweet after dinner treat.  The last was the Mango Habanero.  Mango was very tropical, mixed with white chocolate and what taste’s like lime.  As only a habanero can, the heat comes up on you gradually.  It was a great balance.  This was was the most complex, creative one of the fab five we got.  Thank you Young we will be returning soon!