I recently was dismayed to discover that one of my favorite chocolate shops, Xocolatti, had closed down their brick and mortar and moved their location strictly online. The joys of having a local chocolatier often include being able to view the chocolates in person, question a shop keeper about their contents and flavors, and occasionally sample the chocolates before committing to a purchase. Storefronts are also a way to connect customers to the chocolatiers personal vision and style, is the product innovative? Is a boutique chocolate shop with only extremely dark chocolates or something more down-home and decadent? You tend to get an impression of what kind of chocolates you’re in for when you walk in. Support your local chocolatier folks! Who knows how long they’ll be around for.
While Shaineal Shah’s Xocolatti has vacated their Prince St premises, another chocolate shop has since made SoHo their home. L.A. Burdick, whose Flatiron location was one of my favorite shops, relocated last year to 156 Prince St.
The location, much like their Flatiron one, is adorable – wood shelving, tables, benches, warm tones, sconces, striped wallpaper, and framed photos of cocoa pods. I can already see myself meeting up for cocoa here during the winter and their frozen hot chocolate during the summer.
You can sit down for coffee, cocoa, and instagramable cappuccinos or grab boxes of their chocolate for on-the-go gifting. I recommend trying one or two of their petite desserts. The options aren’t overwhelming, but prepare your sweet tooth – chocolate lovers will rejoice over their raspberry chocolate cake.
L.A. Burdick chocolates are small but intense, their flavors pronounced but, again, not overwhelming. They’re really something special.
Every year my sister requests a medium sized box of L.A. Burdick chocolates for Christmas. I love how they come in a cute wooden box, sealed with a ribbon and a wax seal. The shop ladies are always so kind and wrap up the gift in tissue paper and extra ribbon, and the chocolates are always gone by New Years Eve.
Right now L.A. Burdick have partnered with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charitable organization in Kenya known for their orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program. 100% of net proceeds from these handmade chocolate elephants will be donated to the trust. Frankly, I can’t think of a better excuse to eat chocolate! The milk chocolate elephant contains dark chocolate ganache infused with fresh mint leaves – leave everything you know about mint chocolates behind, the mint in this chocolate is unexpectedly fresh and exciting. The dark chocolate elephant contains passion fruit and Amarula cream liqueur dark chocolate ganache. So good. Elephants will not be available in November and December, so snap them up while you can!
In terms of high end or low end, L.A. Burdick chocolates – while on the more expensive end of the scale – are not pretentious. You get what you pay for, which is excellent quality, flavor, style, and design. Their chocolate is excellent chocolate, you don’t need to know what percentage of cocoa content you prefer to pick out a good piece. Bring your cocoa snobs and your Hershey loving friends here, I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying L.A. Burdick’s sweet treats.
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
156 Prince St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 796-0143
https://www.burdickchocolate.com/