haute chocolate in the windy city

You may not be aware, but Chicago was once the confectioners’ capital of the world. It may no longer hold the title, but remnants of its glory days remain. With Valentine’s Day only days away, I thought I would mention a few of my favorite chocolate makers.

Moonstruck Chocolate

320 N. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60601
Ring: 312.696.1201


Although not based in Chicago (they are based in Portland, Oregon), they do have a store on Michigan Avenue. It is a great place to hang out and get a malted creamy caramel or a brown cow. I could sit there for hours. It just smells so wonderful inside.

They make amazing truffles, almost too adorable to eat. They have both dark and milk chocolate; both are equally decadent. For Valentine’s they are offering the twelve decadent roses collection. They are truffles shaped like roses all wrapped up in a box to match. They also have the more traditional heart shaped box if that is more your style.

Vosges

520 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Ring: 1.312.644.9450

These chocolates are not for the faint of heart. With combinations like wasabi, ginger, and sesame seeds, and names like Black Pearl, Wink of the Rabbit, Woolloomoolloo you’ll never know what you’ll find inside when you take a bite. But trust me—your taste buds will thank you.

For Valentine’s you will find everything all tied up in purple (vosges signature color) heart shaped boxes. They also have la grande hatbox that contains a little bit of just about everything they make. As an added bonus, they are donating 25% of the profits from the hatboxes to V-day. What more of an incentive do you need?


Fannie May

343 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
Ring: 312.453.0010

Fannie May is a Chicagoland tradition that was almost lost. Thankfully the company has made a comeback and stores are springing up all over the area. A trip to Fanny May is like a taking a journey back to a time when things were simple. Think buttercreams, caramels, and fudge.

The best part is that for under $20 you can get your Valentine a heart-shaped box filled with lovely little chocolates.

See’s Candies

Downer’s Plaza Shopping Center
128 Ogden Avenue
Phone: (630) 663-9126

See’s is probably the Fannie May of the west coast, although they recently opened a store in Chicago. They did a commercial a few years back in which a passenger on a plane is going home (back east) for the holidays and decides to bring See’s chocolates back for his family. The lesson learned is next time he should pack the See’s in his checked luggage.

As you can imagine, See’s makes classic chocolates the old fashioned way. The kind Forrest Gump referred to in his famous “life is like a box of chocolates” line. The truth is though that you can tell what is inside by the shape of candy. So no surprises, just honest to good chocolate (filled with things like nuts and cherries). My favorites are the molasses chips (dark, of course).

L.A. Burdick

Although not available in Chicago, you can order online or by phone. These are some of the best chocolates I have ever had. Based in New Hampshire, all of their fine chocolates are handmade. Their signature chocolates are handmade mice (in white, dark or milk). They truly are too cute to eat. The idea is to dangle them from their silk ribbon tail right into your mouth. I just can never bring myself to do it.

They are known for mixing simple, yet unusual ingredients into their chocolates. From their website:

We don't use extracts, concentrates or flavorings. Our complementing flavors come directly from their sources. We brew coffees and teas, cook fruits, squeeze and zest oranges and lemons. Herbs and spices are used as needed. No two batches of the same recipe are exactly the same. We use local honey, Mexican vanilla beans and a variety of nuts and dried fruits from California and Turkey; the best we can find! The fine alcohols we use are the same we pour for our friends and family at a good meal. Lastly, but not least of all, we use only butter and fresh local milk and cream to cook with, no other fats or oils!

They also make some of the best hot chocolate on the planet. Even David Rosengarten thinks so.

Leonidas Belgium Pralines

231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL

Okay, maybe I did save the best for last, but really all of the above are great. Leonidas is really in a class by itself. The pralines are crunchy and smooth all in one bite. Truly something that must be experienced at least once in this lifetime.