Los Angeles: Farmers Market- Bodega & Little John's

On my way for a hot fresh donut at the Farmer's market in LA, I found two cool chocolate stores at this famed shopping center that everyone should sample if in the area. Littlejohn´s English Toffee House (http://www.littlejohnscandies.com/) in the Farmer´s Market has excellent fudge and a honeycomb chocolate candy. The English Toffee is also very good.

Bodega, http://www.bodegachocolates.com, which I have previously enjoyed at South Coast Plaza in Orange County, has opened a second unit at the fabulous new shopping center, The Grove at Farmer´s Market (Great Apple store if you haven´t seen it). Bodega has the most wonderful truffles sold as small candy bars. Classis, Hazelnut, Menthe, Dulce de Leche and Caramelo are UNBELIEVABLE. Their box sets make this a great gift.

NY road trip: Vosges, Marie Belle, Lindt & Lazar's

While in NYC, I walked SOHO and stumbled into the newly opened Chicago chocolatier, Vosges (http://www.vosgeschocolate.com). Their great truffles are also made into candy bars. I love the Gianduja Candy Bar. If you like hazelnut and Belgian milk chocolate, you´ll love it too.

Marie Belle (http://www.mariebelle.com/) is a new store that opened in SOHO, not far from Vosges. It has a nice selection of chocolates and accessories. I bought a great leather binder that looks like a chocolate bar. They also have wonderful hot chocolate served at a cool little "Bar" in the back of the store.

Great Neck, NY on Long Island has one of the three Lazar´s Chocolate stores (www.lazarschocolate.com). I stopped by for a taste and was delighted to try several of the candies. I think marshmallow anything is worth the trip. I tried different flavors - the maple was excellent as were the smores. Mr. Lazar, how do you keep the marshmallow so light and fresh?

Lindt Chocolates (http://www.lindt.com) has expanded in the Northeast over the past few years and I stopped in one this week. Beautiful store! I love their "Wafer/ Milk Chocolate" candy bar the most. (It is also available through a variety of outlets. I saw it at the WH Smith store at the LAX airport).

South Florida Update: Jimmie's and Amazing!

Ft. Lauderdale: I have been flying to Ft. Lauderdale for 20 years (a cheaper/easier way to get to South Florida than using Miami International and in all of my trips, I never realized that Jimmie´s Chocolates (http://www.jimmieschocolates.com) - Florida´s oldest chocolate company- 1947) was less than 2 miles away. This is a real gem that is easy to miss. You must ask for Ginger, the wonderful woman who helped me sample some of their goodies. The dipped strawberry was as good as it gets, but so were the truffles and chocolate candy. The chocolate covered pretzels were also a big hit! Jimmie´s has a cafè on the main road and the chocolate shop in back (both small cute pink buildings). The manufacturing is done three buildings away.

In Hollywood, Florida, near downtown, you should stop by and visit Amazing Chocolates (http://www.amazingchocolates.com)! Although I wasn´t able to take any home (my fault for running late), my 30-second visit included a Tiramisu chocolate candy that was unbelievable. I can´t wait to return to Hollywood, Fl to sample more!

Miami Update: CoCoWalk in Coconut Grove

CocoWalk Shopping Center has a new store called Fenoglio (http://www.fenoglio.com/). This is the first U.S. unit of a South American chain. I tried several specialties and was happy with them all.

Also, you MUST try the "Chocowalk", chocolate gelato at Coco Gelato (http://cocogelato.com/) . This has been a favorite "ice cream" of mine for years. It is chocolate ice cream with caramel swirls and chocolate chips.