NYC: No April Fools Joke Here- just rice pudding

About 5 years ago, I stumbled into a quick service specialty dessert restaurant in SoHo that sold only one thing, Rice Pudding!

"Rice to Riches" was and is a great idea.  Impressions from my frequent visits, including this month: it's like walking into a very fancy neighborhood Baskin Robins, only with 31 flavors of Rice Pudding + toppings- the endless choices are as fantastic as the food itself.  The branding/marketing/design/packaging is as good as any concept I have ever seen.

I really like getting the "Sex Drugs and Rocky Road" + "Chocolate Chip Flirt" with a topping of "MISCHIEF" (graham cracker crumbs).  This stuff is Addicting and Fantastic! Also, I have ordered it many times to Texas along with "Understanding Vanilla", which is a good balance with the others.

Happy 5th B'day RtR.

Flyer- Swiss Dark Chocolate, Rich and Thick American Caramel

"The Best Candy Bar In The World" is written on the side of this bar. A mighty bold statement, and there are fans that truly believe it. I was given my first Paris Flyer tonight by a to remain nameless but brilliant friend, on a visit to Kennebunk, Maine.

Atlanta's Paris Chocolate Company has taken this popular truffle combination and made it into a very special chocolate bar. Dark Chocolate and very chewy yet smooth caramel.

Excellant!

Available at specialty stores across the country. Check out the website (www.flyerchocolate.com) to order online or find a location near you.

San Diego: Chuao Chocolatier

I found a great little, but highly designed chocolate maker in San Diego a few years ago.
Now they have 5 or 6 locations in Southern California.

Known for unusual combinations of chocolates, truffles, hot chocolate and bars. Their Cafe at the Forum Shops in Carlsbad is a great little hangout, if your looking for some dynamite chocolate and a place to sit.

I am a sucker for honey and chocolate and the combination is out of this world. The Chuao Honey Truffle is a five star delicacy.
Made with: Orange blossom honey blended in Venezuelan dark and milk chocolate ganache, finely coated in dark chocolate and rolled in powder sugar. I LOVE THIS ONE!

Everything is worth the drive, so go and get some if you're in the area.

www.chuaochocolatier.com

London: European Candy Bars

On a recent trip to London, I had the opportunity to run through Harrods. I was very pressed for time, so I went directly to the Food Hall and the Chocolate Section (of course).

I took a random sample of what they consider the best.

Galler- Jean Galler's family has had a confectioner’s shop since 1930 and now they have their own counter and section in Harrods. His chocolate passion seems to eek form his veins. I sampled all sorts of different Galler products. The candy bars are amazing. The most unique are the small, individually wrapped, pieces (almost like small bars) that come in a box of 18 called "Langues de Chat". Your choice of boxes in the 3 chocolates (dark, milk and white) all stuffed with the smoothest of hazelnut paste. The are like small Delicious truffle bars!


Charbonnel et Walker- I grabbed a few bars and was impressed with the smoothness of each. The Caramel Bar was particularly good! It hit me on the plane home that this is the Company that opened a boutique at Saks Fifth Ave. in NY. I had a great Sundae there in December- VERY GOOD place to stop by when you need a quick fix in New York City!