jacques torres chocolates

if jacques torres tells us to eat more chocolate, maybe we should! this award winning french master baker has had sweeping influence in his craft around the world, and continues to be a dynamic force in the industry, especially in his current role as the dean of pastry studies at the french culinary institute in new york. jacques has a scrumptious line of chocolates that are terrific for giving or keeping. yesterday when i was at bittersweet i came across them and had to share (and will if you come to visit!).

look how beautifully rich and stylish this packaging is, from the satin ribbon to the font choice. accessible flavors like white chocolate key lime, espresso and chai tea, in addition to the superior traditional truffle, set the standard and tone for quite a delicious and memorable experience. and do i need to tell you that these little pieces of joy feel like silk on the tongue?

assorted boxes of chocolate start at $18 and can be purchased at his website or at his shops (66 water street in dumbo or 350 hudson at king in manhattan). enjoy!

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beautiful chocolates from la dolce v

look at these delectable morsels from la dolce v — with flavors like raspberry rose, lavender honey and citrus oolong tea, how could you possibly say no? the tiny shop is in sebastopol, a place i regret not visiting when i was in california a few months ago. no website yet, but be on the lookout…

frankly, the outstanding photostyling is tasty enough for me.

click on bri’s link to read more about the sweets!

via figs with bri on tastespotting

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lovely products at chicago’s lovely bake shop

lovely, a fresh-faced bakery at 1130 n. milwaukee avenue, just opened their doors a few days ago. it’s the most civilized bakery to open since bittersweet, and the food is delicious too!

this stretch of milwaukee, between division and the highway, is half industrial, half residential - and not too pleasing from an aesthetic standpoint. you won’t remember what’s outside though, once you step into the warmly lit space, with painted tin ceiling, oversized vintage bakery photographs and plenty of comfortable antique tables and chairs.

brooke and gina, the owners, studied at the french pastry school downtown. they’ve created sweet vignettes within the shop featuring antique commercial baking essentials, so if you get tired of sitting and eating, there’s something to walk over and admire.

you won’t be bored eating, though. these girls have got pastry game. the antique pastry cases are reflective of the shop’s classic inventory: flaky croissants, cakey madeleines, not-too-sweet blueberry muffins. chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookies. raspberry tea cakes and coconut skivvies (you’ll have to ask them). h & h bagels from new york are the only things not made on the premises. a separate case holds delectable cakes.

until today, i thought sweet thang had a stranglehold on authentic croissant baking in the city. now, i’m not so sure.

lovely’s store design sets itself apart from other bakeries with it’s gorgeous shop area. most of the handmade items, like tea towels, aprons and soaps, are made by local artists. everything is charming, and reasonably priced. i have a strong feeling that the folks from design*sponge would like this place.

if you whiz down milwaukee avenue on your way to work like me, or if you don’t, you need to stop and visit. right away.

check out their blog until their website goes live.

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