Monday, July 09, 2001


today's definitely the 3 Hs -- hot, hazy, humid. this means it's definitely not a day to ship chocolate. consume all your chocolate immediately, on the spot, in great mouthfuls. . .

i think an underappreciated source of chocolate here in new york is black hound. they work out of an unprepossessing storefront on second ave. in the east village. but don't be fooled by looks, or by the fact that often when you go by the place it looks locked, empty, lost.

because deep inside, behind the vitrine, are some of the most amazing bittersweet chocolate truffles in the nation. at about $46 a pound, they top even the pricey sweets of jacque torres. more affordable perhaps are their chocolate baskets, seen copied at balducci's and dean & deluca.

wonderful 6-inch tall dark chocolate baskets, carefully drizzled around a form to have a naturalistic wicker texture. these narrow-mouthed delights are then filled with sponge cake, touched with rum, pastry cream or whipped cream, and topped with delicious fresh berries and fruit. at about $7 each, they are a wonderful introduction to the artistry of black hound.

posted by fortune | 9:00 AM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments