<![CDATA[Diary]]> Sat, 25 May 2013 12:05:46 +0000 en hourly 1 <![CDATA[Forbes Best Chocolate Shops in LA!]]> Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:05 +0000
4/29/2013 @ 5:31PM |46 views

Best Chocolate Shops In Los Angeles

With Mother’s Day approaching, all minds turn to chocolate. Still, Los Angeles isn’t known as a sweets capital. Wheat grass shots, perhaps, but caramel ganache? Not so much. Fortunately, a boom in specialty chocolate shops has sparked competition between artisan chocolatiers from Santa Monica to Silver Lake. Here’s a look at the best chocolate Los Angeles has to offer mom (and anyone else).

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Best Chocolate Shops In Los Angeles

Best Chocolate Shops In Los Angeles

Madame Chocolat's chocolate dipped Oreos are an only-in-LA chocolate indulgence

Valerie Confections draws crowds to its hidden-away east side factory store for morsels like Fleur De Sel Toffee, modeled after the iconic See’s Candy classic. On the west side, John Kelly tempts the Montana Avenue yoga crowd with, among other flavors, dark chocolate fudge around the choicest California walnuts. They are nearly impossible to resist.

L.A.’s  Compartes Chocolates has been around since 1950 but it still makes the chicest, most succulent bonbons in town. After buying his parents’ landmark Brentwood confections shop several years ago, Jonathan Graham, 30, has spiffed up the family line, from logo to toppings, without compromising the local flavor. Almost everything at Compartes is made by hand in-house, and most ingredients are organic, conscientiously sourced and presented in true Hollywood style. Whether it’s the tropical sophistication of chocolate passionfruit truffles or the over-the-top indulgence of chocolate dipped English toffee, Graham understands that bonbons aren’t just candy. They’re emotional experiences.

Last year, Hasty Torres, wife of Jacques and a champion whisk-twirler herself, closed her Beverly hills shop, Madame Chocolate, and moved to a dedicated chocolate factory downtown. The good news is she’s still selling online, and offering free two-day shipping for orders over $50. Perfect for chocolate lovers who require Torres’s trademark dark chocolate covered Oreos or the mini glitter Louboutin high heel shoes. Chocolate shoes, that is.

Here’s where to find the sweet stuff in LA:

Compartes Chcolate
www.compartes.com
912 S Barrington Ave  Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 826-3380

John Kelly Chocolates
www.johnkellychocolates.com
1111 1/2 Montana Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 899-0900
1508 N Sierra Bonita Ave  Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-3269

Madame Chocolat
www.madamechocolat.com
1200 Industrial St  Los Angeles, CA 90021
(310) 247-9990

Valerie Confections
www.valerieconfections.com
3360 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(213) 739-8149

Follow David on Twitter @davidhochman and @letterfromla
]]> <![CDATA[Join us at The Pebble Beach Food & Wine!]]> Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:25:39 +0000
"We're starting to pack chocolate and checking off my chocolate essentials list for this weekend. Im so excited to be at Pebble Beach Food and Wine this year with my hubby! We are doing the Grand Tasting event on Saturday and our chocolate demo on Sunday. There are still some seats left for the demo!" ~Hasty Torres

 

Grab your tickets HERE!!!

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[Hasty and the Chocolate Factory!]]> Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:57:15 +0000 Wowzerz! We made the cover of Downtown News!

View the full article here! http://bit.ly/YWMrhF

 

]]> <![CDATA[Feeling the V-Day Love from the Backyard Bite!]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:49:05 +0000 Feeling the Valentine's Love from our friends at BackyardBite.com!  Madame Chocolat made their picks for Top 10 Valentine's Day Chocolate Ideas!

To view the full article, click here!

Backyard Bite

Top 10 Best Valentine’s Day Chocolate Ideas!

Posted by  on Thursday, February 14, 2013

8. Madame Chocolat – Hasty Torres, the wife of Jaques Torres, the famed New York based chocolatier a.k.a, “Mr. Chocolate” creates decadently beautiful creations. Forget chocolate hearts – get your lover some high-heels! – of the chocolate variety that is.

]]> <![CDATA[LA Times Features Madame Chocolate Ryan Gosling Chocolate iPhone!]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:44:43 +0000 latimes.com

Valentine's Day Chocolate: Ryan Gosling is calling you!

Happy Valentine's Day from Ryan Gosling.  

A customized chocolate Iphone from Madame Chocolat in Beverly Hills. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times / February 14, 2013)
By Jenn HarrisFebruary 14, 2013, 11:20 a.m.

Hey Girl, Happy Valentine's Day. It's me. Ryan Gosling.

Wouldn't it be great if you picked up your ringing phone today and it was Ryan Gosling calling? His smirking face with that signature furrowed brow and blue eyes filling your calling screen? Well now you can, sort of.

Hasty Torres of Madame Chocolat at D.L. & Co. Beverly Hills has created a custom chocolate iPhone. For $35 you can make it look like Ryan Gosling, a.k.a. Mr. Perfect, or whoever your crush may be, is calling. The chocolate phone can be printed with edible ink on frosting sheets with the photo of your choice.

Your Valentine's Day chocolate call comes decorated with glitter and wrapped in a clear box with a bow.

If Gosling's not your type, you can always go with a wooden heart box with truffles ($125), chocolate lipstick with holder ($12) or chocolate glitter lips ($30). Visit www.madame-chocolat.com for more.

To view the full article and more from the Los Angeles Times, click HERE!
]]> <![CDATA[Madame Chocolat - Chocolate iPhones!]]> Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:03:30 +0000

Grub StreetLos Angeles

Madame Chocolat Sports Chocolate iPhones; Vosges Popping-up at The W

Chocolate iPhones, slightly cheaper than the real thing. 

Chocolate iPhones, slightly cheaper than the real thing.  Photo: Madame Chocolat

Did you ever read that preachy little bookwhere a little boy turned everything he touched into chocolate as a kid? We're renaming it "The Hasty Torres Story," as the owner and head confectioner of Madame Chocolat continues to turn all inanimate objects into edible sweets. Now, she's now doing for iPhones what she's past done with high heels, golf balls, Chanel bags, and Legos: turning them into chocolates in time for Valentine's Day. Torres, who's now working from her new Downtown chocolate factory, is offering iPhones in pre-existing message wraps made from edible, fondant ink bearing tasty images of Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, and Mickey Mouse (for furries, natch) and also in custom forms, with images of yourself or anything else your depraved mind can conjure (for the Anthony Wieners of the world). The phones are priced at an Apple-worthy $25 and $35, respectively, and are currently being sold at D.L.& Co. in Beverly Hills.

Over in Westwood, Vosges, the creative chocolate company sprung from chef Katrina Markoff with the help of los hermanos Adria, is popping up at The W Hotel for two days, starting this afternoon at 5:00 P.M. and ending at 9:00 P.M.

Intended for anyone suffering from Fred Flintstone-syndrome who is late to get their V-Day act together, the pop-up shop will offer the company's truffles, toffees, candy bars, and chocolates for sale, also at a premium price. Because nothing says "I'll love you even when you get fat" better than a twelve-dollar bacon-chocolate bar given at the last conceivable minute.

To read more from GrubStreet Los Angeles, visit: http://losangeles.grubstreet.com/2013/02/madame-chocolat-iphones-vosges-pop-up-westwood.html

By: Hadley Tomicki  FILED UNDER: CHOCOHOLISM, BEVERLY HILLS, HASTY TORRES, MADAME CHOCOLAT, VOSGES, WESTWOOD

]]> <![CDATA[Win Tickets to the LA Philharmonic!]]> Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:00:39 +0000

]]> <![CDATA[Celebrating Valentine's Day at Tiffany & Co.]]> Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:25:15 +0000 " I was so thrilled to be asked to participate in is event with legendary Tiffany & Co. and iconic Martha Stewart Weddings.  Valentines Day is the most romantic time to get engaged!"  Madame Chocolate

It was all romance Wednesday night at the Tiffany & Co. flagship store where I was thrilled to host the Valentine's Day "Written in the Stars" event. It was an evening for couples to celebrate love. How beautiful was this scene in Soho?

_MG_9772

With February 14th on the way, we set up the ultimate Valentine's Day crafting experience. Madame Chocolate  and One Girl Cookies sweetened the night by bringing heart-shaped chocolates and sugary confections for our guests to pile in treat boxes. Next, everyone was welcomed to personalize their boxes with lots ofMartha Stewart Crafts stickers, ribbons, papers, punches, and tags. Then calligrapher Deborah Nadel added a finishing touch to everything from the treat boxes and tags, to love notes on Tiffany cards. To capture this night of romancePhotoOp set up one of their great photo booths so couples could go home with a fun memory.

Between crafting and indulging, of course our couples also got to drool over all the beautiful jewelry! What were they eyeing? Rings, wedding bands, bridal party gifts, just-because gifts, and more. Martha Stewart Weddings associate style editor Melissa Colgan even singled out some wonderful gift suggestions since we have less than a week until Valentine's Day. (Thanks, Melissa for the beautiful displays, and stay tuned for a detailed list of all her Tiffany picks!)

But the BEST part of the night? One special couple, Linda Lewis and Dharell Mosby, got engaged right there at the store! Can't beat that for a night of romance! See how the whole night unfolded in the photos below.

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Madame Chocolate milk chocolate hearts and a sweet box decorated with Martha Stewart Crafts stickers. 

Madame Chocolate milk chocolate hearts and a sweet box decorated with Martha Stewart Crafts stickers.

For more photos from the article and more about Martha Stuart Weddings, visit:
]]> <![CDATA[LAIST.COM 7 BEST!]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:40:14 +0000 The 7 Best Locally-Produced Chocolates for Valentine's Day

If you're planning on getting laid this Valentine's Day (or just want to show someone what a great catch you are), for the love of Cupid, stay away from the Whitman's. Here are some awesome locally-produced chocolates that will wow your sweetheart.

]]> <![CDATA[Madame Chocolat on E! News with Guiliana Rancic!]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:10:10 +0000 Top Category BrandingNEWS/

Giuliana Rancic's Gift Guide: For Coworkers & Friends

by Rose CurielFri., Dec. 14, 2012 11:25 PM PST

Video Thumbnail: Giuliana’s Gift Guide for Co-WorkersNot sure what to get the other fam in your life? Jason runs down the perfect gifts for your favorite break room buddies.

Though we spend eight hours a day with our coworkers, many of us are often stumped when it comes to choosing a gift for them. Ditto for friends who have styles that don't exactly line up with our own.

Luckily, Giuliana Rancic has put together a handy gift guide that's sure to please everyone from your weekend buds to your hard-to-read manager.

And if said boss isn't planning on giving you a holiday bonus this year, Rancic has come to the rescue with wallet-friendly discount codes!

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