La Maison Du Chocolat

Some people have friends in high places; I have friends in decadent places. In a happy coincidence, one of them works at La Maison du Chocolat. So, I decided to conclude a recent sweets expedition with a visit to this chocolate salon.

My earlier discoveries of the day were Deep Mountain pure Vermont maple candy (flavors: maple, ginger, coconut, pecan, hot pepper and blueberry) at the Rockefeller Center Greenmarket, and the latest seasonal additions at the below-mentioned Minamoto Kitchoan - kabocha manju (sweet squash cookie) and matcha kintsuba, or fudge flavored with the strong green tea that usually accompanies Japanese sweets.

Although my favorite chocolate bar in the entire world is London's Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar, I found plenty to be delighted about at La Maison Du Chocolat. One side of the shop is reserved for all manner of truffles with enticing names (among them, "Rigoletto", a caramelized buttermilk truffle which truly had me singing an aria). The other side features chocolate pastries and monster-sized "bouchées" (chocolates which are practically as large as a sandwich). My giant "Rocher" praline was a study in contrasting textures: crunchy almonds, silky chocolate coating and a chunky rich chocolate center. I also sampled a wonderfully dense pistachio marzipan bouchée.

I added a 35% cacao "Mérida" (see, those enticing names again) bar to my collection of goodies, and my friend hooked me up with a bag of "samples". Unfortunately, they are now depleted, which means that I must return very soon. Maybe I will try the milk ganache flavored with mirabelle plum, or the mendiants: little treasures of orange and lemon zest, roasted almonds and hazelnuts, and of course, chocolate. Or perhaps I will sign up for a two-hour tasting session with Robert Linxe, the creator of La Maison. (If you are interested in such an extravagance, call (212) 265-9404.)

La Maison Du Chocolat: 30 Rockefeller Center. (212) 265-9404.