The Chocolate Room

My choco-meter suddenly swung wildly to the right as I walked down Park Slope's 5th Avenue today. There before me, in all of its glory, was The Chocolate Room. I'd been meaning to visit this cafe ever since it opened in February.

The Chocolate Room features the luxurious Knipschildt truffles, which I first discovered at the 2002 Chocolate Show. (Yes, my site now catalogues almost 4 years of gluttony!) But don't think that the offerings stop there. Co-owner Naomi bills The Chocolate Room as "the total chocolate experience," and to that end, she has employed the services of a chocolate-obsessed pastry chef. I recommend that you sit yourself down at a green marble table and order one of the extraordinary desserts. (The chocolate-iced cupcakes and brownies at the counter will still be there to take home when you're finished. Well, they might be.)

Hot chocolate is offered in two strengths: 38% and 60% chocolate. Naturally, I ordered the inky dark hot chocolate, which must be one of the richest beverages ever invented. In addition to hot chocolate, the elegant drink menu features wine, port, and, fittingly, Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout.

It was a struggle to decide among the espresso-chocolate flan, chocolate fondue, chocolate pudding, and lemon-buttermilk souffle drizzled with chocolate. My eventual choice was the chocolate-orange brioche bread pudding. Served in a citrusy coulis, the pudding was not too sweet, and was studded with welcome bursts of dark melted chocolate and pearls of sweet toffee.

I knew that I needed to bring the chocolate experience home for future enjoyment, so I bought an intriguing hot chocolate and coffee stick (a sort of chocolate lollipop intended to melt into one's coffee) and a box of 10 truffles. Naomi said helpfully, "They're less expensive if you choose them yourself instead of buying a pre-packaged box." I ended up with an assortment of caramel-lavender, rosewater, strawberry-lemon-thyme, and raspberry-peppercorn chocolates.

The Chocolate Room: 86 5th Ave., Brooklyn, (718) 783-2900. Cash only.