The 10th Annual Chocolate Show

The Chocolate Show is somewhat scaled back from last year, but there's still plenty to see and sample. The chocolates' origins range from the outer boroughs to the farthest reaches of the globe.

Among the local offerings are Rhinebeck's Oliver Kita chocolates and our beloved Jacques Torres. I regret to inform you that Jacques Torres is not serving the famous hot chocolate this year. You will have to console yourself with a chocolate-chip cookie. The cookie boasts a dark chocolate chunk in every bite, but I do hope the hot chocolate will be reinstated in the future.

Sweetbliss is selling strike-proof NYC cabs made of chocolate, and Chocolat Moderne, which is located on West 20th St., is offering unique Greek (kalamata olive, walnut baklava) and Japanese-inspired (shiso, soy-miso) chocolates. The West Village's Peanut Butter & Co. is selling brand-new dark chocolate peanut butter cups for the first time... they're not even available in the store yet! The newest local chocolate company has to be Brooklyn Fudge, which just incorporated on October 31. Their fudge comes in exotic flavors like dark wasabi pecan. And you can't get much more local than Mad Mac NYC. This company will deliver chocolate-orange macarons to your door!

Now to some of the foreign highlights. Coppeneur of Germany (now available at your local Food Emporium) is featuring chili pepper cocoa beans and chocolate bars in such exotic flavors as mango lassi. Mary's Chocolate of Japan has introduced a new line of chocolates with Japanese ingredients: purple sweet potato, soybean flour, Japanese plum, azuki bean, green tea, and black sesame ganache. Comptoir du Cacao is here from France with delicate praline feuillete. (The Comptoir du Cacao stand is cash-only! Make sure to visit the ATM before you arrive at the Chocolate Show... not only do many vendors not accept credit cards, but the admission is payable only in cash.)

In the unlikely event that you have dragged a health nut to the Chocolate Show, take her to Dina's Organic Chocolate on the way out. Dina's Chocolate is 100% organic, dairy-free, and almost devoid of sugar. But if neither of you are health nuts, go over to Luv's Brownies for a hot heart-shaped brownie with loads of little chocolate chips.

(Finally, if you're a thirsty bird, bring a bottle of water with you, as it'll cost you more after you enter the show - just like at the airport).

Happy chocolate-eating!

The 10th Annual Chocolate Show, Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St., November 9-11.