Locomotoring

Chocolates from Chocolatier Blue

Chocolatier Blue is a new addition to our chocolate and coffee series. The earlier ones being Recchiuti, Fog City News, Tcho,  XoX, Choco-la, ….

• Location: Fourth Street, Berkeley
• Coffee: I forgot to notice – chocolates were too pretty. There is a Peet’s coffee in the vicinity.
• Chocolates: Chocolate tart and flavored Amedei chocolates – champagne and popcorn, grains of paradise (a west African aromatic and peppery spice), ….

Combine growing up on self-sustaining farms, training at Charlie Trotter’s and a passion for the best ingredients … and then add the sensitivity of an artist (this comes from the better half) – you end up with great tasting chocolates  so pretty that you wish you have a young love and Valentine’s day just around the corner.

Choclate tart at CB

These flavored chocolates are unique to look at: the shell is brightly colored on the outside and reflects the flavor e.g., the pistachio flavored one is green tinted. There are tiny sparkling bits on the polished shell that give the chocolate nuggets the look and feel of colored marbles. The flavor is relatively mild, the chocolate core is creamy and the sugar content is low – perhaps a tiny bit too low.

The chocolate tartlette has a thin buttery crust with a good balance of chocolate taste, sweetness and butter.

Final verdict: Somewhere between Recchiuti and XoX – both sell truffles. It is hard to compare with pure chocolates like Tcho where the interplay is between the unique taste of the varietal, mouth feel and buttery-ness.

Fourth street in Berkeley is a nice way to spend an afternoon – plenty opportunity to shop while soaking in some sun.