Xocolatti

Xocolatti was created by Shaineal Shah, whose goal was to “create a brand for chocolate connoisseurs that was respectful of the heritage of fine chocolates, but also offered an innovative and artistic experience.”  Though I am by no means a “connoisseur,” I was excited to try these chocolates. I learned that his family had been in the jewelry business for generations, however Shaineal opted to venture into the chocolate world.  Still, he paid homage to his heritage by producing chocolates that resembled the jewels around him. very excited to try these, especially after seeing the beautiful packaging they came in

If I didn’t know any better, I’d have expected a nice bracelet out of this box!

See the sparkle on that third truffle?  (Sorry, my camera had some problems focusing with all that glitter…)

Fortunately, the box came with a little menu of all the available truffles, so I knew what I was trying ahead of time.  I always appreciate when a box of chocolates comes with descriptions of the various kinds so I can pick out my favorites!  (Sorry Forrest, I like to know what I’m getting.)  Unfortunately, the sparkly one didn’t seem to be included on the menu.  Oh well… I was too curious and grabbed one first anyways.

The first bite had me cracking into the thin shell, which was been rolled in superfine sugar with a champagne-like taste to it. Almost tasting a little sparkling to match its look.  Inside there was a rich chocolate filling, with a hint of raspberry.  This was a great truffle and felt very decadent.

After the sparkly truffle, TT assisted with the sampling of the “Pista” truffle. The menu described this one as a “blend of pistachio paste and white chocolate enveloped with crush pistachios.”  I took a small bite and noted the “shell” was a more traditional, thicker coating, and the crushed pistachio provided a nice crunch. The filling had a nice mix of both dark chocolate and the white chocolate-pistachio, which I appreciated as I’m not huge white-chocolate or pistachio fan.  Though not my top choice, purely based on personal preference, I would eat this one again.  TT seemed to really enjoy it as he actually finished the rest of it.

Next up, the “Simply Milk,” described as “Ghana Single Origin sweet melting ganache with hints of vanilla.”  This was a very traditional truffle, milk chocolate on the outside and deep, rich ganache on the inside.  Simple, yet delicious. Anyone who eat chocolates would like this one.

I wasn’t sure what the last one was… I thought it looked like the “Kopi” picture (milk chocolate enriched with a Guatemala Antiguan coffee and cocoa nibs) however, upon reading the description it tasted more like the “Malagasy” (dark truffle made from the cocoa beans of Madagascar, enrobed in a sprinkle of cocoa powder).  The cocoa powder was a little too bitter for my taste, so I didn’t enjoy it as much..  This inside tasted similar to the “Simply Milk,” however it was a little difficult to really taste it as the cocoa powder overwhelmed everything else.

Overall, I enjoyed tasting these truffles and thought they were quite beautiful.  So where do you find these fancy delights?  Either on their website or at their inaugural store opening in SoHo today.  In addition to the truffles I tried, there are several other truffles available, along with slates (sheets), clusters and gelatos. Though they are a little out of my price range to buy on a regular basis, I would definitely consider buying them for a gift or special occasion.

Grand Opening of their store TODAY, September 19, 2011!
172 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012
xocolatti.com

Please note that I received these goodies courtesy of Xocolatti, but I did not receive any monetary compensation for posting this. I was under no obligation to post my opinion, positive or negative; feel free to take from that what you will.