Chocolat Superbe!
Yum had a chance to stop into chow chocolat yesterday, a recent addition to the block of Main Street between Goodell and West Tupper. I had seen queenseyes development posts about the up and coming business (here, here and here), but was anxious to check out the goods myself.
chow chocolat's space is stunning. Exposed brick, high ceilings, sleek fixtures, plush furniture, and an open floor plan set it apart from the pack. Additionally, its offerings make it a unique addition to Buffalo's scene.
Owners Scott and Jaclyn Wisz are best known for the delicious and attractively packaged baked goods they sell at some of the areas most popular farmers markets, including Elmwood-Bidwell, East Aurora and the Downtown Country Market. 
Those familiar with their products will recognize the cookies, biscotti, scones and brownies that line the counter at chow chocolat. As talented a baker as Jaclyn may be, she found herself bored with the lack of creativity involved in baking and decided that a chocolate course at New York's French Culinary Institute would spice up her life and the Wisz's inventory, and it has.
The chocolates are stunning, and worthy of a post all their own. From the simple and most basic offering of single origin chocolates from Venezuela and Peru to the more exotic Coconut & Curry bonbons, chocolate lovers of every caliber can find something here to fall in love with. Sold by the piece, each chocolate is blended by hand using a combination of Valrhona and Belcolade chocolate and every bonbon is hand molded and hand decorated. Some sport the new and very trendy transfer technique that transforms chocolates into little canvases, others are airbrushed by hand with pearlized cocoa butter, leaving behind a richly colored lacquer. Shapes and flavor range from milk chocolate eggs dressed in soft greens and blues to hot pink lips made of chocolate laced with habanero spice.
Also available are handmade marshmallows, intense and deeply satisfying fruit gel candies, a thick and creamy “tasting chocolate” and more. Equally impressive are the fair trade organic coffees, brewed to order in a French press, and, if you're on the go, served in paper cups made of corn products and therefore entirely biodegradable.
chow chocolat opened its doors quietly a few weeks ago and has yet to celebrate its official grand opening. They're busy perfecting their product, tweaking their offerings and production and feeling out their customers. So far visitors are as impressed as I was, and--like I did--have suggested the addition of just two or three lunch items with a French feel to provide sustenance to those of us in search of a savory nosh before a dip into the many luscious indulgences for sale.
chow chocolat
731 Main Street, Buffalo 14203
716.843.4388
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Comment Options
leadi
The Coconut-Curry chocolates are TO DIE FOR!! We also took home with us some Grand Manier (sp?), Jasmine-Tea and Raspberry-Chambord Chocolates. All of these were the little square, almost truffle like, choclates. Alff were fantastic but my favourite is the Coconut-Curry.
How they wrap the chocolates for you is wonderful. You can stop there for a gift on your way to the party and it would be boxed up with a ribbon. The place has a very Soho feel to it.
Maybe Chow Chocolate could offer a cheese and dried fruit plate? Cheese, chocolate and coffee....Perfect.
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MichaelFranco
Chow Chocolat is a beautiful place. Jaclyn and the staff are most accommodating, and the chocolates are mouthwatering and luscious. The perfect gift!
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leadi
The Coconut-Curry chocolates are TO DIE FOR!! We also took home with us some Grand Manier (sp?), Jasmine-Tea and Raspberry-Chambord Chocolates. All of these were the little square, almost truffle like, choclates. All were fantastic but, my favourite is the Coconut-Curry.
How they wrap the chocolates for you is wonderful. You can stop there for a gift on your way to the party and it would be boxed up with a ribbon. The place has a very Soho feel to it.
Maybe Chow Chocolate could offer a cheese and dried fruit plate? Cheese, chocolate and coffee....Perfect.
Report this
Hoss
They ROCK!!! The chocolates are as good as it gets. Jasmine is my fave so far. The space is beautiful, and the coffee is probably the best in Buffalo. It's all French Pressed. Not bitter and smack you over the head like some of the other local joints, but really delicately flavored yet complex and gentle at the same time. The sipping chocolate is otherworldly. It would shame Willy Wonka himself. I'd like to cut it with a little amaretto one day.
The owners are also extremely nice, and generous with the samples. I wish them the best of luck. I commend them on there bravery for thinking just outside the box location wise.
This place is a real winner. I sincerely hope they get the traffic and loyal clientele base they deserve. Places like this downtown are what will catapult this city into the future.
I wonder if they will keep hours that accommodate the pre and post theatre patrons?
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RunBuffalo
I agree that the coffee is some of the best I have ever tasted. I have also sampled a good number of the chocolates and there are many, many fantastic varieties. The store itself is beautiful and its a great place to hang out and feel luxurious.
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krysta
Combined with Choco Logo and all the sponge candy, the choices of chocolate in our city would keep any chocoholic satisfied. I think there needs to be a chocolate tour of the city that would take patrons around to all the well known and hidden gem establishments to sample the goodies. Perfect for mothers and daughters, or a group of girlfriends.
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