La Maison Du Chocolat

Every morning on my walk to school, La Maison du Chocolat calls to my inner chocoholic and dessert enthusiast. AP exams are looming over this coming week and today I decided to treat myself before I am immersed in study books.

I have visited the Rockefeller location, which is quite cramped and operates at a very high pace. The Upper East side location seems to be the chic and elegant sibling to it's Midtown counterpart. There is an elegance and calming atmosphere enhanced by the brown tones and marble counters that visually increases the deliciousness emitting from chocolates and pastries displayed. I have heard of their macaroons from many people ($2.50 small, $5.00 large), uncomparable to Bouchon's crumbly shell, and I have to say fuller than the ones I have had at Jacques Torres.

Flavors include chocolate, a coffee shell filled with milk chocolate, a raspberry shell filled with dark chocolate ganache flavored with a hint of raspberry, two vanilla shells layered on a dark chocolate center, and also caramel with a milk chocolate ganache.

Earlier I had a chocolate chip cookie, I opted for coffee and raspberry. The room found in the back, up marble stairs, is hidden from the bustling street and has a bar where drinks can be ordered. I wanted to take advantage of the French cafe setting and indulged in an afternoon espresso and pastry.
Both macaroon shells had a marzipan softness that turned crumbly as each bite sunk into a fudgy inside. The coffee macaroon had a subtle taste whose inside had a mousse texture. Inside of the raspberry was similar to the jelly of a linzer, tart and sweet, whose raspberry flavor grew in intensity with each chew. As I was sipping my espresso, one of the chocolatiers approached my table and asked if she could ask me questions for a survey. A free gift of truffles would be my reward, so of course I gladly accepted the offer.

I answered questions about their store, the quality of chocolates, which location I liked better, and why I shopped at La Maison du Chocolat rather than other stores. The woman was very kind and had a French accent, which made my experience here the more authentic. The picture above arethe chocolate truffles, coated with cocao powder I received as a free gift.

They are delicious and I am eating them as I type!
I am definately coming back and trying everything in the store.....not all at once, but I will divide and conquer :D

La Maison Du Chocolat
1018 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10075
(212) 744-7117