Might have missed it, but I can't find a thread....

Any rec's for the best fancy boxed chocolates? Like something to give as a gift (as opposed to a hunk of chocolate or a chocolate bar)?

And no, I am not frantically trying to find a valentine's day present

rb, Epicurious did a show about making chocolate truffles. They looked great and I believe the recipes are online at epicurious,com. A gift of homemade specialties should be treasured by the recipient. By the way, they looked fairly easy to make.

Neuhaus

Look Here...

worldwidechocolate.com
richart-chocolate.com
donnellychocolates.com
josephschmidt.net
vosgeschocolate.com
chocolatesource.com
xoxtruffles.com

P.S.: raybanz, if you are trying to find some that will even have a remote chance to contest or stand up to Puccini. Forget it, not gonna happen.

I will post my thoughts on Neuhaus when I come home tonight as we just went through most of their lineup.

Also, I will post other links that I have @ home.

Re: Neuhaus:

We stopped by in mid-town Manhattan last weekend on a recommendation from TBird. I know much about Neuhaus & over the years I've had a variety of their dark chocolate bars of different cocoa percentage. I am a fan & love their dark chocolate bars.

We purchased 2 lbs of their chocolates & chocolate truffles. That's just about every variety they offer (give or take a few here & there). The cost is $48.00/lbs. Ohh yes expensive, no doubt about it. One may even say, very expensive.

The chocolates & truffles are very very good & of good quality. That being said, the chocolates & truffles are not great. Only 2 or 3 of all we bought took my breath away. The rest were good to very good.

In all honesty, @ $50.00/lbs, I expected more.

The end result: Am I going to go out of my way to purchase these again? - The answer is NO, I am not. And, that's the telling test for me: because I would & do go way out of my way for chocolate that makes an impression (on me). If it is @ all possible, chocolate is more of a weakness for me then wine. So, I make it a point to go out of my way for what I consider "great" chocolate.

Disclaimer: this entire post is about the chocolates & truffles that they sell, NOT the dark chocolate bars.

Re: Puccini Bomboni:

raybanz: it has been over 2 months since we came back from Amsterdam. And, my wife & I still reminisce about those heavenly chocolates. I am convinced that those chocolates are made by g-d himself. No mere human can produce such chocolate, such heaven on earth. Wow! That shop set a standard & ruined it all for us. I only hope to find a place to equal such perfection. But, I will not hold my breath.

What is this thing you call "candies".

I know what a truffle is (oink, oink)

So everyone can see (but can't taste ) what lcc is so justifyably smitten by...

Puccini Bomboni.

raybayz, we can't thank you enough for recommending the place. If I was one of those money is no object, disgustingly rich guyz, I would travel to Amsterdam just to buy those chocolates/truffles.

I've read/researched a bit on it (since coming back from Amsterdam). It is considered one of the world's top chocolate shops & deserving so. As many chocolates shops as we visits & such, so far they put all to shame.

Here is another chocolate site my friend recommends. It is not cheap though…