Best Reviewed
Chocolate
- Best chocolate overall. L.A. Burdick *Est. $28
- Best gourmet chocolate for connoisseurs. Recchiuti Confections *Est. $83
- Best American-style chocolate candy. Bridgewater Chocolate *Est. $35
- Best caramels. Frans Chocolates *Est. $48
- Best truffles. Candinas *Est. $33
- Budget chocolate candy. Fannie May *Est. $23
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Best gourmet chocolate for connoisseurs.
- Novel flavor combinations such as tarragon-grapefruit and sesame nougat
- Exceptionally smooth chocolate
- Chic design and packaging
- Company website includes a guide to each box's contents
- Some flavor combinations don't suit everyone's taste
- Overnight shipping only during the summer months
- Expensive
Reviewers agree that Recchiuti is the best gourmet chocolate for adventurous palates. Michael Recchiuti is a risk-taking chocolatier who experiments with flavors such as honeycomb, malt, ginger and herbs. Experts note that some flavor combinations fall flat, but most are thoroughly original and delicious. Critics are impressed with the variety of Recchiuti chocolate gift boxes and their elegant packaging. These chocolates are said to be a connoisseur's delight, but if you're looking for high-quality chocolate with wider appeal, reviews point to L.A. Burdick (*est. $28 for 35 pieces).
NPR.org, Real Simple, Serious Eats, Vogue and The Rosengarten Report have all reviewed L.A. Burdick. The majority of these reviews cover a dozen or so chocolates. David Rosengarten goes furthest in testing boxed chocolates, sampling 700 varieties. An amateur reviewer, Eric Postpischil, weighed chocolates to determine the actual per-pound cost and also noted customer-service irregularities.
Our Sources
1. The Rosengarten ReportDetails/Subscribe
David Rosengarten, a former writer for Gourmet and a Food Network reporter, selects seven brands of chocolates from a pool of 700 confections from 28 international chocolatiers. Michael Recchiuti falls into the "great" category.
Review: Forget the Seven Deadly Sins: Behold the Seven Best Chocolates in America, David Rosengarten, Sept. 3, 2001
2. VogueDetails/Subscribe
In this diverting account, Jeffrey Steingarten and Robert Steinberg, a cofounder of Scharffen Berger, taste 40 boxes of chocolates. Recchiuti chocolates are praised for their "wonderful smoothness."
Review: Dark Victory, Jeffrey Steingarten, Feb. 2007
Ed Levine, an occasional contributor to The New York Times' dining section, runs this lively site for food enthusiasts. Levine and his merry band of testers rave about Recchiuti.
Review: Chocolate Faves for Valentine's Day, Ed Levine, Feb. 8, 2007
4. Eric's Site
Software engineer Eric Postpischil has posted reviews of more than 90 chocolate purveyors at his blog. He says that Recchiuti chocolates have strong flavors and visual flair.
Review: Review of Recchiuti Chocolates, Eric Postpischil
Marian Burros presents her annual list of top mail-order food gifts and kitchen accessories. Burros has rarely included boxed chocolates in her highly selective list, so her inclusion of Recchiuti Confections' Black Box is particularly significant.
Review: Stand Aside, Rudolph: The Mouse Will Lead, Marian Burros, Nov. 10, 2004
6. Real SimpleDetails/Subscribe
Reviewer Sarah Humphreys recommends chocolates in seven categories. Michael Recchiuti is named "Best High-End Artisanal" for his "delicate synergy of flavors" and "modern, meticulous design."
Review: The Best Chocolates, Sarah Humphreys, Feb. 2002
7. About.com
About.com's guide to candy, Elizabeth LaBau, reviews a large Valentine's Day box from Michael Recchiuti Confections in San Francisco. Although she finds the pieces beautifully sculpted, satisfying and inventive, she adds that some flavors were unsuccessful. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Review of Valentine's Box from Recchiuti Confections, Elizabeth LaBau
Erin Hartigan tested eight brands of chocolate. Although we're glad that Hartigan provides shipping costs along with the chocolate prices, her reviews are brief. Her top picks include Recchiuti.
Review: Taste Test: Valentine's Day Chocolates by Mail, Erin Hartigan
Shawn Sell and Tish Boyle, editor in chief of Chocolatier magazine, pick 10 of the best "boutique chocolates." These include Recchiuti.
Review: Ten Great Places to Buy Mom the Very Best Chocolate, Shawn Sell, May 5, 2005
10. eGullet Society for Culinary Arts and Letters
At this forum for food enthusiasts, members discuss high-end boxed chocolates in several threads. Several members praise Recchiuti.
Review: Chocolate Reviews, Contributors to eGullet.org
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