I, like many, am addicted to chocolate. And I've always been amazed at the wealth of chocolatiers that call Seattle home.
When I need a fix, I'll shop-hop, sampling Fran's [0] caramels topped with gray sea salt; Oh! Chocolate [0]'s French creams and nougaty coconut bites; Dilettante [0]'s Bing cherries in chocolate; dark-chocolate bars from Fiori Chocolatiers [1]; and, when I'm feeling socially conscious, free-trade bars from Theo Chocolate [1].
Now all my favorites are in one place: the Chocolate Box [1], which recently opened on Pine Street between First and Second avenues near Pike Place Market [1], to the delight of Seattle chocoholics. And as if having all those delectable purveyors of chocolate in one spot weren't enough, there's also a coffee bar, bakery and gelato counter.
There's a hint of Willy Wonka [2] decor at the Chocolate Box, with exposed structural elements overhead and a ceiling painted shades of chocolate and cream. Two seating areas in the front of the store face the street; in warm weather, the windows are thrown wide open. It's the perfect place to people-watch while enjoying your Gelatiamo [2] chocolate or strawberry gelato.
The chocolate boutique will undoubtedly draw tourists from nearby Pike Place Market, but it's also a great spot for locals to pick up gifts and have a cup of Zoka [2] coffee or decadent Chocolat Vitale [3] sipping chocolate. Sit a spell and have a minicupcake from West Seattle bakery Sugar Rush (which operates out of Coffee to a Tea with Sugar [3]), or a chocolate cinnamon roll from the French Bakery. You can also watch guest chocolatiers spin their confections.
My picks for great gifts are Chocolat Vitale sipping chocolate in a pretty tin ($14); a package of In Vino Veritas chocolates that slips over the neck of a wine bottle (the $5 box includes suggested wine pairings); Oh! Chocolate's 24-piece gift box with pretty ribbon ($39); and SweetBliss [4] chocolate-covered treats ($6) from New York, featuring handmade marshmallow, graham cracker and caramel. Can't make it to the shop? Online ordering is coming soon.
If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail seattleshopping@nwsource.com.
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