It's never not a good time for chocolate. Here in Atlanta, local chocolatiers have been producing hand-crafted chocolates since the 1970s. Whether passed down from family generations, or as the dream from a traveling couple, these four shops offer exquisite and unique crafted chocolates to eat today or the other 364 days of the year.
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Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Consider Kristin Hard, the founder and CEO of Cacao, as the chocolate maven of Atlanta. To say she is obsessed with chocolate is an understatement- Hard studied the cacao bean, its nutritional benefits and the process on making chocolate from bean to bar. As a bonus, Cacao has been named as one of the best chocolates in the country by Food & Wine.
Cacao, locations in Virginia-Highland, Buckhead and West Midtown. cacaoatlanta.com
If you can think it, Chamberlain’s can dip it in chocolate. Since 1986, Chamberlain’s chocolate has churned out chocolate products: from gummy bears enrobed in chocolate to traditional house-made ganaches that fill truffles, creams, caramels and toffees.
Chamberlain's Chocolate, 1575 Old Alabama Road, Roswell. 678-728-0100, chamberlainschocolate.com
The company’s name has many Italian meanings: di a mano means “of hand” and di’amano means “of love.” Either way, you know your gourmet chocolate was handmade with love. Their chocolate is sourced from a specific European chocolate producer, and their chocolatiers use old-world techniques in their chocolate production.
Di'Amano Chocolates, 1100 Hammond Dr., Atlanta. 770-730-9770, diamanochocolate.com/
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
The owners of Xocolatl, Elaine Read & Matt Weyandt, have a love story that couples dream of. The pair lived in Costa Rica and worked with cacao farmers and artisanal chocolatiers, and have taken their experiences to open their own micro-factory "bean-to-bar" chocolate shop. The Krog Street Market shop offers a variety of single-origin dark chocolate bars, where the cacao is sourced from Peru, Madagascar, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It's rare to find chocolate without cocoa butter, but their chocolate is made with just cocoa and cane sugar. Each bar offers a different flavor profile that ranges from earthy and nutty to buttery and fruity. Or, try something a little on the cooler side.
Xocolatl, Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St. NE, Atlanta. 404-604-9642, xocolatlchocolate.com/
Explore where to eat in Atlanta with the AJC’s Fall Dining Guide
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