Tue Oct 11, 2011
Food and Drink

Chocolate city

Running to Oct. 23, the Toronto Chocolate Festival promises indulgence across the city. Apart from The Chocolate Ball (Oct. 21) at the Palais Royale and Chocolate High Tea at the Le Meridien King Edward and The Old Mill Inn and Spa, you can get your sticky fingers all over free samples from local chocolate-makers.

Participating shops in the Chocolicious Tour de Chocolat are spread out all over southern Ontario. But these three Toronto chocolate shops are giving up the goods to chocolate-passport holders.

Odile Chocolat

Address: 829 Dundas St. W., #DNW

Open Since: Valentine’s Day 2008, and the line-ups haven’t let up since.

Specialty: Dark chocolate and truffles that are laced with everything from lavender to cognac. The chocolaterie also stocks caramels, hot chocolate and brownies.

Guilty pleasure: Owner Odile Chatelain prefers single origin chocolates that have more than 70 per cent cocoa because of their lingering taste.

Chocolate Festival sample: One free truffle with any purchase.

The Belgian Chocolate Shop

Address: 2455 Queen Street E., #BCH

Open since: 1984

Specialty: Belgian chocolates made by Belgians. Chocolates and truffles come with fruits, nuts or liqueurs. The Rembrandt, which has the master painter’s image embossed on the chocolate, has coffee in hazelnut cream and the Arlequin is filled with orange whipped cream.

Guilty pleasure: Shop-owner Patricia Chors can’t answer that. “I’m immune to guilt,” she says. Her favourite is the Cerise (pictured above at right), a Griotte cherry brandied in Kirsch.

Chocolate Festival sample: One free chocolate of choice.

The Nutty Chocolatier

Address: 2179 Queen St. E., #BCH

Open since: 1998

Specialty: Belgian chocolates and seasonal sweets like watermelon fudge for the summer, turkey and pumpkin truffles (pictured above) in the fall and eggnog fudge in the winter. They also supply a big selection of British candies and chocolates.