Chocolate Show: Episode 1: From the Sky to the Mountains

As I mentioned on Saturday, I paid a visit to the New York Chocolate Show yesterday.
Now in its 9th edition, it took place at the Metropolitan Pavilion and the Altman Building on 18th Street in Chelsea.
It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived. There was a line around the block of people waiting to enter so it was nice to be able to get right in thanks to our media-press credits.
Today I will focus on two chocolate lines produced in the US (the East Coast actually).

The first one is CIELO 'Tuscan Style Chocolates'. Despite its Italian name, it is actually brought to us by Donna & Company based in Cranford, New Jersey.
They are the creation of Diane Pinder who started the line with The Planet Truffles of which I tasted 'Neptune'  with its Anis center. When I hear Anis, I think Pastis and 'Neptune' had a nice, subtle finish.

I also tasted Cielo's Olive Oil and Salt, no it is not a typo. The olive oil is unfiltered and replaces butter in the mix and the salt is Fleur de sel. The combination makes for strong flavors and contrast.

After the sky, we go to the mountains of Massachusetts with newcomers Berkshire Bark.Two of their offerings got most of my attention. Maybe it is because it was similar to tasting wine in the sense of your palate experiencing different sensations.

First I picked 'Tropical Heat' . You first taste the dark chocolate and the nuts (macadamia), then the fruit (dried mango, pineapple and papaya) and last the ancho chili and cayenne peppers hit your tongue.

Second was the 'While Lightning' made of white chocolate, cashews and lemon and twisting your tongue with a ginger finish.

That's all folks for Chocolate Show: Episode 1.

You can look forward to more info and tasting notes over the coming week.