Eclipse Chocolat

This new store on El Cajon Boulevard, just a few blocks east of Park Boulevard, is a twee little chocolate chop and mini-cafe.

Their bon bon flavors include "Peppered Fig and Goat Cheese," a classic flavor combo for cheese, but interesting for chocolate. The pepper slightly out weighed the fig and goat cheese. "Rosemary and Peppermint" is a bit strong, and unless you're really into the minty types of flavors I suggest skipping it. There is also the Orange and Cointreau White Chocolate, Raspberry-Balsamic, and many more. They have about a dozen flavors in all.

The best chocolate on the menu when I went was by far the chocolate caramel with lavender scented sea salt. Caramel and salt go well together, and dipped with chocolate really tops of this subtle and rich bon bon. This same caramel chocolate ganache appears in milk chocolate with a pecan, and it is also very good. They were out of the caramel chocolate ganache with chili pepper, but I look forward to trying it soon.

Overall, I'd say the chocolates are fair to good. However, Eclipse Chocolat is still a worthwhile journey. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the cafe is pleasing to be in. They display local artists and quite good artists at that. It's not like some random shop with their friends' work on the wall. Eclipse hosts an array of talented artists in real exhibits. Their opening theme was "sugar" and they had many of San Diego's up and coming artists showing their work.

The ambiance is also appealing, with large comfy sofas in the color of dark chocolate. They support community efforts and natural ingredients. The walls are pleasant shades of pastels, and while their style is a little trendy, it is still aesthetically pleasing. The 1920s style silhouettes in fleur-de-lis style images is a bit on the up and up now, but it is a fashion I like. Their walls and packaging are adorned with this look, and clients will enjoy the comfortable atmosphere. Finally, they offer a wide range of teas and coffees, all very high quality products.

Eclipse Chocolat
http://eclipsechocolat.com/
2121 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego, California
619.504.5310

Two San Diego Chocolatiers: Guanni and Chuao

San Diego chocolate lovers can boast about being the home of two top-notch gourmet chocolatiers: Guanni (Goo wan ee) and Chuao (Choo wow). Both these artisan chocolatiers use the highest quality South American cocoa, fresh fruit and other all-natural ingredients. Neither includes artificial flavors nor preservatives. The results are delicious, decadent, delightful chocolates.

Guanni is truly a one-woman show. Mariella Balbi creates the flavor combinations, makes the chocolates, and sells them herself at three farmers’ markets locations in San Diego. The chocolate making lineage goes back three generations to her great-grandmother, but all of her recipes are her own. She began Guanni chocolates in July 2003 and it is named after her three sons, Gianni, Guanalvaro and Ian. Balbi, originally from Lima, Peru, specializes in South American and Peruvian flavors. Her “Criollo” chocolate takes its headlining flavors from Peru’s traditional milk desert with cinnamon and vanilla, Manjar Blanco. Another Peruvian inspiration is Balbi’s “Pisco,” named after and created with the national drink of Peru, a grape brandy. Balbi’s top seller is “Cassis,” dark chocolate enrobed raspberries and cream of cassis ganache.

Balbi’s chocolates are made fresh every week, and she exclusively uses organic ingredients. They are low in sugar and high in antioxidants but still divine, making them an indulgence you can feel good about.

Chuao chocolatiers Michael Antonorsi and Brian Vandenbroucke use Venezuelan cocoa beans, but mix styles and flavors of the actual chocolates to include a number of traditionally French flavored chocolates with those of South America, as well as other parts of the world. Chuao is named after the region in Venezuela famous for producing high-quality cocoa beans.
An Asian influenced Chuao chocolate is their “Zen,” a ginger ganache infused with green tea in a dark chocolate shell. The “Tiramisu” is inspired from the famous Italian desert, with mascarpone cheese and coffee liquor butter cream. “Le Citron” blends lemon pulp with caramel and hint of mint, all covered in milk chocolate.

Artisan chocolatiers now outnumber independent drugstores in the United States, and the number is growing as consumers learn to appreciate the difference between grocery store chocolates and the higher-quality artisan chocolates. Just as vintners choose only prize grapes for their wines, chocolatiers search the world over to obtain the highest quality cocoa for their chocolates. And much like fine wine, which has gained popularity in the past few years, so are fine chocolates gaining respect and notoriety for their distinct flavors and qualities. These two chocolatiers are highly recommended to chocophiles, and to those who claim not to be chocolate lovers: watch out, you just might be converted.


Guanni Chocolates
www.guannichocolates.com
guannichocolates@san.rr.com
858.337.6805
Sold at San Diego Farmers’ Markets and select boutiques.
They also deliver; place orders by phone or email.

Hillcrest Farmers’ Market
Corner of Normal St and Lincoln (DMV's parking lot)
Sunday from 9:00 till 1:00 pm
www.hillquest.com

Chuao Chocolatier
www.chuaochocolatier.com
Info@chuaochocolatier.com

Chuao Chocolatier
The Lumberyard, Suite C-109
937 S. Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92025
1-888-635-1444

Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday 11 am. - 6 pm.
Sunday 10 am. - 4 pm.