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CHICAGO
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Chocolate Bar at The Peninsula
Located downtown on East Superior St, The Peninsula has been rated one
of the best hotels in the world time and time again. The Lobby at The
Peninsula Chicago offers its Chocolate Bar from 8 p.m.-midnight
on Fridays and Saturdays. The chocolate buffet features between high-end
confections, including cinnamon truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries
and chocolate pot de crème, plus beverages like lavender-scented white
chocolate cocoa and more. Call 312-337-2888
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Mindy Segal, the much-lauded pastry chef
from mk,, has opened Hot Chocolate in Bucktown. She has created
an entirely new menu for this casual urban cafe. She serves an updated
continental breakfast on the weekends with house-made jams, infused
butters and plenty of freshly baked sweet and savory goodies. For more
information, call 773-489-1747
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Ethel's
Chocolate Lounge
in Lincoln Park makes visitors want to lick the chocolate
brown and cotton candy-pink walls. Award-winning French pastry chef
Patrice Caillot mixes fresh ingredients, like mint leaves, to give his
chocolates interesting taste notes. Diners love the Grey Tea Truffle and
the Banana Bop. Also popular is Ethel's Sampler, 10 pieces plus hot
cocoa, plus chocolate fondue.
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The Hershey
Company, recently
opened on Michigan Avenue,
offers vintage Hershey ads, a mysterious machine that dispenses
bucket-loads of candy, a "cookies and cocoa" counter and Reese's Pieces
lounge area. Old favorites like Hershey's Kisses, Reese's and Kit Kat
are also available. Menu items also include cookies, cupcakes, coffee
and an "indulgent chocolate drink."
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Vosges Haut-Chocolat,
is owned by Katrina Markoff, who has
stores in New York and Vegas. Cutting edge creations are both sweet and
savory and have exotic, international flavor combinations: Black Pearl
(dark chocolate with ginger, wasabi and sesame Las seeds), Rooster
(Italian taleggio cheese, walnuts, Tahitian vanilla beans and
bittersweet dark chocolate), Naga (sweet Indian curry, coconut and milk
chocolate), Red Fire (ancho chile powder, Ceylon cinnamon, dark
chocolate) and Woolloomooloo (Australian macadamia nuts, coconut, milk
chocolate). Visit
www.vosgeschocolate.com
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Chocolate Café
on Randolph St. occupies a loftlike
space with exposed brick and beams. Owned by brother Todd and Eric Moore
who are mindful of the city’s rich chocolate history, the cafe has a
classic candy display case with treats such as chocolate-covered Oreos
and marshmallow squares. Plush Horse ice cream is served., Call
312-738-0888.
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Chocolate
is owned by brothers Todd and Eric Moore who are very mindful of the
city's rich chocolate history. They use ingredients from Blommer’s, one
of the largest chocolate producers in North America..
CHICAGOLAND
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Long Grove Confectionary Company
is famous for chocolate covered strawberries. The company offers
hour-long tours daily followed by samplings of its handmade confections.
Visit in late spring for the annual chocolate festival. For more
information
www.longgroveonline.com.
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Leonidas Cafe Chocolaterie
in Wilmette receives weekly shipments of mild and dark from Belgium.
Visit www.cafechocolaterie.com
NORTHERN
The Blackhawk Chocolate Trail in
northwestern Illinois leads to old-fashioned soda and chocolate shops in
Carrol, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Counties. Motorcoach groups can customize
itineraries to incorporate stops at local attractions, including the Ronald
Reagan Historic Home Site and the John Deere Historical Home Site. Call
800-678-2108 for free guide.
CENTRAL
A
trip following lore-laden Route 66 will take visitors to dozens of historic
sites as well as on-of-a-kind bakeries, such as Incredibly Delicious, known
for its chocolate pistachio cake, in the historic Weber House in
Springfield. Other must-stops include The Blue Stem Bake Shop in Elkhart and
the Ariston Café in Litchfield, which has been serving homemade Red Velvet
cake since 1924. (Incredibly Delicious in Springfield: 217-528-8548, Blue
Stem Bake Shop in Elkhart: 217-947-2522; Ariston Café in Litchfield:
217-324-2023).
The Illinois Bureau of
Tourism offers free travel resources and additional information on dining
options, spas, general attractions and three-day getaways. Call
800-2CONNECT or visit
www.enjoyillinois.com |
