Driving just three miles into the city, we find ourselves on the corner of West University and SouthWest 1st in downtown. Bars and other trendy night spots surround the shop, but not in a towering sort of way. Volta's name graces the insides of the windows on "Now Open" signs, and at night you can see the beautiful steel lettering of the shop's name on the pegboard inside. It stands strong on its own, and everyone who enters can't help but remark on the beautiful interior. Despite following the progress along at True's blog, actually entering the shop is a refreshing experience in bar design... but getting BEHIND the bar is an enlightening experience, proving that it is possible to design a bar for five people working simultaneously and efficiently.
I don't want this to end up sounding like a review of the shop, but I seriously have to mention the outstanding selection of chocolates. It reminds me much of Japan where coffee shops and other retail and food spots often offer great gift items, for yourself or others. The chocolates are perfect for this. I have to bring some home for myself and friends.. too good to go without. Vosges, Askinosie, l'Artigiano... chocolate with sea salts, chocolate with orange rinds, single-origin chocolate, chocolate with bacon. Yes, it's delicious. It's all delicious.
It's good food I've been eating, great sleep I've been getting, and incredible hospitality of my hosts and the general population of this little town. Let's say I'll really enjoy the next couple of days here.
3 comments:
damn the shop looks amazing!! can't wait to see more photos and hear about it all!!
For my money, as far as chocolate goes, you can't beat Micheal Cluizel's work ...Yeah I know that a lot of people have other ideas (I'm looking at you Valrona people), but I'll be damned if his 67%ers don't consistently kick the teeth out of a vast majority of the competition...Pralus is right up there too...
And if flavored chocolate is your thing then don't even pretend that you'll find something more amazing than Recchiuti...go ahead look...I'll wait.......done? Okay, now that that is out of the way go buy a box of Recchiuti and marvel at the wonder that is Star Anise and Pink Peppercorns mixed with wonderful Dark Chocolate....Fel9
I'm with you on the Recchiuti. Brilliant stuff. But when researching chocolates in NYC last december I have to admit that I was let down by the Cluizel shop at ABC Home. I dropped close to a hundred bucks to get the widest range of examples of their work, and I found five or six outstanding pieces and a dozen or so that were "feh" at best. (And I agree about Valrona-- I even prefer El Ray). The best pieces in NYC were at Kee's. But of straight chocolate, the Askinosie an unbelievable revelation. The San Jose Del Tambo 70% is probably the most complex bar that I've ever tried.
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