If Aphrodite made love to a cocoa bean, their lovechild would be chocolate. Chocolate can range from generic to the nectar of the gods. These Edmonton chocolatiers offer up exquisite bites of chocolaty goodness that tend towards the latter end of the scale. [Photo of Sweet Lollapalooza Confections]
Everything here is gluten-free and made with local ingredients whenever possible. Chocolatier Rebecca Grant is a Red Seal chef who loves chocolate almost as much as I do, so she made it her career in 2012, opening Violet Chocolate Co. Her mad skills won her gold at the Canadian National Chocolate Awards in 2013. Quirky flavours range from raspberry pepper lime and honey rosemary to salt and vinegar chip. She even throws out seasonal flavours, such as pumpkin chai. Hot damn!
This cocoa-obsessed company originated in Calgary but opened up a shop in downtown Edmonton so that all Albertans can have easy access to their delish chocolate. They sell everything from chocolate-covered pretzels to truffles, but they also have chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, chocolate drops and baking bars so you can use Bernard Callebaut chocolate in your own home-made concoctions. You can also pick up seasonal delights, such as chocolate eggs, hearts or Yule logs.
Milk, white or dark chocolate. Truffles, clusters, creams, barks or liqueurs — no matter what kind of chocolate you crave, you can find it at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The boxes of chocolate caramels and bags of chocolate-covered nuts or fruits make excellent gifts. They also sell a ton of chocolates with no added sugar that are good for diabetics or people following a low-carb diet. For a real treat, go for the chocolate-covered frozen bananas or chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick.
This gourmet chocolate brand opened its first Edmonton store in 2014. Prior to that, their line of fancy chocolates sold from their store in Sherwood Park, plus at farmers’ markets and various stores around Edmonton, such as Credo. Their chocolates are gorgeous, exquisite creations that are almost too pretty to eat. If you can’t stand to destroy their beautiful truffles, try the sipping chocolate or their delicate chocolate bars, named after fashion icons.
Australian chocolatier Brett Roy handcrafts his chocolaty creations in a glass box inside the Sweet Lollapalooza store. Customers can watch him while he makes chocolate caramels, bon bons and truffles from quality ingredients right onsite. The store sells small batches of their handcrafted chocolates, and recommend they be eaten immediately, as they are fresh and preservative-free.