Two Reasons to Love St. Augustine, Florida

Besides being one of North America’s oldest settlements, St. Augustine has two of the most beloved chocolate shops.

Whetstone Chocolates

Henry & Esther Whestone

Whetstone Chocolate began as a small family-run ice cream parloe and chocolate shop in 1966. It has grown to three St. Augustine Chocolate stores and a St Augustine Chocolate Factory open for tours. But it’s still in the family.

Chocolate lovers from all over the United States come to the Whetstone Chocolate Factory in St Augustine to browse their numerous varieties of chocolates, fudge, ice cream, and sugar-free varieties. Whetstone Chocolate is particularly famous for making chocolate dolphin, seashells and chocolate gators as well as delicious St Augustine truffles.

Visit www.whetstonechocolates.com

Claude’s Chocolates
Located in Historic Downtown St. Augustine (and a new Ponte Vedra, FL shop) Claude’s Chocolate Shop offers hand-made European-style chocolates and is known for its weekly Chocolate Wine Tastings where guests learn to pair chocolates with wine every Friday from 5:00 to 8:00pm.

Claude Franques

The allure of America enticed Claude Franques to leave Toulouse, France for New York City in the 1970's and become one of America's fine French chefs. He and his wife Nicole spent nearly 20 years continuing the legacy of Rene Pujol Restaurant in Manhattan, until St. Augustine's charm and European style beckoned them.

Similar to the refined approach to dining in New York's theater district with classic French cuisine in a serene setting, Claude and Nicole's chocolate shop is a masterpiece of fine European chocolates sprinkled with the historic ambience of St. Augustine. Keeping with years of tradition, Claude crafts his chocolates by hand in small quantities, using only the purest ingredients. The chocolates are a delight to the eye and their petite shop is filled with the fresh, deep aroma of rich Belgian chocolate.

Claude's achieves the proper balance of flavors between the aromatic and flavorful ganache (interiors) and the dark or milk chocolate coatings. From pecans to hazelnuts, Claude painstakingly roasts all the nuts in his repertoire. There are 24 varieties, including such exotic flavors as passion fruit, espresso, fresh coconut, and lime. laude also makes a full-bodied luxurious Belgian chocolate cocoa and a double chocolate mudslide cookie.

Visit www.claudeschocolate.com

Edited by Patricia D. Sherman

©ChocolateAtlas.com

Contact us:  Editor  Webmaster