My nephew’s birthday passed recently and even though my finances weren’t ideal, I wanted to spend the day with him enjoying some of his favorite things. Last year, I wrote about what I did with him for that birthday. And if you like, you can check that out here.

This birthday, I tried to think of something out of left field and interesting. Being an auntie with grown-up nieces and nephews is hard, you want to do something cool with them so that they don’t lose interest in spending time with you and something that you will actually enjoy as well. Now that I think about it, it really isn’t that hard because I can be immature AF without barely trying. And my nephew can balance it out by being mature for his age, don’t worry it comes easily for him, well most of the time.

Why Did I Choose To Go To MarieBelle?

New York City is filled with lots of places to enjoy gourmet chocolate. Almost too many choices actually, and I want to get through all of them sooner or later but this post is about MarieBelle. MarieBelle is honestly one of the first gourmet specialty chocolatiers, that I had heard of outside of the large international names we all know like Godiva, Lindt, Toblerone, Ferrero Rocher, and Cadbury.  I believe it was because as I was becoming more and more adventurous in canvassing the city I live in people started recommending the shop to me. And over the years certain names get repeated over and over and that is where MarieBelle falls into.

I have always heard that it was special because of the quality of its chocolate and the ability to dine in and sampling their products becomes an experience.

Welcome to MarieBelle

Isn’t the interior beautiful? It is reminiscent of a tiny Paris chocolatiers combination coffee shop. The individually boxed ganaché are painted with scenes in bright colors, you have to see them. You can also get a gelato or a sorbet at the express counter. It’s so elegant.

My nephew and I were seated in the backroom of the shop called the Cacao Bar where the food and hot drinks are served. The walls are mirrored and painted with the colors of the boxes of chocolate in brown and gold. You are served with fine china plates and cups and the servers are very knowledgeable. You would think the atmosphere was very proper in these surroundings but it was very laid back and warm.

What Did We Order?

We came to MarieBelle after a large meal so we were looking to top off the night with sweets and a hot drink. My nephew loves hot chocolate and I promised him the best hot chocolate of his life. A huge promise but I thought that I could make good on it. So he ordered a large hot Mestizo hot chocolate with an espresso shot which is described as hot chocolate flavored with hazelnut, orange zest, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and it is served in a bone china demitasse. I ordered a macchiato with a dessert to share. Now, this dessert…this dessert was so rich! It was so satisfying to my sweet tooth that we both couldn’t finish it. It is called Louvre. Yes, it the same as the famous museum in Paris. It was a tempered dark chocolate dome over hazelnut mousse with a hazelnut wafer bottom served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I drool!

I didn’t get many pictures as I would have liked, the Cacao Bar was filled with people and I don’t like to photograph strangers like a pervy stalker. It is another reason to return, so I can do it for the Gram next time.

A Great Experience At MarieBelle

I didn’t buy a box of chocolate because my sweet tooth was satisfied for at least two days afterward. I would like to come back for a proper afternoon tea there since I haven’t  tried the food and then I can relax and have a salad Nicoise with finger sandwiches with my pinky up. MarieBelle is located at 484 Broome Street in SOHO, NYC. There is another location with just the Cacao Bar in Brooklyn at 67 Guernsey Street that serves just small bites and drinks.

Do you have a favorite place to experience your sweet dreams? I think I am keeping MarieBelle on my short list. Tell me all of your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter!

 

Until our next rendezvous…

XOXO

Trudy