March 9, 2009 - The Atlanta Journal
Spots where you can have a ball and eat it too!
TEUSCHER CHOCOLATES OF SWITZERLAND
1393 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-885-1010, www.teuscheratl.com
or www.chocoatlanta.com
No need to head to Rockefeller Center (or Switzerland)
to get the goods on Teuscher chocolate, we have our
vers own tucked away in Virginia-Highland. Teuscher
is known for making some of the finest pralines in
Europe. The truffles here range from jasmine to pistachio,
and a very round offering of beautifully tempered
milk or dark chocolate butter crunch.
Read
more...
Calling all Atlanta chocolate lovers to Teuscher
Swiss chocolatier opens boutique in Virginia-Highland
By MARK D. ROGERS, Special to the Daily Report
TEUSCHER CHOCOLATES of Switzerland—a
company dedicated to carrying on a tradition of handmade
European confectionary craftsmanship—has come
to Atlanta.
Chocolates and confections purchased in stores such
as Teuscher are the standard. Teuscher uses
the highest grade cocoa, the finest cane sugars, premium
fruit jellies and nuts, and the freshest milk and
butter—much of which comes from 15 of their
own cows. They do not pump air, preservatives or fillers
like waxes into their candies.
Teuscher’s commitment to excellence is gutsy.
A small staff in Zurich prepares and packages the
chocolates; the candies are then flown worldwide on
the same day of their preparation.
A word on etiquette; don’t cheat yourself
by serially popping these candies into your mouth
while watching "American Idol." Fine chocolates
should be seen as high-ticket items just like Black
Sea caviar or Islay Scotch.
Save the obsessive-compulsive behavior for the cheap
stuff, thank you.
And though not prohibitively expensive, chocolates
at Teuscher do come at a higher cost and should be
considered as ceremonial accompaniments to special
events like anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine’s
Day or to celebrate a personal triumph.
Teuscher’s pièce de résistance,
the Champagne Truffle, is a gastronomical hand grenade.
At $2.12 each and $68 a pound, the truffle is a criminally
smooth blend of heavy cream, high-density butter and
varied shades and grades of chocolate notes.
Teuscher also offers an array of chocolate bars
that range from sugary milk chocolate to a bar that
boasts a sobering 99 percent cocoa content—the
essence of the cocoa pod.
At a tasting in my home, the chocolates were paired
with a medium-bodied ruby port and a cream sherry.
Nut brittles (hazelnut, peanut or pistachio), cognac,
Grand Marnier, cinnamon-vanilla ice cream and roasted
figs are also nice for pairing. The point is to accentuate
the ingredients that are subtly added to the cocoa
with foods that might include the same flavorings.
These include cinnamon, nutmeg, cane sugar juice,
vanilla, coffee bean essence, chili pepper or sweet
cream.
And though it might sound strange, there is sometimes
no greater pairing with fine chocolate than a pinch
of salt—preferably the fragrant, coarse sea
salt from Brittany, but any coarse sea or kosher salt
will do—to bring out and differentiate flavors.
Try it; you will be amazed.
Though not exactly a health food, studies do suggest
that the higher the cocoa content, the higher the
cancer-fighting anti-oxidant levels. In other words,
the darker the chocolate, the better it is for you.
Chocolate also contains conspicuous levels of caffeine—a
stimulant—and the cocoa content enables the
release of the chemical serotonin that fosters a spirit
of well being. In short, the science proves that chocolate
can make you fat, alert and happy, but that does not
necessarily make it healthful.
But this is the good life, right? Why does
it have to be about an outcome other than the Teuscher
motto? "Chocolate is a pleasure to be enjoyed."
Mark D. Rogers is a freelance writer.
Heaven does exist and it is located
at the Teuscher retail store at 1393 N. Highland Avenue
in Virginia Highlands.
Seventy years ago, Swiss master chocolate maker Dolf
Teuscher began Teuscher Chocolates. His recipes, made
with the freshest, high quality ingredients and based
on the tradition of European chocolate-making, have
made Teuscher chocolate one of the finest gourmet
chocolates in the world.
The confections are prepared weekly and flown from
Zurich to retail stores. Atlanta store owners Fadi
and Susanne Safar, and their partner Bob Greene, are
experts on the art science of chocolate. The staff
is congenial and informed and can help you with the
difficult decision of choosing from the wide variety
of chocolate on display.
Teuscher chocolate is not just food, it is an experience
to be savored and remembered. A chocolate created
with as much care and attention as Teuscher should
be eaten and enjoyed the same way.
Remember Teuscher for your catering needs, upcoming
holidays or special events. Gift boxes with a seasonal
theme are perfect for showers, weddings or graduation
parties. Call in advance and let Fadi and Susanne
help you plan your party.
Teuscher is open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday
through Friday - Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The store is closed
on Monday. The phone number is 404-885-1010. The fax
number is 404-885-1018. Visit www.teuscheratl.com
for more information.
