I will admit it: I love chocolate. But I love good chocolate, dark with just a bit of sweetness and not loaded up with non-essential ingredients. My first visit to Chocovivo, artisanal chocolatiers, was like stepping into a chocolate fantasy. Willy Wonka has nothing on this wonderful Culver City gem (although they do give a hat tip to Oompa Loompas, which was a sweet touch).
We were served by the owner, Patricia, who took time and care to explain the bean-to-bar process and how they developed a strong relationship with a particular plantation in Mexico that makes their exquisite beans. This allows them to carefully control the quality of their chocolate offerings.
They use an ancient stone grinding process which gives the chocolate a wonderful texture. They also add simple ingredients that complement the chocolate, with the most popular being their almond and sea salt bar.
But don't stop with the chocolate bars, they also make chocolate drinks, ranging from a traditional hot chocolate to a spicy Mexican version. You choose if you want the base to be water (traditional), milk, or their in-house hazelnut milk, which is light and delicious. The shop also has nut and chocolate butters that are tasty without being overly sweet.
Chocovino also holds special events such as an upcoming tequila and chocolate tasting.
So the next time you are craving a piece of chocolate, don't settle for the typical store-bought bar filled with milk powders and soy lecithin. Stop by Chocovino and discover how chocolate should really taste.
