Imagine the aroma of the chocolate
and its seductive taste as it melts in your mouth. What are the sensations all
about and what exactly is chocolate?
Cocoa beans, the fruit of cocao
trees, are processed into nibs, the "meat" of the cocoa bean. The
nibs, which contain more than 50% cocoa butter, are ground, generating enough
heat to liquefy the cocoa butter and form the bitter chocolate liquor. Cocoa
powder is what remains when most of the cocoa butter is removed. The type of
chocolate, such as "dark" and "semi-sweet", is dependent
upon the percentage of liquor and the sugar that is added to it. Milk chocolate
has added milk solids and is much sweeter than any of the dark chocolates.
Think of this process as making peanut butter. The heat and grinding of peanuts
is what produces the peanut butter. After that, sugar, salt and sometimes other
ingredients are added.
When it comes to suppliers, there
are only about a handful of businesses in the U.S. that actually start from the
cocoa bean. These companies then sell a supply of their bulk chocolate to “mom
and pop” stores that melt, remold and decorate the chocolates.
One such store, Aigner Chocolates, is located at
103-02 Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills.
Originally called Krause’s Candy Kitchen in 1930, the Aigners, who first
worked there became responsible for introducing all of the European chocolate recipes. 2009 gave the name change from Krause’s
Candy Kitchen to Aigner Chocolates. It
was several years later when the family decided that it was time to retire. Rather than simply close down they put this
chocolate gem up for sale. Mark
Libertini, a trained pastry chef, had a life- long dream of being “drenched in
chocolate”. Coincidentally, he was at the store to buy chocolates for his fiancée,
Rachael Kellner when he saw a “for sale” sign.
Two weeks later, he bought the store, did some renovating and had
Rachael sign on as the co-owner.
Using the passed down recipes and most of the same traditional
machines, the store is now a mini version of a chocolate factory. I, being a chocoholic, found it very
necessary to visit and “taste”. As I
looked around, I noticed that there was a front corner of counter tops with
seats. Do people eat plates of
chocolate? Then I took notice of a long
sign and coffee machine. Aside from the
having lattes, etc. there was a Hot Chocolate made with the chocolate that they
sell. Now, that’s true hot
chocolate!
I first browsed the store. White chocolate (fie on that…there is no
cocoa liquor in this…but good for those allergic to chocolate), milk chocolate
(too sweet for me), and dark chocolate (now that’s my style). It appears that the only form of chocolate
without anything in or around it is one called Cats Tails. I tried that and determined that it was a
good grade of chocolate.
Much of the store displays the chocolates already
packaged. You can always tell which
holiday is coming up! Really, how can
you go wrong by giving chocolate as a gift?
With the Christmas season, it turns out that Chanukah came early. Aha! Chocolate dreidels complete with the
chocolate “gelt”, “Chai” in Hebrew and a box of my favorite chocolates with
hazelnut paste (the box and top of chocolates was decorated in the Israeli
colors of white and blue).
The fun of buying chocolate is in being able to pick
out exactly what you want and have them bag or box it up. Most barks (not of the dog ilk) were of
chocolate and a particular type of nut.
Over near the coffee area, I viewed barks made with white chocolate,
macadamia nuts and mango, a dark chocolate with pine nuts and fig, and another
of cranberries and pecans.
Hot chocolate is on its own. If you’re having coffee here are some perfect
accompaniments: chocolate covered oreo cookie; chocolate covered graham
cracker; chocolate covered pretzel.
Much to my surprise, Mark told me that milk
chocolate is much more popular than dark.
I guess I can see that in their peanut butter cups. Salt and caramel may have gotten popular, but
not on my list. However, if you’re into
it, there are enough choices to indulge in.
Some of my favorites include: marzipan, cherry
cordials, orange peels, and ginger. Don’t forget yourself when it comes to
giving a gift. As for me, I felt like a kid in a candy store. Oh, good, they’re opened every day in case I
need my theobromine fix! 718-544-1850 www.aignerchocolates.com
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