Got Chocolate?

Easter is still a few weeks away, but do you know where to find the sweetest treats in Fairfield County for your basket? Our area has plenty to offer in the way of creative chocolatiers, and Fritz Knipschildt is at the top of that list. A seasoned chef turned “Maitré Chocolatier,” he founded Knipschildt Chocolatier in 1999. Success followed, and in 2005 he opened South Norwalk’s Chocopologie, a cozy café dedicated the chocophile.

Handmade chocolates and confections with unexpected savory and spicy twists are a hallmark of Fritz’s chocolate philosophy. At first, Fritz explains, “People were stunned when they tasted the infusion of chocolate and spices. They thought I was crazy.”

It turns out he’s not so crazy after all. Business Week in 2007 said, “Sales of all chocolate in the U.S. reached $15.6 billion in 2006. Premium chocolate made up over 13 percent of the market with $2 billion in sales, up from 9.1 percent in 2002.” That’s an awful lot of chocolate.

Want to fill your basket with some of Fritz’s gourmet truffles? Drop by Chocopologie, at 12 S. Main St. in Norwalk. Or hunt down his chocolate eggs online by visiting the Knipschildt Chocolatier Website.

What’s your favorite chocolate indulgence and where can we find it? Comment here, or email me at mmorelli@mainstreetconnect.us.

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