Two Sweet Ways to Go
So, there are two important holidays this week, and I visited two vastly different stores yesterday that service these holidays.
Wednesday marks the beginning of Passover. Many folks, even my non-religious Jewish friends/family enjoy the food of the season. Of course Saturday is the biggest specialty candy holiday of all, Easter.
Sunday I went to two stores: Economy Candy on Rivington and Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven (I know Doris blogged about them a couple of days ago):
Economy Candy is a fantastic candy store that appears to have EVERYTHING under the sun. Commercial candy bars, imported sweets, Kosher goodies (halvah, Turkish delight, chocolate covered matzohs, Kosher chocolate), hard candies, bulk candies and even a selection of dried fruits. All the major consumer brands like Hershey, Nestle and Mars as well as the smaller specialty companies like Cafe Tasse and Scharffen Berger. There was a huge selection of Easter candies at the front of the door, chocolate bunnies large and small and the best price I’ve seen in years for those sugar eggs that have the frosting dioramas in them (99 cents each). The space is funky, cramped and literally packed to the rafters, but the prices are great. You can even order goodies on the net and have them shipped anywhere. (108 Rivington)
On the other end of the spectrum is Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven. Where $5 will buy you a pound of goodies at Economy, at JT you’re lucky to get a couple of tiny morsels or a set of three hollow mini-chocolate bunnies. However, that’s not to say that it isn’t a feast for the eyes. I recommend a stop at the hot chocolate bar, I ordered the smallest size (which is way to rich for me to finish) which was a mix of their “wicked” blend which is a chili spiced hot chocolate and their orange, which had candied orange zest in it. You can get your finest Easter basket fare here or a hostess gift for a seder, with some pretty fancy looking chocolate covered matzohs studded with dried fruits and candied ginger. (350 Hudson Street)
What else am I missing in Manhattan when it comes to candy? I’ve hit Dylan’s Candy Bar (the FAO Schwartz of candy) and I’m planning on Maison du Chocolat and The Bespeckled Trout.
Oh man, I once gorged myself silly on halvah from Economy Candy. I bought a brick of the stuff, and since I didn’t have a fridge and it was summer decided I should consume it all in two sittings instead of letting it go to waste. Since then, I can’t look at halvah without turning a bit green around the edges.
Did you take that awesome picture of the chocolate bunnies?
Thanks Catherine! I did take the photo of the bunnies – they’re wee little things, about the size of my thumb. I put them on the windowsill in my hotel room.
I have a similar problem as your halvah one with marzipan stemming from a bowl of amaretto pizzelle dough when I was little.