Le Rouge Handmade Chocolates & Cafe

You had me at “I’m a chocolate artisan.”

The center of my chocolate universe consists of Kit Kat Bars and whipped hot chocolate. Obviously very limited, but it was all about to change. I got a LinkedIn message from a woman named Aarti, who described herself as a chocolate artisan and invited me to meet at her chocolate shop. When we spoke on the phone, she asked me when I could come over and although I tried really hard to sound cool, I think it came out like this: letmeseewhenIcanfityouinmyscheduleohlookatthatIhaveanopeningnowberightover. Le Rouge Handmade Chocolates, is located in downtown Westport, Connecticut and is a shop and charming cafe all-in-one. When I arrived, Aarti seduced me with her handmade chocolates and over sipping her signature hot chocolate, she schooled me on why her chocolate is so much better than the mass produced chocolate candy bars that I usually buy.

Here’s the lowdown: Everything is made fresh and from fresh ingredients with no added sugar, artificial ingredients or preservatives. She makes small batches at a time (nothing is mass produced) and this allows her the artistic freedom to rotate the flavors and offer many different flavors at one time. Her chocolate is gluten-free and she explained to me that she uses such a high content of cocoa in her products that she never needs to add sugar. Amazingly, she hand paints and decorates every chocolate with edible gold dust. If you look closely at the photos you will see the gold glimmer, they are little pieces of art – so pretty!

What attracts me to her store is the cafe component. It is the ideal destination to relax and unwind after strolling along Main Street. I can totally see myself stopping in for a sampling of different signature hot chocolates for a little pick me up before heading home. If you have friends or family visiting, this is a lovely place to experience something unique and different. While I was browsing Aarti’s store, a woman came in to buy a large box of truffles to take with her to a baby shower – what a perfect hostess gift! In addition to handmade truffles, she crafts mousses, European ganache cakes and other equally delicious treats. If you are reading this from somewhere other than Connecticut, click here to go to her online store to shop, she will ship to you!

{hot white chocolate with pistachio, it was the most delicious hot chocolate I have ever had}

{Chocolate Bunny Centerpiece, I need to keep this in mind for next Easter}

{Open Truffle Flower}

{2-piece truffle slide, mention this blog post and this sample is free}

You can read much more about the art of chocolate on her website. Any local Connecticut in Style readers who want to taste her incredible chocolate can get a free sample of a 2-piece truffle slide if you visit her store and mention that you read this blog post!

{French Mendiants}