Kee's Chocolates

Website: http://www.keeschocolates.com/

I can respect someone who isn't looking to build a multi-national business but just make a product and make it well. I first found Kee's when I was in New York visiting the Vosges shop and they suggested a try it (props to Vosges for caring more about spreading the chocolate love than for trying to move more of their excessively good product). It's a little shop in Soho that you won't find if you don't know it's there. They make all of their truffles and bon-bons in house and every day. In fact, if you go too late in the day, they might have already run out. They have a great selection of flavors and always seem to have something new and interesting to try. Almost makes you wonder if there is a whole underground chocolate scene that you gotta get plugged into.

• Taste: 9 - They only make truffles, bon-bons, and Parisian macaroons but they do them really, really well. I've tried everything that they make and while I don't like all the flavors, it is only because I'm not a fan of that flavor rather than the way they did it (passion fruit and chocolate is not really my thing). I can confidently say that if the description sounds good to you, the experience will taste good to you.
  
• Originality: 8 - Kee's has a wide variety of flavors and seems to often come up with new ones. They put their time and attention into finding new flavors and making them work. Try the blended pepper (ground pepper and chocolate go surprisingly well) or the lemongrass mint. You won't be dissappointed.
  
• Packaging : 6 - You will get your chocolates in a plain box tied with twine. It's simple but elegant. It isn't what you'll come back for, but after eating one of their treats, you won't be paying much attention to it anyway.
  
• Overall: 8 - This is a small and interesting shop in New York. If you haven't tried it and are in the area, you should. I almost hope they don't expand, I want to see them continue to do very well what they already do very well.
  

Various Links

This isn't strictly a review of a chocolatier but I thought I would include a few useful chocolate links (also added to the side bar) :

• Since Google now has shared maps, I've created a map of many of my favorite chocolate locations
• If you happen to be in NYC and like chocolate, try SweetWalks for a chocolate tour, it was almost (gasp!) too much chocolate for me.
  
• I've had a few chocolate tastings recently and am always looking to find a good, fast, and cheap online supplier. World Wide Chocolate doesn't have the flashiest website but does a great job, has a huge selection, and has been excessively reliable.
• It's always tough keeping up with the new and interesting players in the chocolate arena. I've had a subscription to The Chocolatier Magazine for the last, ahem, 15 years and it consistently provides informative updates as well as tasty recipes.
• I love my tempering machine. It makes the whole process of truffle-making much simpler. ChocoVision makes a "reasonably" priced machine that works well and convinces you that you can't live without.
  

Green & Black's

Website: http://greenandblacks.com/

When people think of chocolate, they normally don't immediately think England. Well, Green & Black's is changing that. They make one of my favorite bars Maya Gold which is a combination of Belize cocoa, orange, and spices. From their website:

The Maya Gold Project officially started on 1st September 2003 with the aim of turning the Toledo Cocoa Growers Association (TCGA) into a viable, self-sustaining organisation. This area is the poorest part of Belize and Green & Black's are keen to help the local community improve their quality of life.

I always enjoy and respect chocolate companies that are both making a good product and trying to turn chocolate from an industry where Europe can profit from Africa and South America to a sustainable and profitable industry for some poorer countries. You can generally find Green & Black's at Whole Foods and higher end shops. I recommend trying anything that looks good, I haven't yet run into a bad product of theirs.

• Taste: 9 - I can eat their product until I feel ill, and then I'll eat just a little bit more. All of their chocolate are made of fair trade beans from Belize. All are single origin and they do a great job of balancing the chocolate with added flavors.
  
• Originality: 7 - The chocolate itself is often straightforward but I think this company earns points for going fair trade and organic. That being said, they are also pushing hard to bring back drinking chocolates (which they do quite well).
  
• Packaging : 5 - Nothing too stylish or impressive, but they look high quality enough to buy, very middle of the road...
  
• Overall: 8 - I like these guys and I often eat their products. I like what they are doing for the chocolate industry and hope to see more of it!