Quite a few years ago during “First Fridays” in downtown Kansas City, my sisters and I wandered into the back of this furniture store which oddly housed a small chocolate and pastry case. Inside were some of the most beautiful and interestingly-flavored chocolates and truffles I had ever seen at the time.  Rosemary caramel?  Russian tea?  How strange.  We got a few each and were blown away by the flavors and quality, and always remembered the name – Christopher Elbow – because, well, it stands out.

All these years later he’s now a nationally known and respected chocolatier and I always make sure to at least get a few chocolates when I’m in town, and if I can, visit his very cool shop on McGee in downtown KC. With its sleek interior, small seating and fabulous chocolates (plus espresso and drinking chocolate!), it’s always a treat. And although they’re almost too pretty to eat sometimes, I always manage to do it somehow.