September 4, 2011
Chocolate Purveyor Xocolatti Opens in New York's SoHo
Robert Doyle READ TIME: 2 MIN.
NEW YORK, NY - Xocolatti, the standout star of the 2010 Chocolate Show, announced the opening of their inaugural shop in the heart of Soho on September 19, 2011. Shaineal Shah, the 23-year-old visionary behind the brand, launched a highly successful online presence two years ago. His goal was to create a brand for chocolate connoisseurs that was respectful of the heritage of fine chocolates, but also offered an innovative and artistic experience.
The edgy New York design firm de-spec created a design concept for the 150- square-foot space that eliminates the traditional barriers of a storefront, creating instead a vitrine-like space that seamlessly integrates with the streetscape.
Inside, each wall features a custom-designed, floor-to-ceiling bronze shelving system that acts as both storage and display for the iconic green and brown chocolate boxes. The resulting design is bold, graphic and sophisticated.
Shaineal chose the name xocolatti (choco-latti) because it is a creative twist on the Aztec word xocol?tl (cacao), which the ancients believed to be a food of the gods and was a luxury reserved for royalty. He personally selects each ingredient and creates the taste palate for unmatched quality. Xocolatti's handmade, artful chocolates include:
Truffles
Containing single-origin chocolates and made with only the freshest ingredients with no additives or preservatives, each truffle is exquisitely hand-painted or hand-coated. One standout is the Sake Truffle Special Edition, a rich and unusual fusion of sake and dark chocolate.
Slates
A combination of eclectic ingredients and chocolate in delicious sheets studded with such eclectic flavors and textures as handmade almond nougatine, Persian pistachios, saffron, and rose petals. Mango Paprika and Mixed Nut Saffron Chikki are standouts.
Clusters
These free-form confections use exotic mixtures of nuts and fruits and enrobe them in decadent chocolate to create such combinations as Pomegranate Woodbury and Almond Roche.
Gelato
After extensive research at some of Italy's finest gelaterias, Shaineal fell in love with the taste and texture of true gelato. Xocolatti's authentic gelato is made from premium ingredients, including the freshest fruits and non-homogenized milk from local farms. New flavors will be introduced on a seasonal basis.
"My family has been in the luxury jewelry business for many generations, so it's no coincidence that the chocolates resemble sparkling jewels," Shaineal explains.
The Xocolatti shop is designed not only for local connoisseurs, but to be a destination for chocolate lovers from all over the world.
xocolatti
172 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012
www.xocolatti.com
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
