Kee's Assorted Bonbons  Hot Print E-mail
Reviews Kee Chocolates
Wednesday, 03 October 2007
Editor's rating
8.4
out of 10
Chocolate Bonbons
Type: Assorted
Number of Pieces: 7
Price: $12
Price Per Piece: $1.71

A small shop nestled on an unassuming side street in SoHo New York. The shop is simple, and the packaging of the chocolates you have selected is a plain brown box, no logo, no candy tray, just some straw ribbon to tie it up. The chocolates are anything but simple, with flavors reminiscent of Asia including Kaffir Lime and Thai Chili. There are both molded chocolates and truffles rolled in various things including pignoles and sesame seeds. Upon purchasing my selection, I was admonished to enjoy the chocolates within two days as the ingredients were fresh and without preservatives.

 


Editor review
Overall rating (weighted)
8.4
Appearance
8.0
Covering
8.0
Purity of Ingredients
9.0
Originality of Concept
9.0
Value
8.0
Flavors
8.0
Mouthfeel
9.0
Endurance
9.0
Balance of Flavors
8.0

I find the chocolate used in all of these confections to be rather mild, never competing with the flavors in the spotlight. Blood Orange is a dipped truffle consisting of a dense truffle center and dipped thinly in dark chocolate. The flavor was a bit difficult to identify but was at least not overpowered by a chocolate flavor. The Crème Bruleé is one of the house specialties, filled with homemade custard. The filling is a bit too liquid and a bit too sweet for my taste, but was certainly authentic crème bruleé and not just a flavored filling. I wasn't sure what to expect with the sesame truffle, but I was pleasantly surprised by the delightful flavor combination. The sesame seeds have a wonderful toasted flavor that blooms in your mouth, combining perfectly with the ganache center. Kaffir Lime has a unique Asian flair, very nicely molded in shiny dark chocolate. The filling was silky and sweet but reminded me a bit too much of lemon pledge. The Pignole is another ganache center generously rolled in toasted pine nuts. I would prefer the nuts toasted a bit more to bring out the flavor, but again this unusual combination is as tasty as it is unique. Dipped and then rolled in cocoa powder, the Tiramisu truffle is certainly one of the more usual flavors. The ganache is sweet with a wisp of coffee essence, blended to smooth perfection. Unknowingly I saved the best for last, Thai Chili. As I bite into this beautifully molded diamond, I am pleased by the firmness and density of the chocolate. Almost immediately the chili begins to engulf my taste buds with a gust of spice and heat that was lasting and intense.

Kee's chocolates are clearly made by hand by someone who cares takes pride in what is produced. The ingredients are obviously very fresh and carefully selected. The $12 price for a box of 6-7 artisan chocolates is about right, but for New York it is a great deal! The selection flavors offered at Kee's varies with the season and availability, but no matter what, you will find some distinctive combinations to delight your palette. And if you are interested, chances are you will see Kee Ling Tong in her newly expanded space, doing what she loves?making chocolates.

Maker Notes:

The available flavors change with availability of ingredients, and certain flavors remain seasonal. At Kee's we use the freshest ingredients from around the world, including yuzu from Japan, sea salt from France, and saffron from Spain. And we're constantly searching for new flavors with which to infuse our chocolates to bring you delicious combinations.
Last updated: Friday, 05 October 2007


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