The Musings of Ron Kapon: A Slice of Brooklyn Chocolate Tour

February 20, 2019

A Slice of Brooklyn Chocolate Tour

Let’s start with the best part of this tour. Paula Berkenstadt was our guide and is the cousin of the owner of the company. Gonzalez our driver got us there and back and thru some very narrow streets in his 55-passenger bus without incident. There were 12 people on this tour (2 people were no shows). Ireland, Japan & the Upper West Side of Manhattan were represented. I also live on the UWS but did not know the couple. I had taken the companies Pizza Tour as well as their Brooklyn Neighborhood Tour several years ago (comped on all the tours). I did also partake in two Brooklyn tours from a competitor: Christmas Lights Tour of Dyker Heights as well as a Brooklyn Brownstone Neighborhood Eats Tour.

Our meeting point was in the Union Square area of the east side. Across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to Jacques Torres Chocolate in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). Cobblestone streets and converted warehouses that now contain upscale boutiques, restaurants, cafes and residences. I have been in the Torres store on the Upper West Side and this was my least favorite stop. On the positive side they did give me lots of samples that did not contain nuts (allergy). The best part of this stop was the view under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Our second stop was in Cobble Hill at The Chocolate Room opened in 2005 where co-owner Jon Payson (wife Naomi) took us thru the evolution of his yummy chocolate cake that was featured on the cover of Oprah magazine and made them famous. There is a second location in Park Slope.

We walked a few blocks to the end of Valentino Pier in Red Hook that was the former Fort Defiance and a great view of the Statue of Liberty. I was told it is a great summer hangout for couples.

Raaka Chocolate in Red Hook was stop three. The company was started in 2010 in the founder’s apartment (Nathan Hodge & Ryan Cheney) and in 2015 they moved to this location. We were able to watch chocolate being made from raw bean to chocolate bar by hand. Lots of samples offered. I especially enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon bar. It was 68% cacao (I am told Hershey’s is 11%). They steam fruity Peruvian cacao over a California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Li-Lac Chocolate in Industry City (Sunset Park) was our last stop. It started in the 1920s and was the oldest chocolate shop in Manhattan (there are 4 locations in Manhattan). There are 16 historic manufacturing buildings with over 30 food vendors including a Japanese food hall and market. I am determined to get back to Industry City in warmer weather for a longer visit as well as for an outdoor concert. This was also an opportunity to purchase a slice of pizza or a hamburger in one of the shops.

I am afraid I was unable to eat any more chocolate at this point. Here is what I did learn about the benefits of chocolate. It lowers cholesterol levels, prevents cognitive decline and reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems. I was told not to refrigerate chocolate because moisture can condense on its surface.