Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Yankee Magazine’s January/February 2009 issue, on newsstands now, names New England’s best five chocolate makers. Topping the list is Newburyport’s own Ballotin Chocolates, owned and operated by Lisa Bleicken of Newburyport. Yankee’s Food Editor, Annie B. Copps, who oversees the magazine’s food coverage both as an editor and as a contributor of feature stories and columns, compiled the list. She also writes Eating New England, a Yankee Magazine blog about food and entertaining in the region and appears on NBC’s Today Show.
“Annie Copps’ review captures the essence of Ballotin Chocolates - elegant, luxurious and fun,” Lisa Bleicken, Ballotin owner and chief chocolate lover, said. “Yankee’s 5 Best list reflects passion for chocolate. We are so pleased to be in the company of these fine chocolatiers and selected by Yankee’s food editor Annie Copps. Diversity of styles, aesthetics, approaches to flavors – this is what Ballotin Chocolates is all about: finding the best and bringing them together in a destination store for all those who love to experience the simple pleasure of extraordinary chocolate.”
The following five chocolate makers made the Yankee list, with Ballotin Chocolates listed number one:
Ballotin Chocolates—16 Unicorn St., Newburyport, MA. 978-465-3800; ballotinchocolates.com
“In a word, bonbon. It’s ridiculous with how much chocolaty goodness each bite is imbued. Simultaneously elegant, rich, serious, and fun.”
Daily Chocolate—7 Green St., Vergennes, VT. 802-877-0087; dailychocolate.net
ChocoLee—83 Pembroke St., Boston, MA. 617-236-0606; chocoleechocolates.com
Unbridled Chocolates—135 Main St., Marlborough, NH. 603-876-9111; unbridledchocolates.com
Cocoapelli—9 Willow St., Natick, MA. 508-655-1195; cocoapellichocolates.com
Bleicken is also thrilled with Yankee’s online story, which names Ballotin Chocolates “Tops in Chocolate Shops.” As Copps writes in more detail about Ballotin, “In a word, bonbon. It's ridiculous how much chocolate-y goodness is imbued in one bite. We like to share, but it took a lot of moral and ethical pondering to offer even a taste from the pale blue box kept hidden in our desk. Simultaneously elegant, rich, serious, and fun.” Ballotin Chocolates, 16 Unicorn St., Newburyport, MA 978-465-3800 ballotinchocolates.com.
