The Sweet Chocolate Trail Part 3: The ChocolateSmith

Our last stop on this trail of cocoa confections was the ChocolateSmith. Inside this shop is an eclectic collection of almost '50s style stuff. Old Fridgedaires holding sodas and water and little tchotkes for sale on a table near the front window. There is a large display case that holds all the chocolates and separates the front store from the large production kitchen that is clearly visible from the front counter and allows you to see the chocolates being made and interact with the staff. The lady working the counter was very nice and even gave us a couple of options for dinner in the area. We talked awhile about chocolates and travel and such and tasted some of the free samples placed out on the counter. We ended up buying two truffles, one was the classic peanut butter cup style truffle and at the counter lady's advice we also purchased the Don Juan Pecan

Both of these truffles were exceptional in my book . The peanut butter was rich, creamy and in perfect harmony with the chocolate. The Don Juan Pecan was really something special. It was huge in comparison with other truffles we had tried that day, and the caramel inside was delicious. The pecan was the perfect addition to the infamous combo of chocolate and caramel and one I don't often see . This was a great shop and would highly recommend stoppin by anytime you're in the area.

The Sweet Chocolate Trail of Santa Fe Part 2: C.G.Higgins Confectionaries

Our second stop on the chocolate trail was C.G. Higgins . This place was chosen as the official candy maker for the 400th anniversary of Sant Fe. As you enter the doorway, you are in a little foyer and can see into a small kitchen where it look like most of the sugar and popcorn work is done and we actually saw a worker there making kettle or caramel corn. There is a couple of really cool pieces of artwork on the wall and a little space to hang your dogs leash before you enter the next room that houses the display cases filled with chocolate and other sweets.

As we entered the display/tasting area, we were greeted by two very friendly workers who were very nice and eager to tell us about all the confections that they produced at their establishment. They had some very interesting chocolate combinations and we were excited to try them all. We skipped the usual combos and went with some more inciting ones, like blue cheese, mango habanero, balsamic cherry, and Himalayan sea salt. We also tried their chocolate that they created for the anniversary of Santa Fe

All of these truffles were delicious, but my faces were the blue cheese and the anniversary truffle. The blue cheese really comes through and compliments the chocolate nicely. The tart bite of the cheese is smoothed out and at the same time enhanced by the velvety chocolate. The anniversary truffle was really a unique combo of flavors and actually tasted like a oatmeal cookie.