12 Las Vegas Sweet Spots… - Los Angeles Times
12 Las Vegas sweet spots for National Chocolate Month.
“What may be Las Vegas’ most expensive chocolates are created by former Bellagio pastry chef Jean-Marie Auboine. He founded his own company, Jean-Marie Auboine Chocolatier, after realizing the need for fine French chocolates extended well beyond the Strip.
Auboine and his team now produce dozens of chocolates in a truly mouth-watering array of flavors.
They include his award-winning Quessan, a caramel ganache enrobed in dark chocolate; Jaipur, with a ganache made from raspberries infused with jasmine tea covered in milk chocolate; and Tapas, a dark chocolate creation with a filling of almond praline, crunchy bacon and pretzels.
All the sweets are handmade, without preservatives, in a “cocoa bean to chocolate bar” kitchen a couple of miles west of the Strip at 4780 W. Harmon Ave., Las Vegas. Samples are offered in a small retail shop.
A 19-piece box sells for $40.
“Everything is so fresh, you can taste the difference,” sales director Chanelle Bautista said. “There’s value in that.”
Auboine’s chocolates can also be purchased at Le Macaron in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian.”