Beverly Hills – A Chocolate Tourist’s Dream Destination

Two hours, seven chocolate shops. This is the promise of Great Food Tours’ chocolate tour in Beverly Hills, California.

A premise that begs many questions: What kind of chocolate? What is the dress code? Will there be hillbillies? Can I eat chocolate for two hours and still fit in my pants? Among others.

And as is the case with all adventures, the only way to get answers is to go out and find them.



This is my first food tour of any kind, and the anticipation is breathtaking. Thankfully the tour group is not hard to find – just look for the cluster of tourists around the cupcake store – and with barely a moment of preparation, we have begun.

The popular cupcakery is now a chain of confection heavens spanning seven US states, thanks to Oprah’s favorite things list, but the whole shebang originated right here in the hills of Beverly.

Founder Candace Nelson’s philosophy is one of simple and satisfying desserts. With quality ingredients that include Belgian bittersweet chocolate and French sprinkles, the level of cupcake is elevated and refined to a kind of edible art.

And it tastes real good too.

The chocolate-frosted, chocolate-sprinkled chocolate cupcakes placed in our hands outside the Sprinkles shop (miniaturized for the sake of our touring stomachs) are as decadent and perfectly moist as they are elegant.

There is even a cupcake ATM, which we are told serves cupcakes after hours until emptied by the line of 2am cupcake cravings stretched in a line down the block.

We could stay here all day, but of course there are six other stops on our tour. Next!

A young couple went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on a date. “Why,” they wondered, “can’t there be a candy store for grownups?”

And of course, there is no reason, which is why the young couple started Sugarfina. It is, in every way, a candy store for grownups. Elegant, imaginative, yet still completely enthusiastic about the sweet, the fruit-flavored, the chocolate-covered, and the malted.

Every item lining the shelves of Sugarfina is adorable, from the $2 sample packets of every type of candy for sale (one free for each of us on the tour) to the gift boxes and witty inscriptions that are almost as fun as the flavors themselves.

Thoroughly charmed the moment we walk through the door, I eagerly taste test the Champagne Gummy Bears and Matcha Tea Caramel Balls being put into my hand. Both familiar and distinct, the flavors beg further exploration.

Later. We’re moving on to our next stop.

A landmark in Los Angeles, Edelweiss has changed hands a few times in its 70+ years of operation. Today we’re treated to a quick tour of the inner workings of the factory, including the enrobing machine, which famously inspired the chocolate-making scene in I Love Lucy.

Edelweiss is very fond of their vintage equipment, much of which dates back to 1942 when the shop first opened. The hallmark of Edelweiss is their marshmallows, which are handmade and dipped in six different combinations.

We are treated to a single vanilla marshmallow dipped in dark chocolate (Madonna’s favorite), and it tastes like Hollywood history.

A tiny shop packed with flavor. A colorful array of Parisian style macarons greets us as we’re each handed one – and of course it is chocolate. The rich ganache is sandwiched between two feather-light almond cookies with a delicate crunch. And you can buy coffee to go with it, if you feel so inclined.

If you don’t happen to live near one of the five ‘Lette locations in southern California, they will happily ship some toothsome and delicious confections to your door.

As the mastermind that brought you bacon milk chocolate bars, Vosges’ (pronounced like ‘go’ with a soft, j-like g at the end) Katrina Markoff specializes in world flavors combined in unlikely ways for an entirely unique chocolate experience.

The Vosges label can be found at a retail store near you, but there are also nine boutique locations in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas as well as LA. Each one as luxurious and fancy as the next.

As visitors to one of these very special shops, we also have the advantage of tasting a Vosges chocolate truffle. In today’s case, a ball of milk chocolate curry, sprinkled with cumin and tasting of coconut. So spicy and rich, the flavors leap on your tongue without overpowering the chocolate – which is really what we’re all here for in the first place.

Vosges is also outfitted with a barista, eager to serve tea and coffee drinks. With the moody lighting and posh interior, it’s difficult to leave.

But we must. Because there is more.

Hold on to your buttons, these pants need to stretch!

Are we getting full? With 26 varieties of brownie residing under one roof, there is more to be explored. The brownies are big – basically smallish cakes – each with four edges and a soft center. All the best parts of the brownie pan in one serving.

And a brownie-lover’s dream. Be they frosted, sprinkled or cream-filled, every one is imaginatively concocted and made to share. We’re each served a quarter of a standard brownie, in the Classic Chocolate flavor. It’s just as decadent as you might expect, and I can’t even finish it because I’ve had five other kinds of chocolate in the last two hours.

Wimp.

The Swiss chocolatier with locations around the world (and they ship too!) is pronounced “to-share” – and it only seems right that we do.

The shop itself is a thing of beauty, with cases of chocolate confections lining the front and a bevy of flowers hanging from the ceiling. The shop is full, but we all pile inside anyway and an assistant passes out the signature Champagne Truffle.

The two-bite truffle is elongated on top and dusted with powdered sugar. A treat for the eyes as well as the tongue, the chocolate shell gives way to a dark ganache touched with the bubbly tang of champagne.

It’s a light and definitive flourish on which to end our chocolate tour.

As our group says its goodbyes and we waddle off to our cars, I feel good. Not stuffed and not exhausted (all told, the round trip is only a mile and a half) but my taste buds have been out exploring and they’ve had a good time.

It is a delightful way to spend time with a friend – and to make new ones. It’s a celebration of all kinds of chocolate, from baked confections to truffles and feats of baking finesse. I don’t know if I will ever not feel underdressed in Beverly Hills, but I do know that my pants still fit.

And while no hillbillies were sighted during this particular tour, I have no doubt they would have enjoyed it.

Where will your chocolate take you today? Only one way to find out.