As a chocolate junkie and a former chocolate store employee, I used to assume that I knew everything there was to know about this delicious confection. After paying a visit to Kakayo Chocolate, I realize just how wrong I was.
Walking into owner Colleen Wong-Sala's shop is akin to finding an oasis in the desert - if that oasis was filled entirely with chocolate. Colleen first offers me samples of her homemade chocolates, including the popular lavender truffle, made with lavender flower and vanilla bean. Later, when I choose four to bring home with me, Colleen packs them in an adorable container (it looks like a tiny takeout carton) and hands me a slip of paper listing what is in every chocolate and when they were made - the day before my visit.
Completely fresh, organic and fair-trade chocolates. At $2 each, the truffles are worth every penny.
One of Kakayo's best offerings is chocolate made for people with dietary restrictions, like diabetics and vegans. This is where Kakayo shines, carving a niche in Toronto's chocolate market that opens up the enjoyment of chocolate to people who might not usually be able to eat these tasty treats. The vegan chai masala truffle is a delicious blend of ginger, cinnamon and black pepper. If not for the sign informing me this truffle is in fact vegan, I would not be able to tell.
Colleen flirted with the idea of opening a chocolate shop while working in the corporate world. She spent five years researching before opening Kakayo on Queen East in October 2007. For fellow chocolate lovers, Colleen plans to start on and offsite chocolate making classes this year.
I also hear she makes a mean gelato in the warmer months - something I'll anxiously be waiting to try for myself.
Writing by Laura Stricker and photos by Dara Skolnick.
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This Place is great!!!Best organic chocolate ever.Handmade and fair trade!!!
Nothing special. Cheap sugary treats at inflated prices. Chocolates in show case covered with flies when I was there.
...i would totally disagree with the last comment from jb on. they are known for not being too sweet and besides they also have a sugar free line. regarding cleanliness, it is spic and span.
Fantastic chocolates. Absolutely nothing sugary about them. As a chocolate lover, I know. They are elegant, delicious and simply melt in your mouth. The display is classy and clean. Prices are not inflated. They reflect the top quality, organic ingredients and they are all handmade....certainly not your ordinary chocolates...
Enjoyed a vegan chai truffle. OMG! devine treat. cannot wait to go back for more!
those tiny takeout cartons look a lot like the ones at Soma Chocolate
just saying
Looks great. For non-specialty, check out the Belgium Chocolate Shoppe further east in the beaches. Amazing truffles at approx $1.50 per.
correction: Belgian Chocolate Shop
http://www.belgianchocolateshop.com/
very strange, the place was immaculate when my wife and I went in.
Our niece has very bad diabetes and so we went in to have a look-see. Upon our arrival the owner treated us to a taste of her blend of hot chocolate and it was simply amazing. The owner was not only extremely helpful, she was very knowledgeable as well. We ended up being able to buy our niece a treat she doesn't often get and that was a nice thing. You can easily tell that she takes a great amount of pride in her craft and end product.
JB is probably a competitor trying to stir things up. He obviously hasn't gone in or tasted, as his comment is so far from the truth.
love it!
"those tiny takeout cartons look a lot like the ones at Soma Chocolate"
They also look a lot like the ones I get at the chinese food take out store. My god - someones gotta be copying someone here! Take out boxes being used as .... take out boxes?? The insanity.
Yeah...there's no way there's flies in there. It's really open and clean-looking and flies don't tend to be attracted to smooth, hard, enclosed chocolates anyway.
They have a pumpkin truffle there that almost made me weep it was so heavenly. I got truffles for my partner and they put them in a cute wooden box and wrapped it prettily. I wish I hadn't gotten as many chai truffles - they turned out kind of gritty - but there's a white lavender one that's surprisingly good and I should have gotten more of them.
Also the service is nice and low-key and they gave us little cups to sample their hot chocolate.
The chocolate here is delicious! I bought a box for last easter and my family was all impressed. The salt truffle was amazing.