Adam & Eve Chocolatier
97 Maitland Street
416-962-2326

Chocolate - what’s not to love about it? It is a treat to indulge in, no matter what time of the day or year, and for whatever reason. Even better is to enjoy chocolate in an atmosphere that brings feelings of comfort and enjoyment, with an aroma of cocoa wafting on the air and a wide selection of temptations to choose from. This is the direction Donna Young is undertaking at her store, Adam & Eve Chocolatier.

Nestled in the heart of the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, the chocolate store and coffee bar has been open since February 2007. Young mentioned that there are two passions in her life - dancing and chocolate. As to why she went in the direction of chocolate over dancing? The movie Chocolat was the inspiration, beginning her new adventure in life. Young enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for chocolate with others, and explains how chocolate is the perfect gift: “What do you give loved ones, friends that are new or old on special occasions or ‘I’m just thinking of you’ moments? I decided that most people do love chocolate, and like to receive good quality chocolate that inspires and reminds them of special moments, or perhaps even creates these moments.”

The store features a glass cabinet full of truffles made with Belgian chocolate, as well as shelves of chocolate-covered cocoa dusted almonds (a big customer favourite) and boxed chocolates. The majority of the chocolates Young carries are made by her chocolatier, with a selection also available for diabetics. A worthy addition to the line-up that came in time for the hot weather is the house-made gelato. Young learned the tricks of the trade from someone already in the gelato business, and currently offers flavours such as rose, hazelnut, and my favourite, Nutella.

A coffee bar is located in the back of the store with comfy couches to relax on, and also leads to an entryway to the outdoor patio. Try the rich sipping chocolate cream topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings or an espresso or latte paired with divine chocolate cake and brownies. Young is continuously searching for new vendors to provide more baked goods to complement her beverages, and an assortment of teas will also be added to the drink menu in the near future.

Beyond the chocolate realm, Young supports the local art scene, and there are canvasses hanging in the coffee bar as well as greeting cards produced by an area photographer, which are all available for purchase.

Young’s ultimate vision for Adam & Eve Chocolatier is “to be a place where people can come and enjoy the chocolate moment in a relaxed comfortable place, enjoying art and new jazz, participating in a moment that can trail them home. ” I believe she is well on her way to achieving this goal.