While the staff at PA Eats has held South High Street’s master chocolatier, Christopher Curtin, and his small-batch artisanal shop, Éclat Chocolate, on the pedestal for years, it’s his sleek, sophisticated new chocolate bar that has granted him major play in the presses over the last few weeks.
The notable bar — the Good & Evil— arrived on the scene mid-November with major celebrity backing, as a collaborative project with heavy culinary hitters Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain. Curtin, together with Ripert, trekked across continents to source the ingredients for the fine-flavored, 72% cacao release, which is crafted from the dark Peruvian Pure Nacional chocolate — a product of the extremely-rare, single-origin bean that was thought to be extinct for almost a century.
The recent celeb-studded bar isn’t the only thing that has reacquainted our love with Éclat Chocolate. The downtown shop’s on-going collaborations with nearby friends, Victory Brewing Co., continue to prove successful; a repeat Chester County partnership that we suggest you keep tabs on.
First, they partnered up for the construction of a silky milk chocolate ganache truffle that was infused with Victory’s iconic Hop Wallop. Lucky for locals, the sultry confection is still regularly in stock (hallelujah!), and available as part of a perfect Beer Lover’s Box. The local pair-up progressed when Victory summoned Éclat to assist with their sixteenth anniversary chocolate-infused lager, which happened to be brewed with the same hard-to-find Peruvian Pure Nacional bean that’s incorporated within the Good & Evil bar.
But, in early September of this year, a pure, attention-worthy example of the partnership unfolded, illustrating the small-batch beauty of what Éclat does best. Interestingly enough, the most recent collaboration remained somewhat under wraps, besides quick teases on Eclat’s Facebook.
“Once a year, Victory receives a fresh Cascade hops shipment, and they hold one pound aside for us,” shared Éclat’s manager Dana Boyes, in regards to the limited ingredient in the limelight for their Cascade Fresh Hop Truffles.
The flaunt-worthy, fresh hops, sourced from Pederson Farm in Seneca Castle, New York, are delivered in the middle of the night to Victory’s Downingtown-based headquarters. This year, on the eve of August 30th, Dana and Chris awaited their petite share, in a way that Chris suggested was much like “an expecting father.” In order to take advantage of the “amazing oils” from the Cascade hops, the prime produce must be used within the first couple hours of receiving them, shared Dana. Together, in the chocolate-making wonderland of the midnight hours, the Éclat team swirled the hops with cream — a step that beautifully absorbs the acclaimed bittering qualities which many know and love from the prolific hop.
“It’s amazing how different the fresh oils make the chocolate,” continued Dana. “It’s a really cool process; we love working with Victory and enjoy receiving this special ingredient once a year.”
Our review? As another leading testament to the fine-tuned technique of master chocolatier Curtin, the one-of-a-kind Cascade Fresh Hop Truffles may be our all-time favorite from within Éclat’s superior sea of cacao. As a tempting two-bite treat for beer and chocolate connoisseurs alike, the bold, beautiful truffle captivates the palate immediately, putting forth an intoxicating milk chocolate creaminess. Soon, a lingering and subtle bitter finish slices the sweetness, creating an enticing juxtaposition amongst the incorporated flavors, which simply keeps you craving another — and another — truffle.
Find Éclat Chocolate at 24 South High Street in West Chester to explore the award-winning arsenal of chocolates, or shop online at eclatchocolate.com. Other releases worth obsessing over include the Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Stick, the seasonal Pumpkin Truffles, and Pennsylvania Dutch Obsession bar. Be aware — innovative truffles, bean-to-bars, caramel sauces (and much more!) are constantly unveiled by chocolatier Chris, so revisit often to satisfy your sweet tooth.
