We often take advantage of the fact that there are so many delicious chocolate places in the city. There are three La Maison du Chocolats in Manhattan alone, with another nearby in Short Hills, NJ. But if you live in New York, consider yourself extremely fortunate; these four boutiques are the only La Maison du Chocolats in the entire U.S.

So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift to reimburse the generous friends whose summerhouse you plan to spend many weekends, or you’re just looking for a delicious way to escape the ‘haute’ Manhattan weather, La Maison du Chocolat is the ideal remedy. They have recently introduced their summer collection named ‘Chiberta’ after the beautiful and decadent countryside of France. Each chocolate in the collection has a story of its own.  My personal favorite was the Etzia, a creamy milk chocolate ganache flavored with the floral sweetness of wildflower honey and chestnut honey from the Basque mountains in France (0.12lb-$24).

In addition to the exquisite chocolate selection, the Salvador Rasberry Mousse cake, a creation by Robert Linxe, founder of La Maison du Chocolat, combines the dark chocolate mousse and semi-cooked raspberry with a delicate chocolate biscuit. The Macaroon Sylvia and the variety of ice creams and sorbets were enough to send me straight to heaven. The ice cream flavors are chocolate, pistachio, and caramel, and the sorbet flavors are strawberry and rasberry. At $4.50 a scoop, this cold treat is just the thing to cool you off this summer.

www.lamaisonduchocolat.us