Neill and I met through the NYC Teaching Fellows Program. We became fast friends during the "how to be a teacher" crash course in the summer of 2001. We started as 4th-grade teachers at PS 88 in Queens, NY, and our first week of teaching in the NYC public school system was the week of 9/11. As young 20-somethings with no kids, summers off, and living in NYC, we explored constantly. We also travelled together. During a trip to Italy in 2005, we decided to drive over the border to a small town in the Alsace region of France. It was there that we discovered a small boutique chocolate shop. Every hand-made piece looked like a small jewel. When we returned home to NYC, we started researching. We figured there must be similar shops in what we considered then to be the greatest city in the world... At the time, results found while searching for things online weren't as fruitful as you might think. Many of the places we discovered were through WOM or through sheer exploration (walking the streets). My wife was working at Scholastic Inc. in SoHo at the time and alerted us to a small boutique shop she'd heard about at work called "Kee's." Neill and I went to check it out. Meeting Kee (the owner) and tasting her hand-rolled truffles kick-started a 5-year chocopology journey. We started a map, interviewed chocolatiers, and tasted thousands of pieces of chocolate (tedious research). We published the Ultimate Guide to Finding Chocolate in NYC in 2010 shortly after my son was born, and two years later, we published The NYC Hot Cocoa Activity Guide. If you are here reading, hopefully that means you are a member. We can't wait to share everything we have learned, and to learn from all of you as well. https://vimeo.com/26396101

NYC...Where it all began. I just returned from a trip to NYC with my son, Sam. We stopped into Stick With Me Sweets. This shop opened after Neill and I published our NYC Chocolate Guide but it's a shop you do NOT want to miss. Below is a pic of the Calamansi Lime bonbon and the Berry Cheescake bonbon.. a new seasonal flavor. https://swmsweets.com/ Here is their "About" section from their site: "In the heart of New York City's vibrant Nolita neighborhood, Stick With Me was founded to redefine the art of gifting chocolate. Each of our luxury chocolate bonbons is handcrafted with the finest ingredients and exquisite artistry.Drawing from the founder’s experience as the chocolatier at a three Michelin-starred restaurant, the same level of meticulous care and attention to detail is brought to every creation, elevating each bonbon into an edible work of art. Recognized as one of the top 10 chocolatiers in America, Stick With Me’s chocolates are more than confections; they are celebrations of life's sweetest moments.Our dedication to quality and craftsmanship ensures that every box is a unique and memorable gift. Gift Beautifully. Gift Stick With Me."