The Great Toronto Chocolate Truffle Hunt

My article about my efforts to locate the best cupcakes in Toronto is consistently one of the most-read on this site, so – at great risk to my already substantial waistline – I’ve plunged into another research project: the search for this city’s best chocolate truffles. Actually, I did a lot of the research when I wrote the food sections of Toronto, The Unknown City, but this list includes a few new “candy-dates”.

My very favourite at that time is still my very favourite, even though they have moved to a less chichi location. It’s Stubbe Chocolate (now at 653 Dupont Street, 416-923-0956). I love them because they’re run by a very sweet fellow (appropriately, I suppose): Daniel Stubbe, who’s a sixth-generation chocolatier. That’s about 200 years of truffles, folks. And I prefer my chocolates to have a matte, velvety, irregular exterior finish, which the Stubbe truffles do (see the picture, above). And I love their classic flavours, like Gewurtztraminer, champagne and Poire William. Second place in my opinion for soft-shell truffles would be The Chocolate Addict (185 Baldwin Street, 416-979-5809), which continues to lure me with their lavender and hot chili centres, and a very close third place would go to Simone Marie Belgian Chocolate (126A Cumberland Street, 416-968-7777).

For truffles with a hard, shiny finish, the leader has to be the extremely elegant Soma (The Distillery District, Building 47, 416-815-7662). They treat chocolate like wine, and can tell you a lot about each type and where it comes from. Flavours include such foodie magnets as balsamic vinegar, bergamot, olive oil and the Gooderham Worts whisky truffle. Second in this category would be Simryn (147A Danforth Avenue near Broadview, 416-778-7978), which even makes sugar-free truffles. Honourable mention goes to the Belgian Chocolate Shop (2455 Queen Street East in the Beaches, 416-691-1424).

If you want politically conscious chocolate, head to Kakayo (1584 Queen Street East near Coxwell, 416-828-0402). There, Colleen Wong-Sala fashions exquisite organic and fair-trade treats like chai and chili chockies (and she also sells T-shirts that say “Stop staring at my truffles”.) Or you could go all the way, with Chocosol Horizontal Traders, Chocolatiers and Bicycle Based Business (Cacao Loft, 6 St. Joseph Street, 4th floor, 416-923-6675). Michael Sacco and Graham Corbett, the charming young fellows of Chocosol sell raw and roasted cacao and nibs, as well as fair trade coffee, organic cinnamon, vanilla pods and popped amaranth. Their “chocolate foods” are grainy, intense bars with ingredients like chilies, agave, vanilla and hempseed. Find them at farmers’ markets and special events.

Also, any Toronto chocoholic will want to keep an eye on the Chocolate Fest, which is still a young event, but with its popular chocolate fashion shows (yes!) and events featuring chocolate fountains and other delights, I suspect it’ll be growing over the next few years.

By the way, I’ve heard so much about J.S. Bonbons (163 Dupont Street at Davenport, 163 Dupont, 416-920-0274; and 811 Queen West, 416-703-7731) that I’m sure they’re great, but I have made many tries to visit them and never yet found them open. The hunt continues...