Luscious Living
Chocolate Cheesecake
The boyfriend found this adorable cheesecake from Luscious Living. I'm absolutely excited about their online cafe and clever branding. Both a chocolate and cheesecake enthusiast, here's what he had to say: If you're gifting to someone who doesn't eat lots of cheesecake, they'll be more than satisfied with the flavor. But for a cheesecake connoisseur, especially of the classic New York Style, the flavor is a bit wanting. The chocolate somewhat subdues the creaminess resulting in an interesting balance between chocolate pudding and cheesecake. But what it lacks in creaminess, it makes up for in packaging--The tin reminds me of the Neiman Marcus style rum cake, which was a perennial holiday favorite. Overall, this makes a really cool gift...

A Little Piece of Zion
If you've ever enjoyed a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (which often rivals the price of gold), you'll understand why I'm absolutely irie that the Vosges Zion Truffle Collection is available once again. The I-tal truffle flavored with Blue Mountain coffee, coconut, and dark chocolate happens to be my absolute, all time, Vosges favorite.

In the Bag
If you crave the sumptuous chocolate tarts from Balthazar, or Jean Georges' decadent Warm, Soft, Chocolate Cake with a side of pistachio ice cream, then you'll love the Belgian brownie cake from Brussels based Le Pain Quotidien. The affordable little euro style chocolate pies beg to be paper-bagged and taken home. Trust me, you won't for a minute miss the pretentious plating, pricing, bells or whistles.

The Young & the Stressless
Yesterday marked the official release of a line of note cards and mini journals that I designed for Potter Style/Random House titled The Young & the Stressless-Humor for Hip Chicks. They're Based on my experiences surviving in New York as a twenty something--young, fabulous, and sometimes a little broke. The purse-sized mini journals are a great place to keep notes on all of your fabulous chocolate finds. Check them out here. Best, Imani

Seeds Please!
Sunny Seed Drops seem to be sprouting up all over Manhattan (I even spotted them in a ravioli store on Sullivan) and while they don’t bloom into magnificent fields of full-blown, chocolate covered Sunflowers, the harvest hued candies do make for the perfect October snack. Sans the traditional salted shell, this re-mixed classic is all about a new kind of crunch. A paper-thin, M&M-like coating is followed by a subtle layer of chocolate, which makes for a nice enhancement to the the Sunflower’s distinct and flavorful seed. I suggest indulging by the handful!