It's enough to make a chocoholic swoon.
Since 2001, Mon Aimee Chocolat in the Strip District has been the go-to destination when a craving develops.
Stocking chocolates and other confections from nearly 40 countries, it's home to enough chocolate options to fill a lifetime of nibbling, sampling and tasting.
Owner Amy Rosenfield opened the story to indulge her passion for hard-to-find or premium chocolate and other food items and to make life easier for those similarly inclined.
Whatever your preference -- light or dark, Belgian, British or Colombian; for baking, candy making or just eating -- the knowledgeable staff stands by to help you match your preference for percentage of cocoa or choose between bars, chunks, chips or nibs.
There's also a selection of candy bars from foreign countries, such as Yorkies, made by the British branch of Nestle.
If you still can't make up your mind -- or can't be trusted not to scarf down an entire large bar -- Mon Aimee sells a wide array of bite-size options that allow you to widen your knowledge without expanding your waistline.
There are coffee beans coated in chocolate, chocolate shells ready for filling with ice cream or custard, chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, whimsical items such as the realistic-looking deviled eggs made from white chocolate, and niche products such as Chocolate Bacon Bars from Vosges ($8.25 for 3 ounces) -- dark chocolate encasing applewood-smoked bacon and a hint of sea salt.
"It's an incredible seller," Rosenfield says of the Chocolate Bacon Bars. "This city is definitely enamored with the pig."
Even after nine years of daily contact, Rosenfield's love of chocolate hasn't diminished.
"I can't say you get used to it," she says. "I eat it every day."
But if chocolate's not your thing, there's still abundant lures for those looking for something sweet -- tiny marzipan fruits, licorice from a half-dozen countries, gourmet-style marshmallows or individually wrapped caramels with a savory accent of sea salt.
With literally hundreds of chocolate options to mesmerize, distract and beguile, it's not surprising that many overlook the case of gelatos and sorbets at the rear of the store.
That would be your loss.
There usually are eight flavors available in three individual sizes ($2.75 for small, $5.35 medium, $7.95 large) and pints ($10.95).
It's made by Capogiro Gelato Artisans, a Philadelphia-based company that prides itself on its use of primarily local ingredients. Obviously, the vanilla and hazelnuts come from elsewhere. But Capogiro uses milk from grass-fed, hormone-free cows and fruits hand-picked from nearby farms.
The result is a creamy, fresh-tasting product that feels much richer than it actually is.
This Italian version of ice cream typically contains half the fat and half the calories of ice cream.
Because it's made with fresh, fully ripened fruit, it's highly flavorful. A scoop of Strawberries and Cream actually tasted like fresh strawberries. And you could taste the toasty notes in a scoop of Hazelnut.
The list of flavors changes constantly as seasons come and go. Because the growing season is so short, Raspberry was available for only about three weeks this spring.
Other flavors, such as the popular Chocolato Scuro -- a rich, dark chocolate -- almost always are available.
The frozen treat is sold in tiny plastic cups to be eaten with equally tiny plastic spoons.
To do so, you could perch on one of the tall stools in front of the counter where hot chocolate is sold in the winter. Customers wishing to watch the pedestrian traffic can head outdoors, where there's one tiny bistro table and two chairs on the sidewalk in front of the store.
Additional Information:Mon Aimee Chocolat
Location: 2101 Penn Ave., Strip District
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays
Details: 412-395-0022 or Web site
