When I heard about Woodhouse Chocolatier, based out of St. Helena, I was thrilled to plan a trip out to wine country for a visit. The small chocolate shop is located off of Highway 29 on a quaint street with cafes and boutiques galore. Woodhouse is located under a pastel aquamarine awning with a blue elephant insignia. As you walk in the shop, there are immediate indications of the jewelry shop that used to stand on the property. A gleaming crystal chandelier light the glass cases that showcase the chocolate pieces as if they were precious diamonds and pearls. In my opinion, their chocolates definitely are worth their weight in gold.
A friend of mine first described Woodhouse's chocolates to me as the typical; delicious, rich, and all of the above adjectives usually associated with confections. The menu of chocolates highlighted various flavors including Thai ginger, raspberry, and honey. There were so many pieces to choose from, so I decided to go with the combination box just to make sure I got a taste of everything they had to offer. It only took one piece to captivate my taste buds though. This was the bananas foster piece based on the famous ice cream dessert.
This white chocolate piece encapsulated all the essential flavors of a traditional bananas foster into a light and airy mousse. Upon biting the piece and tasting the mousse inside, you can detect a light banana base with a hint of rich, golden caramel and dark Carribean rum. The intense flavors are sweetened with the melting of a the velvety white chocolate coating. With every bite, I wished my little piece of chocolate was a heaping 10 lb chocolate bar so I could savor each bite that much longer. Unfortuntaely, I only bought two pieces on my last trip, so I guess it'll be another trip up to St. Helena soon. Care to join me?
