Sweet and Sexy Confections at Martine’s Chocolates
SInce 1992, Martine’s Chocolates has been a staple on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at Bloomingdale’s, when Martine Leventer presented a new concept in the making of sweets, heralding the "open kitchen concept" that was then sweeping through restaurants across the United States.
In restaurants, diners could not only enjoy the fruits of the kitchen’s labors but also see how the food was handled and prepared. Martine Leventer, the owner of Martine’s, was once a journalist in Paris, and she was, therefore, no stranger to the concept of full disclosure; she happily extended this concept to her sweets.
"I had always wanted my own business," explained the charming Leventer recently. "My late husband worked in the chocolate business and that’s how I landed here. We were living in France and then moved here. The concept was really a new one to make the chocolate in front of the customer. This way they see every step we take. We were also one of the first businesses - that I know of - to really specialize in handwriting in chocolate to personalize the product for the client."
Leventer’s business is not, however, limited to small orders. Her team also makes chocolate creations for corporate events, weddings, and the like. Yet, each chocolate is a personalized work of art in chocolate. Martine’s chocolates have a subtle sweetness unlike much American-styled chocolate and Leventer only uses the finest ingredients, such as Belgian Callebaut couverture chocolate, French butter, and fresh American cream: in other words, the best of Europe and the U.S. In 2003, to meet demand, Leventer opened a second location on East 82nd Street.
When asked if there is any difficulty for her and her staff to switch back and forth from small orders to large orders for banquets and other events she says no. "We have no problem doing smaller pieces made to order, except when a mold has to be found or made. We have over 3,000 different molds for our chocolates, so we must explain to
clients that scheduling has to be precise," to allow time for not only
production but also packaging.
Given Leventer’s success as a chocolatier, it’s natural to talk about
Valentine’s Day - Cupid’s favorite holiday! Martine’s features many
delights. So that love might take wing, there is a chocolate butterfly filled with layers of hazelnut praline and fresh whipped cream. For love to bloom, she offers a solid chocolate heart covered in lifelike, fanciful marzipan roses.
Many of Leventer’s aphrodisiacal delicacies can be presented in a
hollow chocolate heart. For Valentine’s Day - to remind you not to get cold feet - one comes with an adorable chocolate penguin and a chocolate heart tinted with red coloring. Hollow hearts can be chosen and filled with sweets by the client, based upon personal tastes, or there are boxes of treats selected and pre-arranged by Leventer.
In keeping with the tradition of handwriting in chocolate Martine’s is also known for their custom-made greeting cards. Soon after opening her first location, they launched chocolate greeting cards, available in white, dark, or light chocolate with made-to-order details such as chocolate flowers, hearts, and other Valentine symbols.
"We do a lot of cards with messages, which are often requested, so we only have to do the name or date when they want it personalized. We also do birthday and anniversary and we have even filled orders for invitations to events or thank you cards," said Leventer. "Of course the larger the order, the more time in advance it must be placed."
Chocolate, however delicious, is quite ephemeral. Once eaten, only the memory remains. With Martine’s chocolates, one might save the packaging, which is known for its elaborate pink wrapping. Recently, Leventer has begun to sell keepsakes such as china plates, Limoges and crystal boxes, and other vessels as a means of presentation.
While Leventer does not consider herself a collector of antiques - because collectors typically look for a specific maker, era, or other unifying element across a collection - she has amassed an accumulation of antique and vintage items perfect for presenting chocolates.
"After a while, I realized I should sell some of them, instead of keeping them in storage," said, then added with a laugh, "It’s funny, when I find something in a box I put away years ago I still open it and find I love it. So, instead of having a cardboard box you can purchase a small box of chocolate, a small plate, or a porcelain Limoges box to bring home the chocolates. It’s really a beautiful, romantic way of presenting. I displayed some very old tin chocolate boxes and a customer bought a deco one. He only bought an eight-piece box of chocolates, but the addition of the deco tin made a wonderful gift."
Her delightful addition of an elegant serving piece or box will let your sweetheart savor the sweet holiday all through the year. Leventer spoke dreamily of a turn-of-the-century salt stand, which her chocolates have breathed new life into for a 21st-century audience.
"It is two flowers, held together by a green branch," she said. "Today, very few people would use it as a salt stand. However, today, you can place a chocolate in each of the flowers and serve them with coffee or champagne. It is both gorgeous and delicious."
In addition to her elegant plates and presentation pieces - which are only available for purchase in her New York location since some are very delicate - she was one of the first to proudly offer same-sex brides and grooms to top the cakes of LGBT couples who tie the knot in New York. Leventer says they are a very popular item, something for which they constantly receive requests, not only purchased by the happy couple themselves, but also by friends of the happy couple, as a wedding gift.
If you are having trouble finding a sweet for your sweetie, and you are lucky enough to be in New York on Sunday, February 12th or Monday, February 13th from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. stop by Martine’s at Bloomingdale’s where Leventer and her staff will advise you on the perfect gift, that can be hand-delivered to a New York address. However, if you are not in Manhattan, never fear, you can place an order online and ship your romantic statement all over the world.
DETAILS:
Martine’s Chocolates
Bloomingdale’s, 6th Floor
1000 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022-1231
Tel: 212.705.2347
Martine’s Chocolates too
400 East 82nd Street
New York, NY 10028-5955
Tel: 212.744.6289
For more information, please visit: www.MartinesChocolates.com
