Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier

Madison Magazine describes shaved Colombian dark chocolate at this Atwood Avenue chocolatier, carrying notes of cherry, bitter almond and toasted marshmallow rather than a plain cocoa flavor. Gail Ambrosius has worked from single origin chocolate since opening the shop in 2004, built mainly around truffles and bars rather than a cafe menu. Order the shaved Colombian hot chocolate specifically, since the magazine frames the tasting notes as the reason to choose this shop's version over a simpler mix.

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Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier is an Atwood Avenue chocolate shop built on truffles made from single-origin dark chocolate, most of it sourced from Central and South America, and dipped by hand, a process customers can watch through a small window. The case holds standards such as sea salt caramel beside flavors like strawberry balsamic, brandy Old-Fashioned and a shiitake mushroom truffle. Ambrosius founded the business in 2004, and her son Isaac May and his wife, Katharine Hillman, now run it. Order a box of the truffles.

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