{"id":40417,"date":"2023-10-30T16:42:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T23:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/?p=40417"},"modified":"2024-03-02T14:23:18","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T22:23:18","slug":"block-o-choc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/local-chocolate\/block-o-choc\/","title":{"rendered":"Block o\u2019 choc"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things on the local chocolate scene have been looking up recently as more chocolatiers, chocolate makers, and confectioners are expanding their businesses and\/or opening brick and mortar locations. While San Francisco boasts the most DIY chocolate tour options locally, my neck of the woods (North Oakland) has experienced a welcome bump in chocolate shops. It continued this weekend with the grand opening of a chocolate shop close enough to some others to make for a mini-walking tour.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the neighborhood<\/h2>\n
\"Xocolate
The new Xocolate and Confections exterior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Xocolate Bar<\/a>,<\/strong> which has been a Solano Avenue fixture since 2008, opened a second location in September in Rockridge that is twice the size of their original location. It also happens to be at the opposite end of a block with a See\u2019s Candies<\/a><\/strong> store. Coupled with Chocolate Dragon Bittersweet Cafe and Bakery<\/a><\/strong> several blocks south on College and you have a wealth of chocolate options in the span of half a mile.<\/p>\n

The new Xocolate Bar location goes by the name\u00a0Xocolate & Confections<\/a> <\/strong>and under that umbrella they carry a lot of tempting treats. They have their whole range of house made chocolate (made at the Solano Ave. location) plus some other SFBA chocolate & confections (I saw Volo Chocolate<\/a>, Raphio Chocolate<\/a>, NeoCocoa<\/a>, Ashby Confections<\/a>,<\/strong> and Kindred Caramels<\/a>).<\/strong> But that\u2019s just the start. They also carry craft bars from around the world, European chocolate tasting squares, Italian hard candies, enrobed confections, drinking chocolates, and non-edible related merchandise like vintage candy dishes and chocolate accoutrements.<\/p>\n

The space is very pretty with tall ceilings and enticing displays \u2014 you could wander around for an hour and still not see all the options because you will want to stop and look at everything. They have a space in the back that will display art with chocolate themes although it currently houses an ofrenda\/community altar for the season.<\/p>\n