Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I agree with Thor, Byrne & Carlson are at the top of the American artisanal chocolate world. I have been sampling fine chocolates from the US and Europe for years now, mostly from artisinal producers, and B&C has been consistently perfect. Ellen Byrne worked with Bernachon in Lyon, arguably the World's top chocolatier, and she makes many of the French classics, as well as originals of her own design. Her crystallized pansy bars are beautiful, although a tad gimmicky, but do try the ideal Palet d'or and exquisite truffles.