With truffles as beautiful and delicate as they are luxurious and expensive, Vosges Haut-Chocolat has swiftly become a leader in the elite chocolate world. Inventive creations like Black Pearl (ginger, wasabi, sesame seeds, dark chocolate), Wink of the Rabbit (soft caramel, Georgian pecan, milk chocolate), and Woolloomooloo (Australian macadamia nut, coconut, milk chocolate), ensure that anyone hankering for an unforgettable chocolate fix will not be let down.

The flagship Michigan Avenue store can be a bit intimidating at first, but the extremely knowledgeable staff quickly put any uncertainty at bay. Informed suggestions flow freely, pending on your taste and mood. Need to buy a gift for your sister? How 'bout a chic, chocolate-inspired baby t-shirt and a couple of fluffy caramel marshmallows? Attempting to get your boyfriend up to speed in the bedroom? The Aztec truffle collection focuses on chocolate as a virility builder. For the gift that keeps on giving, the brilliant (and expensive) Lunar Chocolate of the Month Club makes for an adventurous year. Even if all you need is a quick after-lunch fix, the black salt caramel truffle sprinkled with edible pearl dust will make you feel like you’ve been to Paris and back.

Owner and creator Katrina Markoff is smartly burning up the marketplace by joining her trademark mix of exotic spices with scented candles, mini party cakes, homemade ice creams, delectable hot cocoa mixes and a trendy clothing line, all cleverly designed and packaged in whimsical hatboxes, exquisite purses and cute Chinese take-out boxes.

Centerstage Reviewer: Misty Tosh