With a turnout of nearly 200, Katherine Anne Confections (@kachocolatier, 2745 W. Armitage) had quite the grand opening on Sept. 22, 2012. But with over six years in the confectionery business under her belt and a substantial Chicago following, a large turnout was to be expected.
Katherine Anne Confections’ truffles and caramels are available at more than 30 area vendors, including Whole Foods and several Chicagoland farmers markets. The chocolatiers actually have called their current location home for two years now, but only recently added a storefront to the mix. Previously, Katherine Anne and team worked out of shared spaces including Logan Square Kitchen and Chicago Kitchen.
Located on Armitage just east of California, the small storefront has a sort of rustic charm thanks to the vintage couches, chandeliers and an open kitchen. The confectionery spread is a bit overwhelming, but luckily Katherine Anne herself is on hand to provide a bit of guidance. “People expect truffles, but we’re especially proud of our caramels,” she told me when I asked for recommendations. You’ll find a sort of DIY caramel bar at the front of the shop where you can choose from a number of exotic flavors including apple cider and rosemary sea salt. The team also creates a weekly special caramel. On the docket this week: basil lime.
The truffles certainly can’t be ignored, though. Priced at $2.50 a piece, they come in a variety of intriguing flavors, from the Elvis (peanut butter, bacon and banana) to Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. All of Katherine Anne’s products focus on local and organic ingredients, and they never use artificial ingredients or corn syrup.
“The sippable hot chocolate is hard to finish,” Katherine Anne warned, “but people have actually told us it’s better than Mindy Segal’s hot chocolate—and that is the hot chocolate.” I accepted the challenge, opting for the bittersweet cocoa—a chocolate infused with peppercorns and topped off with a choice of flavored marshmallow or whipped cream (I recommend the Earl Grey tea marshmallow). As promised, it was insanely rich and impossible to finish—but if you’re a chocolate person, it’s a must-try.
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