Videri Chocolate Factory

I felt that Raleigh reached culinary hipster status when we became host to the "bean-to-bar" chocolatiers at Escazu Chocolates. But with the new addition of Videri Chocolate Factory in the Warehouse District, it seems that Raleigh's chocolate status has now reached Bon Iver status.

Videri occupies the long-time location of Ess Lounge. Walking inside to its open space, exposed brick, and comfy chairs, it's hard to imagine that booty dancing once took place in the building.

One of the patrons at the cashier asked, "So do you guys offer anything more than bars?" to which the employee at the front responded, "We do plan to expand but currently we are focus of making delicious chocolate bars." The patron absorbed this information for a moment and repeat the same question framed differently, "So are there any other chocolates you guys offer?" The Videri employee smiled and gave him the same response. He did mention that they soon planned on making a sipping chocolate, which would be great because their seating area is magnificent but at the moment Videri doesn't give people a reason to use it.

Sea Salt Chocolate Bar

I tried samples of the sea salt chocolate and the pink peppercorn chocolate bars. The combination of pepper and chocolate is one I had yet to try. I found the pop and harshness of the pepper pleasantly mellowed by the smooth chocolate.

Though the surprisingly satisfying flavor of the pink peppercorn bar, in the end I went with a good ol' favorite: the sea salt chocolate bar. I love the contrast of salt and sweet and after a sample of the sea salt chocolate bar it was too good to resist. The depth of Videri's chocolate melts nicely on your palate as you reach sprinkles of sea salts that enhance the experience. Dare I say that I enjoyed this bar just as much as I've enjoyed Escazu's.

Still, Videri Chocolate Factory as a whole has some work to do. There is a desperate need to add more chocolate creations to their catalog. But their flagship chocolate bar is good enough to win a cocoa Grammy.






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