Ambrosia Chocolate and Spice
I just spend my first wintery weekend in Nantucket. It’s the first time I have seen the island cloaked in a beautiful cool blue light, with bare trees, browning fields, and deep blue icy waters. I didn’t expect it to be as picturesque and charming as summer and in some ways it was even more so.
The weekend I was there it was the annual Christmas shoppers stroll. The event is always held the first weekend in December and includes a number of activities including caroling, tree lighting ceremony, and historic house tours. The idea is to stroll around town, shop for holiday gifts and enjoy the festivities well into the evening. The whole downtown area is alight with uniquely decorated Christmas trees and dimly lit street lamps. The atmosphere is cozy and festive as people wander about the cobble stone streets in and out of stores looking for treasured gifts.
The last time I was exploring the streets of Nantucket town ship was on a balmy summer night after an art opening. I was introduced to Claudia Butler as she led us all around the corner into her newly opened chocolate shop and filled a bag with organic handmade chocolates. I saved them for the trip home and somewhere along route 95 I was sent to heaven after biting into a lemongrass scented dark chocolate with a soft creamy center.
I have been thinking of Claudia and her chocolates ever since and after a wintery day exploring the island beaches and ponds; I was delighted to see she was open late too. Her shop, which is aptly named Ambrosia Chocolates and Spice, is like a treasure chest. There is a wall of small drawers filled with organic herbs and spices and enticing displays of chocolates; some wrapped like old-fashioned bonbons others in boxes or bags tied with colored ribbons. She also sells chocolate dipped organic unsulfured dried fruits, infused sea salts and a delicious chai. On the counter is a tray offering generous samples of her seasonal offerings. My favorite for winter is Calypso, a dark chocolate with nutmeg and coconut, the warming Chili came a close second. It isn’t surprising to find out that she is certified clinical herbalist as all her flavors are so well combined and balanced.
In the future Claudia plans to be growing the herbs she uses to infuse her chocolates on the island. In the mean time they are all fair trade and organic and chosen with care. Buying gifts in a small shop like Claudia’s is such a pleasure, not only because she is filled with excitement about her product but also knowing that she lovingly made and wrapped all the chocolate with her own hands, she even hand writes “Ambrosia” on every shopping bag.
Ambrosia Choclate and Spice
29 Centre Street, Nantucket MA 02554
508 292 3289
Amy Chaplin
Amy Chaplin is an Australian living in New York City by way of Amsterdam and London. She grew up in rural New South Wales in a family and community of gourmet vegetarians; cooking and eating meals from her family’s biodynamic garden sparked her passion for fresh ingredients and hand-made food. It can be said that Chaplin’s career as a chef began while making bread with her father and peeling apples for her mother’s crumble. Chaplin’s upbringing also helped inspire her philosophy, that how and what we eat directly affects the world in which we live, as well as our own well-being. To this day the food she cooks features local, organic and plant-based ingredients. After 5 years as executive chef of the world-renowned vegan restaurant Angelica Kitchen, Amy now consults, cooks and teaches privately, her clients include Natalie Portman and Anna Devera Smith, among others. Chaplin finds herself dispensing recipes and answering queries about the health benefits of ingredients on a daily basis. This whole foods chef is always happy to share her passion for the natural culinary arts and loves inspiring others to cook and eat well too.