One of my favorite recent discoveries. Definitely worth adding to your list…read more I wasn't sure what to expect at first. The front space looks more like an arts and crafts setup than a typical chocolate spot (sorry Naomi if you're reading this), but the tasting experience completely changed my impression. Naomi, who led the tasting, is also involved in making the chocolate, which made a big difference. She walked us through their collaborations over the years and the inspiration behind different flavors. It's not a set tasting menu. It's more go with the flow, which made it feel personal and relaxed. She's clearly passionate about what she does and very open to ideas. You can even reach out ahead of time to design your own experience. We ended up tasting over ten flavors that day because she was generous with samples. I left feeling like I probably don't need chocolate again for a while, but still walked out with a stack of bars to share with friends and family. There's something really special about how they connect you to the process. Seeing raw cocoa beans and learning more about how everything is made gave me a bit more appreciative. I also tried cacao nibs, which are gaining popularity, but I'll admit I still prefer chocolate with some sweetness. One standout was a bar sweetened with maple sugar. If had similar but it's also completely different. So many interesting flavors and ideas here. Definitely a unique and memorable experience. More reason for you to check it out.

I felt conflicted writing a review but we had such an odd experience that I felt like it was…read morenecessary to share. Marsatta is a small business and you can tell they care about their product. I did quite a bit of research before I purchased a Groupon for a Bean to Bar tasting for my chocolate loving husband. We were scheduled for a tasting on a Saturday. About 10-15 minutes before our scheduled time, Naomi called us to tell us that the experience would be delayed for 15 minutes. We were in the Old Torrance parking lot, and this was fine with us since our lunch plans were over an hour later. However Sean called us minutes later to let us know there would be a more significant delay, so we decided to head home. The new proposed time conflicted with our lunch plans so we asked to reschedule to the next day. Then, to our surprise Naomi called again to say she was nearby. We were so confused and almost home, so we let Naomi know that we arranged to come the next day with Sean. There seemed to be a miscommunication between them. Fortunately we live semi close to Old Torrance, otherwise it would have been very inconvenient to drive back and forth. The next day, our tasting ended up having 9 people in a cramped space and was over an hour (rather than the advertised 30 minutes). It was interesting to learn about the process but we were interrupted a few times by a couple customers. We got pieces of chocolate at differing % levels and bon bons at the end. Because the experience lasted much longer than we anticipated, we had to leave more abruptly for a scheduled order pick up. I saw that in people were offered 1-2 full bars in previous years. I don't believe the more recent tastings offered any full bars. Needless to say, the chocolate is quite delicious and could be worth purchasing if you want to support a small business. I don't think the experience is necessarily worth it unless there are some changes in the organization of the business.

I was looking for lunch and NOT this place. I told myself to eat and go the opposite direction. I…read moretold myself I had the self discipline... I didn't lol. I hoped they would ignore me as I entered the establishment, they didn't! I was hoping the place would be icky and not well kept, it wasn't! I hoped they wouldn't have anything that caught my eyes, they did! I bought half the flavors y'all. I did manage to get them home and share with family. I said I wouldn't be back, I'm already scheduled to visit next week. Go. Visit. Taste. Return for more.

Came back on Mother's Day and I can now understand how this place was born out of pregnancy…read morecravings lol. If you're a mom you'll understand. Truly indulgent, decadent, rich gourmet cookies from heaven. lol I think I got every word in there to describe these things. They're fire! If you love a warm lightly crisp cookie with a gooey filling to bite into that's just the base, you can add toppings or if youre really looking to splurge and make zap your tastebuds make a chipzookie. I will say I definitely needed some water after I finished mine lol. We walked in at the perfect time today there was nobody in line, and the boy behind the counter was very nice and explained the different cookies to us. Shortly after ordering the line was out the door. Maybe next time we'll purchase the cookie dough! Definitely recommend this place if you have a sweet tooth.

The perfect little chocolate shop for gifting! The owner was so nice and friendly and the…read morechocolates were DELICIOUS!! Such high quality.

A tiny little nook and Hermosa Beach there is this chocolate shop, the owner is super friendly and…read moreit's very warm to answer all the questions. There's a limited supply of options in the off-season, but the work is really beautiful and I love the boxes with the octopus that's one of my favorite parts. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area or need a little gift..

Macarons, quality, macarons have been such a difficult item to find in the SouthBay. Even looking…read morethrough Yelp I wasn't having any luck until I found Stephanie and her Magickal Muncharoos! Reaching out to Stephanie is super easy. You'll receive a Google form to fill out and you'll let her know what flavors you're interested in, designs you might want, and how many macarons. As her profile mentions, you want to order in advance of the date you need to pick up. Stephanie is located in Torrance (that's where I picked up) but she also has another location you can pick up at. Overall, I found the process super easy and Stephanie was always friendly and answered all my questions. When you confirm your order you'll pay 50% of the order total and pay the balance when you pick up, super easy and convenient. I ordered a dozen macarons for Mother's Day in a flower shape. I chose strawberry shortcake, blueberry cheesecake, and lemon meringue as my flavors. When I picked up my order Stephanie had boxed them up and added some decorations; totally unexpected and appreciated. I'm excited to order from her many times over!

The sweetest and cutest treats. Perfect for every party, holiday and even to gift. I love all her…read morecreative flavors and themes!

It's pretty safe to say I'm usually one of those last minute holiday shoppers. We went out…read moreyesterday to fight the traffic and the crowds at the Del Amo Fashion Center (fortunately wasn't that bad, we got lucky) and it paid off because I was able to get all my shopping done in a couple hours. I remember Hickory Farms having permanent store locations in the malls many years ago. Now, except for holidays like Christmas when they set up temporary stores or kiosks, it sounds like it's pretty much a web-based business only now. While walking through the mall, I see this Hickory Farms kiosk. It's located on the lower level at the escalators, near Joann fabrics & crafts, between JC Penney's and Macy's. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hickory-farms-torrance-2?select=KrWYhOQc-vFGktGYCLtAhw https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hickory-farms-torrance-2?select=dDTZmA3kC3Bx0-GxNYXklw They offer a variety of gift boxes & baskets with cheeses, beef or turkey summer sausage, salami, etc. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hickory-farms-torrance-2?select=qS4_Dyu9frmCn5suuGoKiw https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hickory-farms-torrance-2?select=SP5RhYuglVWBGhZbsJAiSQ The staff was friendly and helpful, though not so helpful that she would give be a bag without charging me for it, LOL. Like many things at Christmas, the costs add up quickly. I bought a few things and that checked off the last names on my shopping list, so we worked our way back to the car. Thanks Hickory Farms.

My daughter and I were doing some quick shopping and happened upon this year's Hickory Farms kiosk…read moreand man, were we excited. Totally put us in the holiday mood. The two very nice employees walked us through all the special deals and gave us samples so we could make an informed decision. The $20 box special works perfect. It allows you to have a little of everything. We bought two boxes filled with their delicious meats, cheeses and mustards. We also bought some tasty mints and some peppermint white chocolate covered pretzel pieces! I will definitely be returning with my husband for more goodies as the holidays draw nearer. Who doesn't love meat, cheese and candy? #Yum

I went to a chocolate making class hosted by Albert. It was AMAZING!!! Not only is Albert very…read morepersonable and professional, but the wealth of knowledge that he has and his passion for what he does is evident from start to finish. Albert is very talented and accommodating to learners of varying abilities. He also makes the class so much fun that I was surprised how quickly the time went. I highly recommend!! As for the chocolate, I have never tasted anything like it! The quality, the taste, the texture is such an incredible experience. It is easy to see why he is in such high demand.

Happened to stumble across Chef Albert and his sweets collection when I went to the Partake…read moreCollective. Chef Albert is sooo friendly and personable, which I love! He let me sample the vegan chocolate honeycomb and it was quite crisp and delicate. The texture literally felt like chewing on honeycombs wrapped in chocolate. Yum! I decided to bring home the cocoa butter crisps, which the chef states is made out of Ritz crackers and chocolate. Made me quite intrigued cause when you think of Ritz crackers, you don't automatically think of chocolate. But oh my gosh, I really like them! Perfect balance of chocolate and cracker with a great amount of richness coming from the Belgian chocolate. Loved the caramel flakes on top, as well. Ambiance inside the Partake Collective provides a modern vibe with a quick grab and go experience. I like how Chef Albert's sweets are set up neatly as soon as you turn the corner up the stairs. Sweets and chocolates are always an eye catcher for me, so I am glad I saw this and got to meet Chef Albert personally. I would definitely recommend trying the variety of chocolates and sweets-- hope to come back soon when I'm in the area!

During the holiday season, that kind of just passed, I could not escape IG reels that romanticized…read morethe power of hot chocolate. Apparently, it can be so rich and thick (European Style) that it is part healing warmth and the other part just wildly delicious. So I decided to go ahead and find a cup of thick, and rich cocoa to hit me with holiday splendor, the kind that can re-assemble Frosty after his final melt. My friend Conrad and I were the duo who ventured to ChocoVivo to try chocolate, on chocolate, on chocolate, with some water on the side. ChocoVivo is in Culver City. The place itself is on Washington Blvd amidst some bars, and eateries. This place lends itself to be a dessert spot, an experience for chocolate lovers and those who are not, and anyone who just wants to experience the taste of chocolate in-depth and in odd luxury. As soon, as I entered, I made a beeline for the counter. I was overwhelmed with all the chocolatey choices: pastries, drinks, squares, with the list continuing exhaustively, it even included a chocolate skull that might serve better as decoration than a treat. I excused myself and went to use the restroom, I dared not ask questions to understand my options, when my bladder was full. I might make rash decisions, due to my inability to focus. And with so many options in front of me, I wanted to sample what was right and balanced for me. I wanted to sample chocolate, I just did not just want to taste chocolate. My trip to the facilities was a small adventure in itself. I passed a room with a man working on his laptop. But the room, seemed to be, like a Sultan's rest-room. It had pillows, hanging lamps, and a cream like colored that reminded me of sun-kissed sand. I clipped the room. There is a Minion (from Illumination fame) chilling in one of the couches. Another picture shows, a fishing net (maybe) with make-shift clouds pouring out of it, also leafs and butterflies. It seemed to be the remains of a shipwreck but it also held decorations that could have made the space more beautiful. I believe, and I could be wrong, of course, that this room used to be functional. A place to lounge, and see beauty, while enjoying chocolate. Now it was a forgotten room, whose purpose never fulfilled, and thus had stuff scattered around. I am sure, everyone can relate to that feeling, of getting stuff for an imagined room that never quite materializes and thus the room becomes storage, more than anything. Kondo deliver us! After, I came to the cashier, I ordered a hot chocolate. Conrad made a point, that the hot chocolate I ordered was not the European sipping hot chocolate that I had talked about on our car ride there. He then. made a point, that I should read a menu and then ask questions. I ask questions, as I read the menu. I eventually, ordered two hot chocolates, (one for him and one for me) and then we sampled 12 chocolate squares--- a sampler. The total was close to 60.00 dollars so this is an experience that is not going to the local mart and buying a Hershey's bar. The 12 chocolate samples were just great and enough, there were bigger samples, which I considered buying, but the price deterred me. The one that I got was super appropriate for both of us, by the end I was enjoying slightly by force, I mustered the strength to finish the half marathon. The full marathon would have tapped me out. The samples came with a card. Conrad was the one who was consulting the card, so we could not what chocolate we ate. It was truly fun, to be with someone who read of the information of the card, and then we tried to identify the taste as the card described. I wish I would have taken a picture of the card, but honestly, I am more of a determine by taste taster than a person who wants to be informed of what he is tasting, to know what he is tasting. I do remember the worst tasting chocolate we tasted--- it had black tea infused into it, I do not remember its cacao percentage, each chocolate had a cacao percentage. The hire the percentage, the sweeter the chocolate. The black tea had this earthy and tea taste that was profound. I guess imagine tasting. a black tea without sugar that is kind of the taste I struggled with. I am glad I tasted this chocolate, however, because it was part of the whole experience. I did not drive to the beach and endure a pothole, I drove to the beach and was both intrigued and jolted by the bounce that the pothole produced. Some chocolates I really enjoyed, the hot chocolate was goodness in a cup. The chocolate sampler also came with an espresso that was split into two cups. I was provided a knife to cut each chocolate. I put the knife in the center with one arm, and use the other hand to pierce the chocolate. My halfs were not perfect. Sometimes Conrad got the bigger half square, sometimes I did. I annotate all this so one knows that when you visit ChocoVivo you will need to work, if you want to split those chocolates, but the work was part of the fun!

At least for the drinks and cookies, ChocoVivo is pretty solid. European hot chocolate and regular…read morehot chocolates have a reasonable set of choices, and the cookies we had were served hot and loaded with chocolate chunks. Service is friendly, at least given how late in the day we arrived, and the decor is best described as homey. They had the windows open at the front, which was both welcoming but a bit chilly in the fall if you were to sit by them-- the actual establishment was quite comfortable, just the window area that was a bit drafty.

Absolutely incredible experience at La Bella Napoli. I ordered the gnocchi al tartufo, pepperoni…read morepizza, and tiramisu--and every single dish delivered. The gnocchi was rich, perfectly cooked, and packed with authentic truffle flavor. The pepperoni pizza had that ideal balance of crispy crust and high-quality toppings that you just don't find everywhere. And the tiramisu was the perfect finish--light, creamy, and genuinely one of the best I've had. Beyond the food, the staff was outstanding. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and made the whole experience feel effortless. If you're looking for real, authentic Italian food done right, this is the place to go.

The pizza was super amazing!! The crust was by far the best…read moretasting one we've ever had. We had the vegetarian pizza! We highly recommend this place for a great tasting pizza!

Their chocolate covered graham crackers are one of the tastiest treats ever. Very chocolatey and…read moredecadent. Highly recommend! Would make great gifts or part of a dessert charcuterie platter too. Sometimes I can snag some bags at my local Marshalls/HomeGoods/TJ Maxx so keep an eye out on the specialty aisles there.

The chocolate Graham's are the best treat I have ever had! I am a picky chocolate person, but these…read morecookies are the very best . I think they were made in heaven! Thank you for these Amazing cookies!

If you love mochi, you have to try J.sweets! Every time we're in the area, we grab a dozen to take…read morehome and my favorite has to be the Raspberry Mille-Feuille. It has the right amount of sweetness and a slight crunch to it. Perfection! Please know that when you order the mochi here, they do come frozen and they ask that you wait about 10 minutes and leave the mochi at room temperature before consuming. After the wait, it's great! Soft, chewy goodness! Service is always great and the ladies are always friendly. Can't wait to come back to load up on their awesome mochi!

Love the mochi here. Matcha is strictly for matcha lovers just because of the bold flavor it isn't…read morefor everyone. Sakura is a unique flavor. I also enjoyed the matcha bun.