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| - It's almost Valentine's Day... do you know where your chocolates are? If you're looking for the best local, artisan confections without the hassle of visiting a resort on the Strip, head to Jean-Marie Auboine's showroom, with a convenient location approximately behind the Orleans.
I first became aware of Jean-Marie when he reviewed himself on Yelp, and later had the opportunity to sample his products from his very generous display table at the World Pastry Forum at Red Rock Casino. I lost count of how many times I visited his table, as I found the chunks of cookies and cream bar quite addictive! Hershey's may have introduced me to this bar, but Jean-Marie has clearly perfected it by using quality white chocolate and flavorings.
The production facility on Harmon is also used as a school, with classes taught by some of the top chocolatiers in the world. A few famous names have left their signatures and messages on a black wall. Available products were on display in one room, and a lady brought me a sample plate with a raspberry caramel, mango pate de fruit, two chocolate pralines, and their famous sea salt caramel enrobed in dark chocolate. Additionally, Chef Auboine himself stopped in to greet us, and welcomed us to request samples of any product.
One of the more interesting treats I noticed was dark chocolate covered corn nuts. Standard sized chocolate bars cost $8, and I also selected a layered strawberry and vanilla marshmallow for the same price. View Jean-Marie's beautiful confections online and call ahead to check availability, as the selection in the showroom is solid, but not extensive.
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