The Bendel Snack Bar - New York, NY

I was invited to attend the launch of The Bendel Snack Shop at no cost to me. Samples of certain chocolate products were offered for free, and I was permitted to purchase full boxes of chocolate at reduced prices. I did not accept monetary compensation for writing about this event or about my experiences while there. All opinions are my own.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of The Bendel Snack Bar at the Henri Bendel flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. This hand-picked selection of premium, high-quality foods includes both sweet and savory items, as well as an assortment of beverages, all of which are made from "unique ingredients sourced worldwide from Brooklyn to Belgium."

Although there was no obvious signage for the event, there was a specially decorated elevator just beyond the front room of display cases on the first floor that lead to The Bendel Snack Bar on the second floor.

When I stepped off the elevator, I was immediately surrounded by displays bursting with sweet treats wrapped in the signature Bendel colors of brown and white. From the perspective of this Lehigh University alumna, it felt as if someone from the Lehigh marketing team had been there, covering every square inch with our school colors. I loved it!

The Oversized Peanut Butter Cups ($10 each), manufactured by Bacci Chocolate Design, are made with creamy peanut butter and smooth milk chocolate. Heavenly. The Bendel Bars ($10) are sourced from Zoe's Chocolate and come in five varieties, as described by the press release put out by Henri Bendel:

1. The Bendel Bar -- Luscious milk chocolate in the iconic Henri Bendel brown and white stripes. This one's sure to be an instant classic.


2. Dark Chocolate Bar -- For the purist, extra dark intense chocolate with a sprinkling of roasted cocoa nibs straight from the heart of the cacao tree.


3. Hazelnut Chocolate Bar -- Dark chocolate filled with crispy crushed crepes and covered with roasted hazelnuts.


4. Cappuccino Bar -- Smooth white chocolate with finely ground Colombian coffee. The perfect way to start the day.


5. Dark Chocolate & Gold Bar -- Raise the gold standard with rich dark chocolate and glimmers of 24 Karat gold created exclusively for Henri Bendel.

At $10 each, any of these would make the perfect hostess gift or indulgent treat. Or, if you're already planning for the holidays, they'd make amazing stocking stuffers! And that apron? Adorable. I might even add it to my Christmas Wish List.

*AHEM*

Among the goodies I got to sample in the store were the Chocolicious Caramels ($18 per box) and the Chocolate Cheers Truffles ($34 per box). The former combines "savory sea salt, smooth caramel, and decadent chocolate". Since I love the pairing of salty with sweet, these caramels became an instant favorite of mine.

The Chocolate Cheers Truffles, also known as the Pink Champagne Truffles, were hand-crafted exclusively for Henri Bendel by Prestat Chocolates, a London-based company founded by legendary chocolatier Antoine Dufour, whose family invented the chocolate truffle in Chambery, France in 1895.

These truffles are made with Marc de Champagne, a colorless brandy that is produced by distilling the grape skins, seeds, and stalks, which are leftover from the pressing process in the first stages of champagne production. Truly the ultimate treat.

That may have had something to do with me leaving the event with a box of each of those chocolates in my bag!

For a more complete look at what The Bendel Snack Shop has to offer, check out the official Snack Bar Menu on the Henri Bendel website.

The Bendel Snack Shop at Henri Bendel

712 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10019

(212) 247-1100 | Map

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