Patric Chocolate

"Peanut butter and jelly" chocolate handcrafted by a Midwestern bean to bar chocolatier

Founded in 2006 by Alan “Patric” McClure, Patric chocolate has put the Midwest on the premium confection map. The brand, born from the founder’s deep love of chocolate and an influential trip to France, offers a variety of delicious craft-made bars. A leader in the artisanal/micro-batch chocolate community, McClure has been involved with the Craft Chocolate Makers of America since its start and is currently …

Compartes Chocolate and Macallan Truffles

Melt more than hearts with this delicious marriage of single-origin chocolate and 18-year scotch

For those who love chocolate and booze together but have grown beyond liqueur-filled mini chocolates, Compartes Chocolatier recently introduced a limited-edition box of scotch whisky-infused dark truffles. With our favorite The Macallan 18-year single-malt scotch enriching the deep flavor of the single-origin ganache, we’re fans. As the truffle melts in your mouth, the subtle taste of whisky comes through—sounds like a perfect Valentine’s day gift. …

Black & Grey Tattoo

Our interview with ink doyenne Marisa Kakoulas on her grayscale tattoo magnum opus

Originating on the streets and in prisons, tattooing’s shades-of-gray genre initially often told the stories of tribal affiliations and conquests or were homages to the deceased. Methods of inking spanned readily available tools and homemade machines could be as random as “a guitar string, cassette motor, Bic pen tube and India Ink,” explains Marisa Kakoulas, co-author of the heavyweight book on the subject “Black & …