In our ongoing Dessert Detectives series, El Estoque staff members delve into local eateries to review and evaluate the quality and cost of their desserts. Following the alphabetical trend, we visited Venchi, an Italian sweet shop located in Westfield Valley Fair Mall. Venchi is considered a luxury chocolate brand that specializes in making unique, high-quality chocolates and intricately crafted gelato.
Raspberry and Mango Gelato ($11.15)
The regular double-scoop cone includes two graceful scoops of raspberry and mango gelato. It is topped with whipped cream and two chocolate pieces, assembled onto a milk chocolate and hazelnut cone. Due to its soft, creamy appearance, the gelato looks like it would melt quickly, but it surprisingly keeps its shape — a testament to the quality of Venchi’s gelato.
Immediately, the mango bursts with flavor, as if taking a bite out of the fruit itself. The raspberry flavor is, regrettably, more subtle, a contrast to its aesthetically vibrant pink color. The gelato’s texture is smooth and uniform, with no icy chunks throughout. While the whipped cream is overpowered by the tanginess of the gelato, the best part of the combination is that it’s sweet and sour at the same time.
Although the gelato is a delight, there isn’t much that stands out except for the presentation. However, for those who want to hold a beautiful and enjoyable dessert while touring the mall, this is the perfect treat.
Rating: 8.5/10
Nougatine Crepe ($11.50)
The next thing on the menu is the nougatine crepe — a thin, folded dough drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with candied, roasted nuts. Although the portion seems tiny for the price, its heavenly taste makes up for its size.
The crepe has a slight milky taste. It is soft, stretchy and chewy and feels like a warm hug from the inside when it melts in your mouth. The candied, roasted nuts contrast the whipped cream’s airy texture, adding additional crunchy bites. The chocolate fudge, drizzled on top and inside, is sweet and a little sticky, but not to the point of being bothersome. The presentation, as with Venchi’s other desserts, is elegant and aesthetically pleasing, adding to the overall experience.
There isn’t anything to criticize, as the crepe greatly exceeded our expectations. We recommend this crepe to anyone who enjoys a sweet dessert that warms the heart.
Rating: 10/10
Classic Hot Chocolate ($7.50)
Despite the small size of the cup, which we initially thought was too tiny for its price, the hot chocolate is filled to the brim with four layers of chocolate fudge, chocolate milk, whipped cream and hazelnuts.
Everything Venchi makes has a slight hint of hazelnut or almond; however, the nuts sprinkled on top of the whipped cream are a little overpowering. The whipped cream takes up too much of the small cup, causing the drink to spill out from the sides. Additionally, most of the cup is filled with thick, sticky, melted chocolate, leaving only a few sips of drinkable chocolate sandwiched between.
That being said, the slight bitterness of the chocolate complements the sweetness of the whipped cream well. The melted chocolate is made with high-quality and fine chocolate, not just with thin powder and some water, seeing as it is glossy in texture and rich in flavor.
We are well aware that Vechi is staying true to its culture, as hot chocolate in Italy is a cup of melted chocolate. However, for those who are unfamiliar with Italian hot chocolate, we wouldn’t suggest drinking this.
Rating: 6.5/10
OVERALL STORE RATING: 8.5/10
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Although Venchi’s portions are rather small in comparison to its unusually steep price, its presentation and customer service are phenomenal. We were impressed by the attention to detail in its packaging, making everything the sweet shop sells a work of art. Its unique chocolates and care for its customers have won us over.
