Does anyone remember a chocolatier in Evanston called Morley’s? We went to the place 5 years ago and are visiting Evanston again soon, but I can’t find any reference to it by Googling. It was a high quality chocolate place right in the central area. Did it close? Am I remembering the name wrong?
Thanks for any help or guidance you can provide.
Eh, why not see what shape my own Google-fu is in, I says to myself. Is it Morkes?
Morkes is in Palatine which is…not close at all, actually. But maybe you drove out about an hour to the west? The Belgian Chocolatier is the one in Evanston. linky. Pick me up a half pound of orange rinds in semi-sweet, will ya?
You’re thinking of Marley Chocolates. (No relation.) It was very good, and it was still open when I moved out of Evanston in 2005, but I don’t know if they are still around.
Borborygmi, thanks for the try but that was not it. WhyNot, that isn’t it either but it looks like a great substitute. (…Orange rinds in semi-sweet, hmmmm :drool: ) Thank you.
This place was Morley’s or Marley’s and, in checking further, my location description was not great. It was just a few blocks from the Hotel Orrington; not as close to the central area as I had indicated. But I think my wife will like the Belgian Chocolatier Piron just as much. Thanks again WhyNot.
It’s strange that I’m not finding any evidence of what I recall from just 5 years ago. Possibly the result of a chocolate induced hallucination? More likely just senility creeping in.
On preview – OK Marley23! (funny that!) I appreciate this information as well. It’s nice to get some confirmation on past experience. And the proper spelling! It appears from my Google searches that it is probably closed.
Thanks to your guidance Marley23 I had improved searching results. It was Marly’s Chocolates (without an “e” in Marly) at 527 Davis Street and now appears to be Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge. That sounds like it could be fun to try, although we will certainly visit the place the WhyNot mentioned.
Cheers!
No ‘e,’ eh? Well, there goes my trademark infringement case.
If memory serves, the store you’re thinking of is now called “Ethel M’s.” It’s still a chocolate shop, but Piron on Main St. is the best.
I can tell you from experience that Ethel’s is fantastic - there’s an Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge down here by me in the Deer Park Mall - got a gift certificate for secretary’s day there one year - man oh man, was their chocolate fabulous.
Yeah, all the “Ethel’s” chocolate shops, while built to look and act like a boutique shop, are all owned by Mars Inc.
Piron, otoh, is most excellent chocolate evar!
Especially the chili pepper ones, MMMgood I tells ya (the raspberry animals and the Grand Marnier ain’t bad either) Mssrs. Piron have been at it for a loong time,and have gotten better every year.
Oh, Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge! Yeah, I wasn’t impressed. To trendy and pretentious - I felt way too underdressed going in there, like I was missing the requisite toy dog in a handbag - it’s a chocolate shop, people, not a New York nightclub! Their chocolates are too shiny (too much wax, methinks) and perfectly uniform and lacking in a depth of flavor and aroma, as well as character. They’re not *bad *chocolate, but they’re closer to Hershey’s than to crazy old Aunt Bee’s. I like my chocolates just slightly rustic and flavored with love and hand dipped by surly old men wearing hairnets. To each her own, of course.
I totally agree, with the one requested change of “surly old men” to “buxom young dairy maids or their buxom MILFs.” Otherwise yes. 
If anyone here ever gets to Topeka, Kansas(my home!), and you want a divine chocolate experience, try this place, Hazel Hill’s. I just have to plug it.
It’s an independent shop that’s been open a little over a year and a half, and it has the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted. Last Christmas one thing on my gift list was gift cards from this place, and I got two!
They have some really unique flavors of hand-dipped truffles, including wasabi, Spices of India, and ginger, along with more usual tastes. The wasabi sounds weird, but take my word for it, it’s a great marriage of flavors. Hazel Hill’s has chocolate and or caramel covered apples to die for, that have all kinds of other coatings added. Chopped nuts, cookie pieces, little candies.
Another place that started in Chicago and has now gone to New York and other markets is Vosges
(pronounced Vozh, the last sound like the end of Beige). They also do things like Wasabi chocolates which are good, but I still prefer Piron.
OK, now you’re making me all sad again, missing Fannie Mae. I know they’re back under new ownership, and opening some stores, but the two that were in my 'burb aren’t going to reopen. It’s just not the same buying them from a refrigerator at the Jewel, and the selection sucks. 