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Jacques Torres Chocolate
Category: Chocolatiers and Shops [Edit]
Neighborhood: DUMBO66 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 875-9772
- Nearest Transit:
-
York St (F)
High St (A, C)
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
135 reviews for Jacques Torres Chocolate
Review Highlights
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I like to imagine that this hot chocolate is what the river was made of in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The cookies are more like chunks of chocolate with bits of cookie attached.
Hands down the best chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate I've ever tasted. Luckily I have a 2 hour drive stopping me from partaking too often.
Oh Jacques Torres, your chocolate chip cookies are out of this world delicious. I seriously could have eaten the entire display but I decided to act like person rather than a beast.
This is my favorite party about going to Brooklyn, is visiting this little chocolate shop. I have to say they do have the best hot chocolate. Usually I don't get my own because its too rich, you really only need a few sips of this hot chocolate.
Le magasin c'est un reve du chocolat
This is a crowded, hyped chocolatier, which serves an amazing hot chocolate. It's super-thick and super-rich, but not too sweet for its own good.
While the hot chocolate lives up to the hype, the truffles, while still super delicious, do not. But that's probably why everybody else in line went for the cookies instead.
At the recommendation of my NYC living, Yelper extraordinaire Platonic Life Partner in Crime, the boyfriend and I hiked across the Brooklyn Bridge in 90 degree weather with 100% humidity to check out DUMBO, but more directly, Jacques Torres. What a worthy trek it was.
The ice cream was delicious and enjoyable with each bite we had every step around the blocks of this burgeoning neighborhood.
I love chocolate just as much as I love breathing...
I also love this place, is it possible to add more stars? I could go on and on about the smell, taste, and mouth feel of their chocolate. However, my review would take on a sexual tone.
Yes, this place makes me feel that good and happy.
Just GO!
How great this place is, is heavily dependent on what you purchase. So I will review my selections individually:
Pain au Chocolat -- delicious buttery croissant that flaked beautifully, great texture, but where was the chocolate? It was all "pain" and little "chocolat" which I think misses the point of visiting Jacques Torres. 2.5 stars.
Chocolate Chip Cookie -- exceptional cookie, large, plenty of chocolate, not too cloying, excellent selection. 4 stars.
Bon Bons with Nuts -- a cheaper variant of the actual bon bons, but again heavy on the nuts, with little chocolate. 3 stars.
So in summary, the chocolate is quite good here, but you have to be judicious in selecting items that actually have said chocolate in them. Good luck.
I came here in August 2009. I was watching Food Network when some actor/artist who was famous mentioned they are crazy about their dark spicy hot chocolate.
Let me say that the summer is not the best time to come around for this drink. It was delicious but not fantastic all around. There is very friendly staff. I would return here when the weather gets cold and try the drink again. Hot drinks always pair well for 30-40 degree weather.
Aside from that... I recently learned how much saturated fats are in chocolate, even dark chocolate. So maybe once a month would be the most that I'd like to return. I'm sorry but I have seen too many photos of atherosclerosis of blood vessels.
I can't think of a better way to describe this place than a "wanna be fancy chocolate shop with no criteria for it". It is very pricey and you don't get to taste the true flavor of the chocolate because, all the add-ins overwhelmed the true flavor of the chocolate. But if you do get to actually taste the chocolate itself (without any add-ins) it is delicious and comparable delicious Belgian chocolate.
My pain au chocolat came only with a small amount of chocolate, but I liked the croissant.
My chocolate bon bons with nuts was not very "chocolaty" but it was cheap, so +1 for that.
I will go back though to this place, because I want to try their chocolate without any add-ins.
Jacques Torres and chocolate.... enough said.
Prepare yourself for months.
Go in the summer.
Buy an Ice Cream sandwich, and prepare to be blasted into another sugary dimension.
Two Chocolate chip cookies with a solid 2-3 inches of ice cream between them. The ice cream comes in many flavors besides Vanilla, btw.
I could only destroy half with a friend.
I will keep training.
Not sure what all the hoo hah is about this place. Hot chocolate was so- so. If you want amazing chocolate, fly to Paris and visit Pierre Herme instead.
In search of something sweet during this hiatus from the South Beach Diet (I was almost compelled to put "#" in front of "south" from tweeting so much-- everyone tweet #yelp), I came across Mr. Torres' chocolate place while the hot drink machine was being fixed. NOOO!
"Excuse me, can I help you?"
"Why, yes you may! Chai?"
"Sorry, our machine isn't working."
"I'll have a chocolate chip cookie."
"Would you like some iced tea?"
"Pardon? Yes, that would be lovely."
At this point, Mr. Torres brushes past me. He must be busy.
O
M
G
He is wearing the same shorts I own! So now I have to make this 5 stars.
Quite possibly the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had. Granted it was at the end of the day.
The best... Everything in here is perfect! See my "French culinary Institute" review for the deets...!!!
The hot chocolate specifically the wiked is amazing (but they are both really good). My favorite non liquid item here is the dark chocolate covered corn flakes - so good!
Your chocolate chip cookies and dark chocolate bark are GREAT, but both your hot and "iced" hot chocolate are disgusting.
I'm not the only one who thinks so - every week when I bag up the garbage at the BK winter flea, there are pools of the stuff everywhere - seems no one can get through even a quarter of a cup.
Extra star for being across from Almondine, so you can "eat something" before sugar-shocking your body.
Best chocolatier in NY!
From the bon-bons/truffles/pastilles to the dipped goodies to the beverage bar to the cookies to the DARK CHOCOLATE BARK.. this place is as good as it gets.. Fun, fresh and delicious.. Sure you could buy a fine dolfin chocolate at d&d, but it was made 5 months ago and sat on a ship for 2 of those months..
In NY, Jacques Torres is IT.
P.S. Brooklyn location has less size and less personality, King St. is a better experience if you're just going to have one~
Sin. Now available in an 8 oz cup!
Jacques Torres' Classic drinking chocolate in hand is part of the uniform if you're planning on walking around DUMBO/Brooklyn Bridge Park. Rich, decadent and semi-sweet. And only three dolla. Holla.
Chocolate is not one of my vices. I could have five pounds of chocolate in my cupboards and they would seriously sit there for years. I joke that I hoard chocolate since I buy it or am given it, but just enjoy having it there more than the concept of actually eating it. Long story short, when I find myself at shops like Jacques Torres in DUMBO, I'm not so much "in heaven" as I am challenged by what to get to have a unique experience.
I was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with some friends who were in town from Copenhagen, and being that we had been chilled to the bone during our walk, they promised that a cup of hot chocolate from Jacques Torres would do the trick of warming us up (and giving us heart attacks).
The Jacques Torres shop is cute and lower key than I thought it would be - It's expensive, but it's not outrageous. We each had a hot chocolate ($3) which ended up being truly the best hot chocolate I have ever had. It wasn't too thick, but it was intense and complex which I didn't think could happen with what I ordinarily make out of powder from a packet. Here, they steam it to order (probably using whole milk [or butter]), and it comes out beautifully. There is also a "wicked" version which I suspect is spicy, but we went with the regular.
The shop also sells chocolate and chocolate-related products from A-Z. You can buy truffles and bonbons by the piece, pre-packaged solid chocolate and bars, and even a quite tacky looking 3 foot tall chocolate bunny for Easter if you really deemed that $95 purchase necessary. There are two tables to sit at, but others just stand around huddling in with their decadent beverages - I almost wish I had ordered my hot chocolate as half-coffee/half-chocolate since I feel like that would be the zing it needed, but overall, this is a great experience and completely worth it if you're in DUMBO in need of something unique and delicious.
It's that time of the moon and you're making your friends fear your wrath, or you're wearing clothes with a bit more room because no matter what, you feel huge and maybe you're ALSO craving IT so bad, and you know that no, Hershey ain't gonna be able to do it for you. Ritter Sport, yes, he may be a quick fix, but he's too cheap and too available. Don't even THINK about inviting Cadbury over, even if he's visiting all the way from the British Isles.
No, Jacques Torres' is the only man for the job and he doesn't do booty calls, so you will find yourself coming in his tiny shop with the scrumptious smells, artful seasonal arrangements (every season is chocolate season!) and oh, he has so so SO much to tantalize you.
Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh. Oh.
But, besides that...
Chocolate is my favorite gift to give! And even if someone isn't into straight up milk or dark, Jacques Torres has ALL KINDS of interesting varieties from citrus to nuts to PUMPKIN PIE (oh my!)
I've been lazy lately, and just asked for a pre-made box of chocolates, thinking that they all must be equally as good. I suggest you take the extra few minutes to peruse the offerings and make up your box for your loved one, or better yet, yourself. And don't hog all the key lime pie truffles (my favorite).
OK, I need a cold shower now.
There is just something about a warm, ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie that makes you feel like a kid all over again. And I gotta say, feeling like a kid on your birthday is definitely the way to go. Forget worrying about how old you're getting, or your "5 year plan," or whether you've accomplished everything you wanted to in the past year.
Just take a moment to really enjoy eating the best chocolate chip cookie you've ever had. Savor it. Feel the outer crispness give way to inner chewiness as your teeth bite gently down. Let the warm chocolate melt in your mouth. Get your fingers dirty with chocolate as you pull it apart. Lick the chocolate off your fingers, off the plate, off the little paper baggie the cookie came in. Don't be embarrassed. Little kids don't get embarrassed, remember?
The hot chocolate, on the other hand, is for much more sophisticated palates. It's the richest, thickest, most decadent hot chocolate I've ever had. I probably could have just had a shot of this and my sweet tooth would have been satiated. I'm impressed that people can finish the 16 oz. cup! But there's nothing better on a cold December day than a cup of delicious, luxurious hot chocolate.
As you're being transported back to happy childhood memories, remember the wise words of that furry blue Muppet: "C is for Cookie and that's good enough for me." Because I find that as I get older, it's the little things in life that bring me the most joy. My bday wishlist gets smaller and smaller b/c I find that I need/want fewer things. Good friends, good chocolate, good cookies. That's good enough for me.
These chocolate chip cookies are to die for, and when a pair of them are squishing some ice cream into a chip-wich from Heaven, they'll kill you. Which I guess might make it a chip-wich from Hell -- if Hell were deliciously sweet and decadent.
No, seriously. On a warm summer day, I was in DUMBO for a wedding, and we decided to duck in here before the festivities. I had always known about the cookies -- shavings of the highest quality chocolate layered into dough that has been aged 36 hours and then baked into a chewy, oozy dream -- but when I saw the cooler of ice cream sandwiches, I knew what I would be getting. The bf picked up some truffles and gobbled them up tout de suite.
There's very little seating in the shop, so we sat out on the metal steps in front, and I launched into a strawberry ice cream chip-wich. I got halfway through and was overwhelmed by the decadence, but it's not like you can save it for later. I got 2/3 of the way through and felt like barfing, but I couldn't stop myself. 3/4 of the way through, I finally surrendered and handed the last quarter to my bf. He took one bite and said, "Oh my god, this is delicious, but how did you manage to eat this much of it?"
So your mission for summer 2009: get one! Just bring a friend and split it, or else get ready to enjoy a journey toward barfing like you never have before. (How's that for an endorsement, Jacques?)
What a cute little find near the BK Bridge Park and the perfect fix to a cold day would ultimately be a hot chocolate...and how did I get so LUCKY?!
...Easter is near, we walk in and was greeted by chocolate dipped peeps, never ending chocolate bunnys, and chocolate easter eggs!
You tell me I am supposed to fast during LENT? Well, was it a SIN to be SEDUCED into a chocolatier? Yes and yes @_@...I guess the worst part was I order a Wicked Hot Chocolate (the one with the chili pepper to add a kick)....
I did leave feeling a little more wicked than usual..Muahahaha!
gloglogllglgoglgoglgog.
That's the noise I make when I eat his chocolate.
I had a bite of the chocolate chip cookie and a sip of the hot chocolate and it was PLENTY! So rich it'll fix your chocolate craving for days, even if you're fiening for it, which I never do.
But because I'm not a big fan of chocolate, having Jaques Torres' tells me how to separate the good from the bad and this guy is the best.
If you're getting the hot chocolate, get the small one and share it becaue it's basically melted dark chocolate with a splash of milk. Phew, it is intense. But very very very good.
I am fairly certain that Jacques Torres farts out rainbows, kittens, and butterflies because everything about him and his sugary, chocolate confections are perfect.
I have been hoarding chocolate in my desk for quite some time and I could very well get laid off tomorrow, so I started eating them. They were supposed to be office birthday gifts for the employees, but I know where they hide all the good stuff. And I'm am underpaid and overworked, so bugger off. The chocolate and caramel truffle is heaven. I put one in my mouth at the beginning of a conference call and its sticky sweetness keeps me from making snide remarks for the duration of our weekly 90 minute "morale boosting" call. Knowing that the caramel truffle is in my belly keeps me from throwing up every time I hear the word "morale."
They should consider renaming chocolate to "Jacueaulate" in honor of his highness.
My husband and I ducked in here to escape the cold while out in DUMBO this weekend. We'd, of course, heard many great things about the place and were subsequently disappointed by the underwhelming experience.
We decided on a cookie (the "mudslide") and a "classic" hot chocolate. The cookie was just okay - the flavor was nice and chocolatey, but it was frankly kind of dry. The hot chocolate was downright disgusting - it tasted like a liquid brownie (not in the good way that you might be imagining but in the sense that it tasted like it had raw flour in it). I'm not objecting to the thickness of the drink either - I usually really like the thicker European style hot chocolate. This was just awful, though.
Good F'ing Lord, is this Jacques Torres dude a miracle worker or not?
After pulling a Bueller today and taking off from work, I met my friend in brooklyn. We were looking for a good dessert after munching down on Grimaldi's so my friend suggested we come here. And "good call" is all I can say about her suggestion.
I was still a bit full from Grimaldi's so I just got the Mudslide cookie, which is dark chocolate with walnuts. Not as huge as the cookies from Levain but just as tasty. My friend, of course, had to get the amazing mocha frozen hot chocolate. I don't know why they even call it that, it's basically a damn frozen coffee. But one sip and I swore I was standing next to Robert Smith from The Cure because I felt "just like heaven".
and bonus: Jacques Torres himself came into the store. We just stood in awe as he made his away around the store. Sort of like watching Jean-Georges walk around, uhh, Jean-Georges.
Highly, highly, highly, highly recommended - especially after eating some Grimaldi's.
Terrific. Before I had their hot chocolate, I really wondered what the fuss was all about. Maybe it's because I never had quality hot chocolate before, instead drowning myself in endless cups of Nestle Quick. Probably. When I had Jacques Torres hot chocolate, the scales fell from my eyes and I knew then what I had been missing.
Tasty chocolate for purchase, too. As others have noted, the prices for the chocolate are not great. Not enough to take a star away, though.
COOKIE! COOKIE! COOKIE!
Best chocolate chip cookie in the entire world. And I've eaten them all, and am 500 pounds, so you should trust me on that.
Unbelievably rich hot chocolate, and I mean unbelievable...
Tiny shop
See through chocolate factory
Charming sit down
True chocolate heaven
They must put pixie dust in those chocolates: they are magical! I have never, ever, had a one of their handmade chocolates that I disliked. They use premium chocolate which they make themselves. The packaged chocolates are good too, but why bother? Other confections like chocolate dipped corn flakes are whimsical and fun. I strongly suggest you get out of your comfort zone and try their spicy hot chocolate. Try JT's chocolates and you will never look at Hershey's the same way again..
How can you complete your day after walking over the Brooklyn Bridge? Stop by Jacques Torres store! I couldn't have thought of anything better than having the massive chocolate chip cookie Ice cream sandwich.
Oh my, by far the best ice cream sandwich I have ever had in my life. Now I shared my sandwich with 5 other people and it was just the perfect portion. And I am glad there were plenty people to share it with cause I would have eaten the whole thing myself.
When I go to NYC again, I will make a special trip to Brooklyn for the sandwiches. I had their chocolates too but it was like dirt compared to the ice cream cookie (FYI, the chocolates were AMAZING too... also my love of the ice cream sandwich could be due to the fact it was like 95 degrees out with 90% humity, I was sweating through my shirt!)
Came here after the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for dessert #2. Just as good as the one in TriBeCa. I hear there is one on Amsterdam Ave now as well. I read that the choco discs are what makes his cookies melty! We opted out of the ice cream sandwich ($5) because we wanted our cookie soft and melty. $10min for credit card purchases. I definitely have to hit Levain to compare cookies now!
Ordered:
-Frozen Hot Chocolate Mocha ($3.50) - 16oz, not too sweet, tasted like cocoa powder in frozen form, very decadent, YUM!
-Mudslide cookie ($2.50) - dark chocolate w/ walnuts, huge, flat, OOZING!, opted to have this served warm, MIND BLOWING!
Pics: http://www.meetup.com/...
The Hot Chocolate is so thick,
the stirrer can stand up in it!
Oh, and it's DELICIOUS!
Try the orange flavor!
Perhaps it was a bit on the lines of a "spontaneous" decision that I arrived at Jacques Torres... After all, the plan on Valentine's Day was to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and end up at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Nevertheless, I would like to extend a special Thanks to the couple that had giving both Rachel and I impeccable directions to Jacques Torres in DUMBO.
The anticipation of enduring chocolate Nirvana was beyond incomprehensible. When first arriving at the doorstep, I had anticipated a line of patrons that would wrap around the block. Luckily, the flock of the usual chocolate addicts was greatly limited to that of a handful. I was glad to be able to enter the establishment without having to wait in the daunting cold.
At first entry, the tantalizing essence of chocolate decadence cascaded each breathable scent of this establishment. There is very little doubt that the primary product of consumption is that of chocolate. The setting of the chocolate production facility is segmented into two parts...
Retail: Although petite in nature, the Dark Mahogany Panel Display Cases and White Marbled Counter Top add to the allure of this Chocolate Haven. The dim fluorescent lighting produces a feeling of subtlety and leisure for an atmosphere that boasts and dictates bold and brash flavors. Lighting is even more the emphasis of the décor as this sets the stage for the mainstay chocolate consumables at Jacques. Patrons will find that the dim and subtle lighting acts more as a spot light as to the product displays rather than that of the establishment.
Production: The Chocolate Production factory, which can be viewed from the retail front is the foundation of where all edibles are produced. Unlike the subtle and elegant ambiance in the retail front, the chocolate production facility is mechanized devices that aid in the creation of the edibles.
Maybe it was Valentine's Day, or an everyday good gesture at Jacques, but the complementary Hot Chocolate added to the illustrious service rendered at this establishment.
The Food...
Hot Chocolate (Free): Although it was only a sample size cup of about 2 oz., the Beverage produced an amassed fondness of the application and execution conducted by Jacques. The thick and velvety texture derived from the proper balance of Heavy Cream and Medium Dark Cocoa dictate an appreciation for the beverage consumed. Patrons will find this application to be thick, frothy and welcoming! With each sampling, consumers will find that the superb use of each element in the application works in conjunction to create a taste that's both soothing and strong.
Chocolate Chip Cookie ($2.50): There is little doubt from the general consensus that the cookie should be renamed Chocolate Chunk with Cookie Specs. At first taste, the overwhelming (but welcoming) taste of the bold and bitter Medium Dark Chocolate consumes the palate. The brazen flavors of the Chocolate pave way to the texture contrast of the cookie component by enhancing both the Flour Sugar and Butter components. With each bite, consumers will find that despite the excessive amount of chocolate used in the application, the balance of ingredients ranging from the Medium Dark Chocolate, Flour, Sugar, Butter, and Eggs work in harmonious balance to create a well defined cookie.
Mudslide Cookie ($2.50): Perhaps this cookie should be labeled the "darker" version of the Chocolate Chip. The components of the Mudslide Cookie contain ingredients similar to the Chocolate Chip, with the addition of Cocoa Powder (to darken the flour) and Macadamia Nuts. At first bite, the vicious flavors derived from the combination of Bitter Sweet to Pure Bitter Chocolate engulf the senses. There is little doubt that this application was meant to test the senses and palate of a consumer. For starters, the first taste derived is that of Cocoa Powder enhanced Cookie Dough that's greatly complemented by the Semi Bitter Chocolate Chunks. The addition of the Macadamia Nuts allows for another dimension to the application by allowing the nutty flavors and crunchy textural contrast to shine in the application. Consumers will find that although the various flavors of the Cookie surmount their every expectation, the underlying appreciation of the cookie is comparable by few and mirrored by none.
Despite the excessive levels of Sugar and Chocolate consumed for only a half hour's time, the illustrious notoriety labeled to Jacques Torres' Chocolate Haven meets the standards set by all patrons. The overall feeling of satiety and comfort that's derived after consumption is not often experienced. In a matter of speech, the pleasure and harmony gained after consuming Jacques's Cookies is comparable to having one of the best desserts ever invented. Such appreciation and fondness is rarely felt and never forgotten.
Not only do these chocolate chip cookies make my heart all a flutter... so does the guy behind the counter.
3 points for chocolate and eye candy a plenty!
These chocolates are special, tiny and amazing.
My boyfriend had a chocolate chip cookie, and they warmed it up for him! I ate a couple of small chocolates and my shitty attitude disappeared. I had Mexican chocolate and a guava filled milk chocolate heart! The flavors are big!
This is a lovely place to get a small treat or a gift for someone else. Ignore the tourists. Then walk next door, watch them make your tasty chocolate, and then walk a little further and see the large, beautiful and totally out of place carousel in a gallery space.
When I am having a bad day at work, I try to make myself feel a little better by putting some peanut M&Ms in my Special K (please, save the comments, Lord knows I have heard them all - and PS -- don't knock it until you try it). I feel better and no one in the cubical farm gets hit with my metal stapler.
Imagine my surprise when I went to Jacques Torres and found CHOCOLATE COVERED CORN FLAKES! A little bag of delicious sunshine tied with a green bow! Just a few pieces will put a smile on anyone's face. I was so happy I went home and wrote Mr. Torres a fan letter. Not since my pathetic fan letter to Trent Reznor a bezillion years ago have I done that! maybe Mr. Torres put my letter up next to all the cute drawings kids have given him of his chocolate factory? We shall see...On a quick side note, please go see Jane's Carousel on 56 Water Street. Give them a buck and sign the petition so Brooklyn can have a gorgeous carousel to enjoy.
The Girl's mom has been in town the last few days all the way from Japan. She stopped in NYC first and after dinner at Michael Mina last night, she gave me a gift: a small box of Jacques Torres chocolates.
I started a new job 2.5 weeks ago, and although I'm loving the new responsibilities, I'm feeling overwhelmed by the demands, workload, expectations, and steep ramp up. I arrived home tonight at 8pm (and I only live 10 minutes from work) exhausted and dreading the extra work I have to do tonight.
Then I saw the attractive brown box of chocolates. I opened it up slowly and took a bite one one of the squares.
I think I soiled myself a little bit. The chocolate was--as Will Ferrell parodying James Lipton says--scrumtrilescent. It made the pain go away. I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me.
It's taking an inordinate amount of self control to keep from omnomnoming the entire box.
3.5 stars for Jacques. Not what I was expecting but I'm not too disappointed.
This is not like Chocolate by the Bald Man or the Chocolate Room with their chocolately heaven and creations. This is a chocolate shop that primarily has small chocolates (like box-o-chocolates chocolate) but more sophisticated and many more options. The prices are pretty ridiculous and I think you're paying mainly for the name more than anything but they still are quite tasty and quite creative. They have a handful of other options here like one or two cookie options, an ice cream sandwich, hot chocolate, and some prepackaged goodies to buy as a present or to take home.
They don't take cards for purchases under $10 but at these prices it shouldn't be hard unless you're by yourself and don't want too much. They have a couple small tables here so its not good for a group but it you want to enjoy something there you certainly can. From my understanding Jacques is very rarely at this location (mainly at his Hudson Street location in Manhattan).
I probably wouldn't drop the money for his chocolates again now that I've gotten that out of my system (but I would definitely try a few if you haven't already). I would however come back so I can try an ice cream sandwich or have another super chocolately filled chocolate chip cookie.
After trying their pumpkin chocolate confection it would be wrong to give this place anything less than 5 stars. Do not rush through ANY of their desserts, let each one melt in your mouth and savor all the flavors/textures they took the time to infuse it with.
Been there twice, worth the trip from Astoria, even by bike (you burn 1/2 of it off that way!).

