It would be better if Valerie Gordon’s name were Madeleine, because her ability to capture a moment in one of her signature toffees is downright Proustian.

That being said, her name is not; it’s Valerie, and her namesake chocolate-covered confections are coming from a sleek little candy kitchen down on a nondescript L.A. side street (with a view of automechanics and the outskirts of Koreatown). We’ll loosely call it Silver Lake, anyway. The distinct vibe of her aesthetic screams Third Street and Melrose Place chi chi, but her cool quotient rises dramatically in this closet-cool retail space in front of her chocolate kitchen. The new chocolate bottomed teacakes rest on clear glass cake tiers, while dark boxes of ginger toffee, duos of salt and pepper truffles, and peanut candy are elegantly tied in beyond-pretty grosgrain ribbon. Martha, look out!

Just in time for Thanksgiving and with future holidays in tow, look for Valerie’s exclusive gustatory partnership with the delightfully irreverent Victorian dandy Douglas Little (he of the candles). The artisan chocolate skulls of the Mori ex Cacao collection, in timeless D.L. & Co. black satin packaging and flavors ranging from scorched caramel to curious chili, will be the must-give gift for ’07-’08.

RELATED LINKS:

D.L. & Company

Pictures of the new chocolates