Chocolate Louboutin's and Cocoa Roaches for Valentine's Day

When Scarsdale chocolatier Sabrina Berkowitz got an email from the Bronx Zoo asking her to make chocolate roaches for Valentine's Day she thought it was a joke. But when she called back the zoo, she found out that they meant business. They explained that last year thousands of hopeless romantics named real live Madagascar hissing cockroaches after their favorite loved ones, “ex,” or mother-in-law. This year, they were offering the naming opportunity again but also selling “cocoa-roaches,” -- genuine artisanal 100 percent solid dark chocolate likenesses of a Madagascar hissing cockroaches, which are the world’s largest member of the roach family. Berkowitz was asked to create the chocolate roaches for the Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Society.

She set to work creating a mold and painting the sample roach. The Society loved her design and contracted with her to move forward. Now as Valentine’s Day nears, Berkowitz and her roaches have become an overnight sensation. On February 7, the roaches were featured on “Live! with Kelly” and Berkowitz was also interviewed by Amy Eddings on WNYC radio. To date, over 50 articles have been published about this very unique Valentine’s gift.

Berkowitz started her career as a computer programmer – but after taking a Chocolate course at the French Culinary Institute she realized she had found her passion. Within two months of completing this course, she quit her job and started the Chocolate Box NYC in 2008.

She uses all of her own recipes and creates them with specific people in mind.

For instance, the Chai Spice gives a nod to her Indian background and the Hookup, consisting of fresh vanilla bean and rose petals was created for a friend who arranges her “late night clubbing dates with her husband.” The fudge is made from a recipe that dates back to grandmother.

The chocolate she makes contains no preservatives or artificial ingredients. Though prices remain reasonable, Berkowitz uses the same chocolate as some of the most well known chocolatiers in New York, plus fresh ingredients and purees imported from France. Each item is handmade and Berkowtiz does it all, from packaging to delivering to marketing and cleanup.

Berkowitz creates an entire line of chocolate, perfect for Valentine’s gifts. Check out her chocolate boxes, chocolate munchies and elegant line of chocolate shoes at: https://thechocolateboxnyc.com/ . To order, contact her at: [email protected] or by phone at 646-413-3999.