Les Savoureux Gianduja Pralines, 12 Pieces

Why it works as a gift

Most chocolate gifts at this size are a smaller version of a standard assortment. Les Savoureux is a focused idea instead. Neuhaus developed the collection with Belgian chef Tim Boury, who holds three Michelin stars at Restaurant Boury, as contemporary takes on gianduja, the smooth blend of nuts and chocolate. The small box holds four of the six flavors, three cubes of each: hazelnut with roasted buckwheat, feuilletine and honey; almond with caramelized almond pieces and yuzu; walnut with blond chocolate, vanilla and muscovado sugar; and pecan with cardamom and apple.

That focus is what makes it a good gift for the right person. Someone who always picks the nutty pieces out of a mixed box gets a whole box of them, each with a distinct pairing, and the flavors give a host or a food-minded friend something to talk about. Neuhaus makes the chocolates in Belgium and presents them in a copper-toned box that is ready to hand over without wrapping.

Against the larger Neuhaus 1 lb ballotin, this is the more proportionate choice for one person or a couple. Against a supermarket box, it is clearly special without being a big spend. The trade-offs are honest: every piece is nut-based, and like any fine chocolate it is meant to be eaten within weeks, not saved.

Who it’s for

• A food-minded friend who follows chefs and restaurants and would recognize the Tim Boury collaboration
• A workplace gift exchange in the mid range, when you want a small gift that feels chosen
• The host of a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner, as a box to open with coffee
• Someone who always reaches for the hazelnut or praliné pieces in a mixed box

Skip it if

• Anyone in the household has a nut allergy: Neuhaus lists hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts and pecans, along with milk, soy, wheat and barley
• They prefer ganache, caramel or fruit centers; this box is all nut-based gianduja
• It would sit in a warm delivery truck or a sunny porch; Neuhaus says chocolate keeps best at 58 to 64°F
• You want a keepsake; this is a consumable gift

Giving it

• Time delivery close to the occasion and for a cool day; Neuhaus advises against refrigerating or freezing chocolate
• Neuhaus lets you add a personal message when you order from its own site, and guarantees a shelf life of at least four weeks from an online order
• For a whole table rather than one person, the Neuhaus Classic Ballotin 1 lb is the better fit
• Mention the nut content on the card if the box is going to a house where guests may share it

The facts

Contents

12 cube-shaped gianduja pralines, 3 each of 4 flavors; 111 g

Flavors

Hazelnut with sobacha (roasted buckwheat), feuilletine and honey; almond with caramelized almond and yuzu; walnut with blond chocolate, vanilla and muscovado; pecan with cardamom and apple

Collaboration

Developed with Belgian chef Tim Boury, three Michelin stars at Restaurant Boury

Allergens

Milk, soy, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, wheat, barley

Made in

Belgium

Packaging

Copper-toned gift box

Storage

Best kept at 58–64°F, away from sunlight and moisture; refrigerating or freezing not recommended

Sold by

Neuhaus Chocolate

Consider instead

• Saltverk Salt Gift Set, Four Jars — A food gift for a cook, with no nuts and no heat concerns
• NEST New York Autumn Plum Classic Candle — A seasonal host gift that lasts longer than a box of chocolates