Rubens Chocolatier, Champaign, IL

When we were in Champaign recently, we found ourselves with an empty half hour. I proposed to Adam Stephanides he give us the nickel tour of Champaign, where he steered us to Rubens Chocolatier, an elegant little store.

Just behind us came a construction worker who obviously had romance on his mind. He ordered a 24-pieces box, then set about the delightful task of selecting chocolates to fill the box. He had clearly done it before because he was decisive and swift. He was also pretty happy knowing she’d be pretty happy and what might result from that!

After the construction worker left, the shop girl had time to chat with the undecisive and overwhelmed little group which just gawked at the selection. I was especially impressed by the presentation boxes formed from chocolate; which could hold chocolates of your choice. Men especially liked to select the treasure box to present significant jewelry or engagement rings, whose cost is really quite incredible:



GAF selected a chocolate heart for his wife and filled it with three candies. I followed his leader and bought the same as a Mother’s day gift:





I learned the owner travels to Europe once a year to learn new techniques and buy moulds. I especially loved this dear cat resting on a cushion. You can open it to a selection of chocolates you choose and pay for separately. The cat box is about the size of a paperback book costs a mere $12.99



They also have molded chocolates for other occasions:



I purchased one chocolate for myself, a strawberry cream filled confection. What I liked it was not merely strawberry flavored, there was indeed real strawberry used as evidenced by the presence of strawberry pulp and seeds.

Thanks again Adam for leading us to this wonderful shop.

Rubens Chocolatier
121 W. Church Street.
Champaign, Illinois at
Business Hours
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sundays & Holidays: Closed
Reach us by phone at: (217) 355-3064
Fax us at: (217) 355-3632

This is the best chocolate. They have excellent truffles. In fact, all of the candies I've tasted have been wonderful. And I've tasted quite a few.

In the winter they serve lovely lovely hot chocolate. They also have lovely hot fudge sauce.

I just discovered this thread through a thread on the Beyond Chicagoland forum. A great post, Cathy2.

Note that Rubens Chocolatier has since moved: they're now at 2213 S. Neil St., Champaign. They're actually not on Neil itself, but in the Knollwood shopping center on Knollwood, a cross street. (The phone number is still the same.)