By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Located in New Paltz, NY, Lagusta’s Luscious is a shop and café that features artisanal chocolates, handmade drinks, and pastries. Everything is vegan because of their commitment to social justice and the environment.

When I walked into the shop, I was struck by a display case with an array of chocolate confections. Flavors, including Mango Chile Lime Caramel, Peanut Butter and Jelly Meltaway, and Yuzu Cream, provide a hint of the creativity that goes into their products. A wall display included chocolate bars, boxes of chocolate, drinking chocolate, and chocolate bark. The café offered hot and cold drinks, ice cream bars and chipwiches, and vegan baked goods.

We sampled a classic Butterscotch Caramel, subtly sweet Tahini Meltaways, Chocolate Fudge, and a vegan S’Mores cookie. All were rated sublime.

You can visit Lagusta’s Luscious at 25 N Front Street, New Paltz, NY. If you can’t make it to the retail shop, Lagusta’s Luscious products can be ordered online.