Fashion’s Other Coco?!

Bharet Malhotra welcomes the crowd
After two-and-a-half years of “haute cuisine,” Co Co. Sala celebrated the grand opening of its retail chocolate boutique Monday, complete with a chocolate ribbon-cutting, guest appearance by White House pastry chef Susan E. Morrison, and, in finale, a catwalk by a chocolate-clad model.
Chocolate model
A boutique is about fashion, joked Nisha Sidhu, co-owner of the swanky Penn Quarter restaurant and lounge, explaining the couture theme behind the event. But despite the evening’s trendy, red carpet glamour—soft-glowing lights, rhythmic drum music and flowing wine—co-owner Bharet Malhotra reiterated that he and his team were in fact returning to their roots—and Nisha’s original vision: to bring quality, hand-crafted chocolate to DC.
The knife had to be torched to cut the chocolate ribbon!
The 200 square-foot boutique, cut out from part of the restaurant’s original floor plan, will offer a variety of chocolate treats, including chocolate-enrobed bacon, truffles, and other indulgences. A strong believer in the flavor nuances of fine chocolate, Sidhu has also indicated that the venue will offer chocolate-tasting classes.
 
*Jordana Merran contributed this post.