Aditi Malhotra named her new venture “Tache” (French for “smudge”) in honor of the way her white chef’s coat usually looks when she’s working — covered in chocolate.
Malhotra, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and Switzerland’s Glion Institute, recently took over from her former partner, Christian Vautier, as sole proprietor of the chocolate shop at 254 Broome St. Opened in March under the famed Parisian chef’s name, the small shop still offers fabulous confections in all stripes, including Malhotra’s signature spiced chai truffle in dark chocolate.
Malhotra, one of Zagat’s “30 under 30,” studied under Vautier and launched the Lower East Side venture with him in March. He has decided to move on to other projects, she said.
We chatted with her on Friday evening, as she wrapped up a week of debuting her work at New York’s famed chocolate show and catering a New York City Ballet event with Martha Stewart. In addition to making all of the confections in-house, Malhotra also offers hosts private events and chocolate-making classes for children and adults in her bright space. Beginning Nov. 26, she’ll be teaching holiday-themed classes through the end of the year.
