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01/21/2002 Archived Entry: "JoMart Chocolates"

I remember JoMart Chocolates from when I was a kid. One of the places I was always waiting for a bus was the intersection of Avenue R and Nostrand Ave. JoMart is at 2917 Avenue R, right off the corner of Nostrand.

I recently went to the store to meet listeners Esther and Martin Rogak, the original owners of JoMart, and their son Michael, who now runs the business. Michael sent me a dried fruit salami last fall, as well as some of his chocolates, and I was so impressed I had to go to the store and learn more about the family and the business.

I asked Michael which items he was most proud of. He only thought a second before he answered the chocolate covered butter crunch and marshmallows. I cannot resist buttercrunch, and his is certainly among the best I have ever had. It helps that he uses great, intensely flavored chocolate. The marshmallows are spectacular, too. I also dote on chocolate-covered orange peel, and so that’s what I took home with me.

Besides a full line of American-style chocolates, Michael now also makes Belgian-style filled chocolates and chocolate truffles. He went to Brussells last year for lessons and has learned them well. He is now also teaching chocolate-making himself.

The fruit salami, which is ground dried fruits and coconut fashioned into a salami-like roll, is what got me and Michael connected originally, and I found out from Martin, his father, that he was the maker of all those fruit salamis that they used to sell in Jewish “appetizing” stores, the shops you went to for smoked and pickled fish, cheeses, dried fruits, and certain confections, like chocolate-covered jelly logs and rings. Unfortunately, you will have to wait until next fall to taste JoMart’s fruit salami. It is made only from after Halloween until Christmas. Right now, there are some chocolate-covered slices of fruit salami in the display case, but they won’t last long.

Michael also sells the molds, equipment, products and other paraphernalia for making chocolates at home and for cake decorating.

If you can’t visit in person, they will ship to you. Call them at (718) 375-1277 or check out their website: www.jomartchocolates.com.