Swiss-born Hans Riechsteiner is no stranger to sweets – he and his wife have made some 750,000 Liege waffles over the years he spent owning two Arosa cafes. But Hans, as his regulars affectionately call him, has sold off the family waffle businesses and two months ago opened Ascona Chocolat Suisse, a Madison Valley chocolate shop specializing in imported confections from his motherland.

Why choose European-made chocolates over local darlings like Fran’s and Theo? “The difference is in the way they’re put together,” says Hans, explaining that Läderach, the well-known Swiss chocolatier that manufacturers his sweets, spares no expense on either ingredients or time. “You just won’t know until you compare.”

The window-lit, 337-square-foot shop at 2914 E Madison St was formerly a design studio; now, the only art there comes in the form of a display case full of jewel-like truffles in flavors ranging from the delightfully predictable (hazelnut, orange dark chocolate, champagne) to the inspired (coconut curry, cardamom, passion fruit). Wrapped boxes of hand-packed chocolates start at $18. 

Hans referred to Ascona as a “test store,” perhaps testing the waters for a larger scale chocolate shop – the sort he sees filled with tourists and locals alike on his regular visits to Switzerland – down the line. Stop by and visit the infectiously enthusiastic proprietor; he’s there Monday-Saturday from 10am-6pm.