Shaineal and Namrata with US VP Joe Biden

Shaineal Shah, Founder of Xocolatti in New York and son of Rajiv Shah and Mona Shah of Scarsdale, New York, had the esteemed pleasure of gifting his indulgent chocolates to the Department of State luncheon held in honor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.

The lunch took place immediately after the formal summit with President Obama in the White House, and was attended by senior administration officials, some leading US Senators and some well-known figures from the corporate world. Xocolatti’s Mango Paprika and Rose Hip Pistachio Slates were served to these high level dignitaries and businessmen including Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; Vice President, Joe Biden; Secretary of State, John Kerry; Reliance Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani; and CEO of Pepsi, Indra Nooyi; amongst others. Young entrepreneur, Shaineal and his wife Namrata were also on the select list of guests invited to the luncheon at the Benjamin Franklin Room at the US Department of State.

With Pepsi CEO  Indra Nooyi

The introduction to the brand circulated along with the menu says, “Shaineal Shah opened his first chocolate shop, Xocolatti, in SoHo in October 2011. Shah started out by making chocolates with his mother, Mona, in the kitchen of their Scarsdale, NY home. The duo is now taking designs inspired by their family's India-based jewelry business and applying them to their decorative and delicious treats, including truffles that resemble plump gemstones and slabs of chocolate called "slates", flecked with pistachios and rose petals or mango and paprika. Shah's handmade sweets put to use Indian spices for innovative pairings, such as crunchy tree sap or a mixed nut brittle with saffron and cardamom coated in dark chocolate.”

Table Setting for the Luncheon

Completing three years, Xocolatti chocolates have been rated one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.  The brand urges people to re-imagine chocolates, crafting delicacies using food elements and flavours that are not normally associated with chocolates. Xocolatti prides itself on creating handmade artisanal chocolates that are to be experienced with all your senses.