Family portrait

Max Brenner, the owner of Chocolate by the Bald Man, started his sweets empire in his native Israel 13 years ago, and has since expanded it to Asia, Australia, Philadelphia and, in 2006, NYC’s Union Square. His luscious, imaginative offerings might not be kind to parents’ waistlines, but they get kids jumping up and down (and up and down and up and down). Diving into Max’s Palace Famous Chocolate Mess Party (warm chocolate mud cake with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate candy, toffee, and bananas or strawberries) or any other fanciful specialty is pure bliss for little sugar fiends. Brenner’s new cookbook, Chocolate: A Love Story, due out on November 2, conveys his passionate views on life, love and, of course, the sweet stuff. Max lives in Gramercy Park with his wife, Liron, a civil engineer, and their daughter, Nellie.

What drew you to NYC?
MB It’s the main city to create buzz. We decided as a company that this is the most interesting market for us.

How has parenthood changed your lives?
LB I think that it made me less selfish. It made my heart grow ten times bigger, and it made us more complete as a family.
MB For me, it was really a complete change in life. I’m 41 now, so it took me some time to decide if I really wanted to take this path of fatherhood and family. I had lots of concerns, especially because this is an irreversible responsibility. And eventually I said, I have to do it and try, and—
LB It turned out good.
MB My imagination is very powerful, and usually there is a gap between what I imagine and what happens in reality. Normally, things are a disappointment for me, because in my imagination I see things that are much bigger than life. And this is the only thing where I can say that the clich—that it’s “bigger than life”—is true. I’ve found a new treasure of love that I didn’t know existed in my heart.

Why do you want Nellie to grow up here?
MB I think it’s the best city in the world to raise a kid in. I want my children to be in the most competitive, creative environment that they can have. It’s not going to be easy for them—sometimes it might be too extreme—but that’s what life is all about if you don’t want it to be boring.

What’s your philosophy about kids and sweets?
MB I don’t want to limit my kids in anything, but moderation in everything is good. We come from a culture that, in general, eats healthily. Lots of fruits and vegetables—a Mediterranean style of diet. So I can’t see Nellie stuffing herself with sweets.

What will her birthday parties be like?
MB I have endless ideas for chocolate fantasy birthdays. I think and hope that I will be a big hit in kindergarten. Whoever is going to be in Nellie’s school is going to enjoy a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--type party. It’s going to be over the top.
LB Until she asks for something else.

Their favorite...

BRUNCH SPOT
Of course, “Max Brenner (841 Broadway between 13th and 14th Sts, 212-388-0030, Chocolate by the Bald Man). We have a great kids’ menu, which offers various dishes, from eggs to grilled cheese bites.”

SPECIAL-OCCASION PLACE
“We love the Central Park Zoo (Central Park, enter from Fifth Ave at 64th St; 212-439-6500, centralparkzoo.com). We took Nellie there for her first birthday and she loved the polar bear.”

KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE
“The clothes at Yoya (636 Hudson St at Horatio St, 646-336-6844, yoyashop.com), in the West Village, are trendy, unique and stylish.”

TOY STORE
“Space Kiddets (26 E 22nd St between Broadway and Park Ave South, 212-420-9878, spacekiddets.com). They have vintage toys—and the quality is top-notch.”

SWEETS SHOP
“The variety at Dylan’s Candy Bar (1011 Third Ave at 60th St, 646-735-0078, dylanscandybar.com) is unbelievable. It’s a store where dreams come true.”

DINNER DESTINATION
“We love to take Nellie to eat at the Shake Shack (Madison Square Park, near Madison Ave at 23rd St; 212-889-6600, shakeshack.com).”

SERVICE
“We could not live without grocery delivery.”

PARK
“Madison Square Park (23rd to 26th Sts between Fifth and Madison Aves, 212-538-1884, madisonsquarepark.org) has it all—grass, food, a playground, sprinklers and more.”

NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A DAY TRIP
“Definitely the West Village. The little cafs and clothes stores are great, and we enjoy walking by the water on the West Side.”

COOL-WEATHER ACTIVITY
“Watching a movie together at home. We like to curl up on the couch and drink hot chocolate. Chocolate feasts are best when it’s cold outside!”