Valentine's Day Chocolate Resources

[amccomb]

I know it might be too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day, but it is only a little over a month away...

My husband and I have a set of traditions - we build a tent out of blankets in the living room (like we did when we were kids), order and eat pierogies from either Rosie's or Pierogies Plus and eat an entire box of chocolate.

In the past, I've ordered chocolate from Jubilee Chocolates and been very happy with their fresh tasting flavors. I've also ordered from Vosges - both the Exotic Collection and the Collection Italiano and really happy with the flavors.

I am looking for ideas of other chocolatiers I can order from. Who are considered the best? Do they have websites? We love trying unsual flavor combinations, but are happy with really well done classic flavors as well. We would love to try someone different every year.

We would also be willing to try other pierogy dealers as well, if anyone has suggestions. I would have to be able to mail order them though.

Thanks!

[ChefCAG]

amc-

you might try chris elbow artisanal chocolates, www.elbowchocolates.com.

[moosnsqrl]

My husband and I have a set of traditions - we build a tent out of blankets in the living room (like we did when we were kids), order and eat pierogies from either Rosie's or Pierogies Plus and eat an entire box of chocolate.

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OK, I know I'm going to hate myself for asking, but how did this, um, tradition get started?

And I second the Chris Elbow rec, very sensual and beautiful stuff. I would have it shipped next day (he probably does that routinely anyway, since he makes a point of discouraging people from refrigerating them).

[amccomb]

OK, I know I'm going to hate myself for asking, but how did this, um, tradition get started?

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Hm...I'm not quite sure! I know the tent thing started because I thought it would be fun to go camping, but he hates the outdoors, so we set up a "tent" in front of our fireplace. I really wanted to make a cassoulet in a big cast iron pot over the fire, but I read that it was dangerous to cook over a fireplace fire.

The pierogy thing...well, we used to drive to Chicago and have breakfast at The Busy Bee and we always got pierogies. I had talked about making them myself, but then I saw a special on Food Network about this little shop that makes them from scratch and sends them out via mail, so I ordered them, and every year we order a variety of flavors and eat a couple of each flavor, trying to decide which one we like best. I like sourkraut and kielbasa and he likes potato mushroom.

As for the chocolates, I read about Jubilee chocolates in Gourmet magazine and wanted to try them, and we were on a diet, with the next "splurge" being Valentine's Day, so we just decided to wait and order them for V-day.

[amccomb]

So, I checked out Chris Elbow, which looks like a good possibility. Here are a few others and I was wondering if anyone had tried any of them:

http://normanloveconfections.com/selection.htm

https://www.chuaochocolatier.com/

http://www.recchiuti.com/

Any opinions?

[suzilightning]

here's one johnnybird and i like, especially the wine truffles:

http://www.jemanuel.com/items/stores/1/index.aspx

[Linda Grishman]

Hi: Something new and so much better, even if I say so myself. Everything is made fresh to order by hand. Premium chocolate, no preservatives additives or artificial anything. We've been written up along with rechuitti et al.

If you mention egullet, we'll include a little something, if you order by February 3. Come to beautiful Vermont and take a chocolate class with me.

Best, Linda G.

http://www.vermontchocolate.com/

Edited January 27, 2006 by Linda Grishman (log)