My Chocolaty Valentine

Have you ever gone out to buy a present for someone and you finally finish your shopping only to realize that what you bought was what you yourself wanted? Not necessarily what the other person wanted. At all.

That’s kind of what these Valentine’s posts are like, in case you haven’t caught on. A whole lot of what I would want, which will work out perfectly if the person you're buying for is anything like me. Or actually is me. That would be the most perfect situation of all, but I don’t want to be presumptuous.

Anyway, here are some chocolaty (and local) Valentine’s ideas:

Taza Chocolate: Full-flavored, stone-ground organic chocolate bars and nibs from tropical Somerville. Okay, fine, the beans are actually grown in the Dominican Republic in a direct trade arrangement, but the craft is right here, baby. We like the drinking chocolate made from melting their chocolate disks in hot milk with a plate of churros on the side. Taza chocolate can be found wherever fine local foods are sold or online at tazachocolate.com (churros sold separately).

Sassy Sauces: Decadent ice cream toppings in a variety of flavors including Bittersweet Chocolate, Peanut Butter Fudge, Milk Chocolate Caramel, Spicy Dark Chocolate, and Rum Caramel. They're made right in Natick with Vermont butter and cream. Someone gave these to me as a gift last year and they’ve become verrrrry popular in our house. You can find them at these locations or at sassysauces.us.

Cocoa Metro Chocolate Milk: Local milk + Belgian chocolate = the most delicious chocolate milk you may ever taste. Plus, the cute bottle can be used as a vase for any possible flowers in your future. You can find Cocoa Metro here.

And speaking of flowers, that picture up there is a glass replica of the cacao plant at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Their glass flowers exhibit would be a cool place to take your Valentine’s Day date if your date is into such things as anatomically correct botanical replicas painstakingly crafted in blown glass starting in 1886. My dates prefer the dinosaur room, but I digress. We were talking about chocolate.

For you non-local folks, check out the chocolaty confections from Foodzie. A friend of mine turned me onto this online marketplace that connects you to small-scale artisans, sellers, and growers all over the country. You can also search by region.

And don’t worry if your chocolaty gift doesn’t arrive exactly on Valentine’s Day.* Love doesn’t like to be confined to any particular schedule, really. And we’ll always wait for chocolate. So go on and make some love happen.

*If the chocolate doesn’t arrive in time for Valentine’s Day, you at least need a card or something. Don’t be a dumb-ass.

Comments

[Charlene]

Hello, we are big fans of your blog here at How2Heroes! I enjoy the way you write and your recipes look fabulous.

[Tammy]

Charlene: Hey, thanks for the comment. I'm a fan of your work as well, and look forward to the day when I might make another unsmiling video for you guys!!