by Amira Colter

Created on: February 14, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

Valentine Gift: Chocolates from the best shops

Valentine's Day is upon us again and it is the time of the year when chocolate demand rises to the heavens. Chocolates are without a doubt, the preferred gift. Choices abound but which one do you pick?

If money were no object and one wishes to give the best chocolates to your very special Valentine, let me present the world's best chocolatiers; shops to purchase your chocolate goodies to show how much you care and how serious you are about your chocolates:

Recchiuti Confections (www.recchiuti.com)

Shop location: San Francisco

Specialty: Fruity chocolates specifically paper-thin slices of lime and apple soaked in key lime juice and then dried and dipped in dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Valentine's Day Recommendation: Platinum Collection 88 pieces of Recchiuti's most popular chocolate flavors, 21 lbs 2 oz at $160.

Chocolat Michel Cluizel (www.chocolatmichelcluizel.com)

Shop location: New York

Specialty: Bonbons with liquor, Chocolate Bars, and Eclats.

Recommendation: The Chocolate of the Month' program features a choice of chocolate every month from September to May. Chocolate choices changes every year as well so you and your loved ones are guaranteed variety.

Sprungli (www.spruengli.ch)

Shop location: Zurich

Traditional chocolate makers since 1859.

Specialty: Swirled mild and dark truffles, swiss milk chocolates

Valentine's Day Recommendation: Homemade milk, dark and white truffles in a heart-shaped black tin cost 12.93 euros. A mix of their popular pralines and truffles in a heart-shaped gold-colored box cost 45.37 euros.

Chocolaterie du Rhone (www.chocolaterie.du-rhone.ch)

Shop location: Geneva

More than 128 years of combining French and Swiss chocolate making, Chocolaterie du Rhone has created close to 50 chocolate types and 12 varieties of truffles.

Specialty: a small chocolate square, Mocca glaze

Valentine's Day Recommendation: The house assortment of 3/4 dark and 1/4 milk chocolates, with or without alcohol 200 grams, 34.50 euros.

Jean Paul Hevin Chocolatier (www.jphevin.com) Shop location: Paris

Specialty: Fruit ganaches and chocolate lollipops.

Valentine's Day Recommendation: Valentines' Day Assortment a sampling of the shop's range of chocolate candies plus three additional flavors. Prices starts at 8 to 123 euros.

Pierre Marcolini (www.marcolini.be)

Shop location: Belgium

Located at Place du Grand Sablon along with the other great chocolatiers of Brussels.

Recommended: Chocolate bars and clairs. Chocolate ice cream and sorbets.

Valentine's Day Recommendation: Coeur Framboise chocolate hearts with raspberry ganache centers coated in white chocolate and sprayed with a red finish. $45.

Cacao Sampaka (www.cacaosampaka.com)

Shop location: Barcelona

Specialty: Chocolates with floral and herb blends like nutmeg, curry and cardamom.

Recommended: La Joya chocolate bars made from rare white' Criollo cocoa beans.

Michael Chaudun (149 Rue de l'universite corner rue Malar)

Shop location: Paris

This tiny traditional shop offers chocolate saucisses, chocolate Pavs and dark chocolate ganaches. Monsieur Chaudun trained in the renowned La Maison de Chocolate.

Recommended: A box of small, square truffles costs $3~$4.

There you have it, sheer chocolate indulgence. Happy Valentine's day!

References: forbestraveler.com-food-drink-chocolate-shops-story. html

chocolateatlas.com

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