For this Valentine’s Day, may we recommend everything chocolate – because, really, does life get any better? And since it only comes around once a year, you have every excuse to indulge in rich, decadent chocolate treats. I feel the rush already.
Create your own chocolate bar with Chocri. This newly launched company allows you to customize your chocolate gift with your favorite ingredients. Start off with you choice of base (either white, milk or dark chocolate) and then add in your favorites — fruits, spices, nuts, confections, decor and grains. For Valentine’s Day, there are special romance themed add-ins including: Candied Rose Pedals, Mini Heart Decorations and Silver Pearls. After you have created the perfect candy bar, create the perfect name and inscribe it on the package. Minimum 3-bar purchase and the starting price is $7.90.
Have you been dreaming up the perfect ice cream combination? Now, you can create it with eCreamery – for a life less vanilla. Select your favorite base (either sorbetto, gelato or ice cream), up to two flavors (anything from a chocolate malt or tiramisu to a more exotic chipotle) and up to two mix-ins (think chocolate walnut brownie pieces or chocolate covered peanuts). Now its time to select your packaging and give your ice cream a name. Your frozen treat can be ordered by the 1/2 gallon for $49.99+shipping or the full gallon for $89.99 plus shipping.
If you want to stick to the tried and true chocolate truffles, why not try the CocoLove Chocolate Truffle Pack ($26)? This gift pack comes with 15 pieces of luscious dark chocolate fudge truffles — Rosie Posy, Planet Marz and Naked Hottie. These hand-dipped artisanal chocolate balls are rich, simple and purely divine.
Express your love to your sweetie with these chocolate covered fortune cookies. Not only will they be an indulgent treat, you can add in a personalized message and be assured you will get your date’s attention. Choose a traditionally flavored cookie or a more exotic one (strawberry, graham cracker or cappuccino), dip it in chocolate — and add on sprinkles if you’d like. Whatever the case, get ready to wow your significant other. If you’d like something even more unusual, why not go for the giant fortune cookies? Oh yes, imagine a 5″ x 7″ fortune cookie that weighs over 1 lb. Available online at Fancy Fortune Cookies.
Spice up this Valentine’s Day while putting one of your favorite ingredients to work — paint, lick, lather or simply indulge on a rich, chocolate treat with the Let the Body do the Talking Gift Basket from Edible Gift Baskets ($39.99). This sexy gift basket is filled with romantic treats including rose pedals, chocolate lips with a hint of chili, chocolate body frosting, stencils and a paint brush — a perfect and risque addition to this already sensual date night.
Shopping for your foodie friends can be quite a challenge. That is why we taste our way through the year to make your life a little less stressful. Here are some of our favorite food and wine products that will make your holiday shopping enjoyable and can easily be done from your home computer —
Really Good Cookies
For the chocolate lover
If anything stirs up memories of my trips to Belgium, hand selecting my chocolate treats, it is 5th Avenue Chocolatiere. These square morsels of rich and creamy, dark Belgian chocolate are dusted in cocoa powder and melt in your mouth. The only thing better than opening a box would be to visit their shops in New York City and throughout Asia. $15 for a box of 8 at 1800chocolate.net
From the moment I set my eyes on the Signature Cookies from Really Good Cookies, I couldn’t stop dreaming about them. Chocolate Chip cookies layered with rich creamy caramel, semi-sweet chocolate and topped with chunky chopped walnut — you better keep these close to you or they will magically disappear. Besides being sinfully delicious, they are made locally which makes them an even more attractive gift choice. Prices vary, but if you are looking for multiple gifts to send out, you can order these for less than $10/package.
For the festival goer
You know the type — they live and die for the SOBE Wine & Food Festival. This year, they are bummed out because they missed out on tickets to their favorite event because it was sold out. Make their day with SOBE bucks available for $250, $500 or $1000 towards the purchase of tickets to the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. These SOBE Bucks can be used toward the purchase of non-seated sold-out events, and can be purchased from now until January 8th. SOBE BUCKS can be purchased by emailing ashapiro@southernwine.com or calling 305.627.1646.
For the world traveler
You might not have time to travel the world this holiday season, but why not bring the world to your dinner table with Destination Dinners? These recipe kits bring ethnic flavors from around the world straight to your kitchen. Hop on a plane to Thailand one night, Korea the next and then escape to Israel for a sensory awakening. These kits include hard to find spices, instructions, a shopping list and fun facts and trivia about your destination. All priced between $25-$30.
Escape to the eastern Mediterranean with Pera Mediterranean Brasserie’s specialty Mediterranean lamb and chicken. I was immediately drawn to this product, as I’ve been searching for, but had not found the authentic flavors of Istanbul I savored during my time spent in the culturally rich country. The meats are full of flavor, easy to prepare and make these authentic flavors accessible. Enjoy the Feta and Herb Stuffed Lamburger Patty, the Chicken or Lamb Adanas or the Seasoned Lamb Ribs, all priced under $11.95. From now until 12-31-09, receive a 15% discount with promo code HLDYS.
For the “I love anything that has to do with wine” friend
Wine makes anything seem just a little better. If you have someone on your list who is all about wine in any way, shape or form, why not check out these finds?
First up, bruschetta from Vino de Milo. Bring together fresh, aromatic tomato flavors, add in some wine and you have a fantastic spread that will spice up any party. There are 3 flavors to choose from — Artichoke Garlic with Pinot Grigio, Black Olive & Currant with Malbec and Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato with Chianti — all priced at $5.99 and can be ordered online.
If you are looking for the essence of wine to add to your beauty routine, this fragrance collection was inspired by wine. Check out Salud Spabar and learn how to wear your favorite Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc. Eau de Parfum spray is $34.00 and a sampler is $10.00 and can be ordered online.
What about a frozen treat? Ciao Bella offers a Blackberry Cabernet sorbet that is sure to tantalize your taste buds with the fruit forward flavors of currant, plum and cherry. It is creamy, delicious and fat-free. Available at select Fresh Market locations.
For the future chef
Don’t forget the kids this holiday season. It’s time to bring your children into the kitchen for some family time. Baking Kids Love from Sur La Table designed for 8 to 12-olds offers 30 family-friendly recipes, each with easy to follow instructions, scrumptious photography and baking tips for our future bakers. These recipes were created and tested by James Beard nominee and Pastry Chef Cindy Mushet and her 11-year old daughter, Bella so each one is something that kids enjoy. Try their PB & J Muffins, Nuts for Nutella Chocolate Tart or the Be Creative Sugar Cookies.
If you are more interested in having the frosting on the cookies than all over the kitchen counter, the Kuhn Rikon Dual-Chamber Squeezable Decorating Kit would be the perfect addition. These tools will help your little ones create beautifully decorated sugar cookies perfect fill Santa’s belly. Whether you would like to squeeze 2 colors at once or make a intricate design, these tools will save the day. You can buy Baking Kids Love with the Squeezable Decorating Kit for $39.96 at Sur La Table or online.
For the stylish friend
There are salt & pepper shakers, and then there are these salt & pepper shakers. Introducing the Philippi Design Silver Plated Salt and Pepper Shaker at Prestige Identity. This unique gift is the perfect addition to any kitchen table and its both sleek and stylish. Just 3.3″ tall, this beautiful piece of art has 2 chambers – one for salt and the other for pepper, and will soon be eyed by your dinner guests. Available for $30 at Prestige Identity.
You know it — Aprons can be pretty frumpy, but they can also be stylish. It’s time to strut your stuff in the kitchen with these flattering aprons by Tayga. They come in feminine colors, different sizes and there are even mother-daughter styles available. Early next year, men will be in luck too, as they will be releasing their men’s line. Available for $40 – $59 at Tayga, $33 for children.
Do you have so many spices that they get lost? Why not bring them within eye’s view and add some pizazz to their display. The Click Magnetic Spice Rack by Chiasso is contemporary, chic and makes all of your spices easily accessible. Plus you will be more organized and love it. The spice rack is only 12″ x 9″ and will easily fit in even the tiniest of kitchens. Available online at Chiasso for $98.