Bourbon bacon chocolates for men; floral-flavors for women.
Heavenly Chocolate in Thornes Marketplace specializes in hand-dipped, handmade confections perfect for Valentine's ;s Day like pistachio rosewater, Hawaiian red salt caramel and peanut butter sizzle.
Chocolate has had a very long relationship with love and Valentine’s Day. The first chocolate house opened in London in the 1650s so it just might be what Shakespeare was writing all those sonnets about.
Each year, the chocolate industry takes in $50 billion dollars. The Hershey Company, the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America, is the originator of Hershey's Kisses, the most popular candy given to sweethearts around the world on Feb. 14.
Two jobs are connected with chocolate: chocolate makers refine bitter cacao beans into the magnificent material that chocolatiers use to make their sweet candies, bars, truffles and drops.
“The chocolates we make are by far the most popular thing we have in the shop. The case gets filled the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. It’s the busiest day of the year for us,” said Bud Stockwell, chocolatier and owner of Heavenly Chocolate on the first floor of Northampton’s Thornes Marketplace.
“According to a study I made up, nine out of nine people who love chocolates have a most romantic holiday,” Stockwell joked.
Popular Valentine picks at Heavenly Chocolate are handmade and super sweet or pack some heat. Customers point out a dark chocolate with slivered almonds soaked in Gran Mariner or the milk chocolate hazelnut pralines plus a couple peanut butter sizzles, Mayan spice or mango habaneros.
“When in doubt, we help out. We give recommendations based on a few questions, like if the person is a dark or milk chocolate fan or if they’re an adventurous eater or not. We go through the case to get the right confections to make up a great gift,” said Stockwell.
Stockwell shared that he is always surprised by people’s chocolate choices but has noticed a few trends. Women tend to go for floral chocolates flavored with rosewater, lavender flowers or Earl Grey tea. Bourbon bacon and alcohol flavors like absinthe and beer make the cut for men.
Lucas Humann, manager of Sweeties in Northampton, says the candy shop on the historic city corner, stocks certain sweets only for the holiday.
“We carry heart-shaped boxes of all sizes, from tiny to huge, and have conversation hearts in bulk for a fun, nostalgic Valentine’s Day,” said Humann.
Peter Soule, owner of Durocher Florist in West Springfield, paired up with Pop’s Biscotti and Chocolate in Wilbraham to offer customers a one-stop shop for Valentine’s Day.
“Chocolate and flowers definitely go together, it’s the most popular of the add-ons to an order. People always ask for it,” Soule said. “This year, we partnered up with Pop’s because they have a really nice line of chocolate heart pops and truffles and they’re local like us.”
The single busiest day for florists, Valentine’s Day has people streaming in and out Soule’s shop with drivers on the go to deliver bouquets of red roses and mixed arrangements with seasonal flowers.
“It’s quite a scene! We have 12 shop personnel and 15 drivers on the staff that day, that’s close to 30 people to make it all come together. We breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the day but it’s rewarding knowing that you get to make so many people happy,” said Soule, who recommends ordering flowers early and even scheduling deliveries for Feb. 13.
“Sometimes it’s better to get flowers the day before at the end of the day instead of on the day itself in the afternoon. It’s a nice surprise for the person getting them and everyone notices they’re early,” he said.
Pop’s Biscotti and Chocolates, winner of the 2013 Reader Raves for Best Specialty Shop, is best known for their variety of signature chocolates and hand-painted novelty chocolate gifts.
“If you can think it, we can make it,” said Maria Ferraro Wingate, shop chocolatier. Wingate’s creativity has helped her create flower vases and candy dishes made entirely out of chocolate to be filled with even more with handmade creams, caramel turtles, peanut butter pyramids, and ancho chili chocolates.
Jeff Wingate, her husband and business partner, is the other part of the confectionary team. He bakes 22 flavors of biscotti, including ultimate chocolate, milk chocolate chunk and dark chocolate. Special Valentine flavors will be black forest, red velvet and spicy cinnamon that tastes just like Red Hots candies.
“Who doesn’t like chocolate and cookies? They’re the sweetest of all Valentine eats!” Wingate said.
One well-known area banquet facility that is offer take-out for two is Chez Joseph in Agawam.
The menu comes complete with "warming instructions" and features Italian wedding soup, twin tournedos of filet mignon and red velvet cupcakes." There is also a "keepsake gourmet cheese board handcrafted by Chef Marcel."
Cost is $59 plus tax, and orders need to be placed by 5 p.m. on Feb. 13 by calling (413) 786-0257. Pickup is Feb.14 between 12 and 6 p.m.
Want to get your Valentine something neat? Share the love and shop locally for something sweet.
Heavenly Chocolate
150 Main Street, Thornes Marketplace, Northampton
(413) 586-3800
heavenly-chocolate.com
Sweeties Fine Chocolate & Confections
68 Main Street, Northampton.
(413) 586-4180
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Durocher Florist
184 Union Street, West Springfield
(413) 785-5148
durocherflorist.com
Pop’s Biscotti and Chocolates
3157 Boston Road, Wilbraham
(413) 596-9339
popschocolates.com
Chez Josef
176 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam
(413) 786-0257
http://www.chezjosef.com/