A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

When I was a kid, all I ever wanted to get for Valentine’s Day was that heart shaped box of Russell Stover chocolates, the bigger the better. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve moved on from those chocolates and wanted to share some heart shaped boxed chocolate alternatives for that someone special in your life.

First up, Neuhaus, fine Belgian chocolates that I was introduced to years ago in New York. Don’t worry, if you still want they heart shaped box, they sell them for Valentine’s Day! An 8 piece 1/4lb box will run you $16, a 14 piece box is $32, and a 27 piece heart shaped box will cost you $64 (many other sizes and options available). The chocolates are smooth and creamy and just melt in your mouth. They offer dark, white and milk chocolate in pralines, caramels, ganaches and more. The fillings are by far my favorite, and there isn’t one chocolate in this box that I wouldn’t eat. Visit their boutique in Faneuil Hall Marketplace (1 South Market Street in Boston) or order online.

In 1881, Louis Sherry introduced the French chocolate making tradition to New York. Every chocolate selection is packaged in the traditional Sherry’s tin, which is a recast of the original. There are 12 chocolates in the collection and they are available in 2, 12 and 24 piece tins. The flavors are Coconut Almond, Strawberry Romanoff, Coffee Costa D’Oro, Jamaican Rum, Fleur De Sel Caramel, Mexican Vanilla, Piedmont Hazelnut, Pistachop Di Bronte, Raspberry, Sicilian Orange, Pomegranate, and Toffee Creme. 2 piece tins are $8.50, 12 piece tins are $35-$40 depending on the tin you choose and the 24 piece tin is $65. The tin above is by designed Harrison Howard and is the “China Sea” pattern. The fruit fillings generally aren’t my thing, but these chocolates are made with the finest ingredients, and the ones without the fruit are delicious enough to make me overlook the ones with fruit. These chocolates can be found at Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Dean and Deluca or you can order them online.

Lolli and Pops is the Willy Wonka candy shop of suburbia. Located in the Natick Mall, this shop has every kind of candy you can dream of. From delicious truffles you can buy by the piece in their display case, to specialty chocolates from Mexico or Asia. If you can’t make it out to suburbia, you can order pre-designed gift boxes on their website with things like champagne truffles, chocolate covered potato chips, astronaut ice cream, gummy bears, rock candy and pop rocks just to name a few.

I think of Sugarfina as the Tiffany’s of candy stores. The shop sells candy in clear plastic cubes, stacked in perfect rows with their signature blue labels tying things all together. It’s a gourmet candy bar, selling candy for grown ups with items like: champagne gummy bears, rosé all day bears, birthday cake caramels, pumpkin pie caramels, and milk chocolate milkshake balls. Each cube will run you about $8. Visit the store in the Prudential Center or order online. If you buy online you can order in a few different sizes: the taster packet size for $2.50, the small cube for around $8, a large cube for $18 or a 2.5lb size for about $40. Their gift packaging is adorable, they sell “bento boxes” that can hold 3-8 cubes.

And I had to throw in one old time candy shop just for nostalgia: The Wayside Country Store. You can buy prearranged boxes in the store or make your own from the large selection in the display case. They have a nice selection of nut free chocolates and candy as well as some penny candy that will bring you back to your childhood. They’re located at 1015 Boston Post Road in Marlborough or you can purchase online.

Where do you get your favorite chocolate from?

Tags: candy, chocolate, holiday