I’m an avowed supporter of Valentine’s Day — no longer as a result of I’ve a specifically rosy-eyed view of affection and friendships, even if I’m additionally professional the ones issues. It’s 95 % as a result of the sweet, particularly chocolate.
I revel in consuming chocolate all yr spherical, however on Valentine’s Day, it deservedly takes pleasure of position, dialog hearts and floral arrangements however. And Valentine’s Day, in contrast to the opposite festive events the place chocolate is an insignificant background participant, is the time to request and provides truly fancy chocolate, the type of chocolate that right away telegraphs luxurious and decadence. There’s not anything that matches that invoice moderately like bonbons.
Historically, bonbons are made with molds and include all kinds of fillings, from end result and nuts to caramel and marzipans (in contrast to muffins, which normally include ganache). They’re a canvas for a chocolatier’s creativity each at the inside of and at the chocolate shelled exteriors, which might be incessantly painted to resemble glistening gem stones. Whilst any field of candies could make for a superb romantic gesture or clichéd apology, bonbons are all the time a party. Right here, an inventory of confectioners from around the nation to end up my level (all of them send national).
Stick With Me Chocolates
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That is where that satisfied me there’s completely not anything incorrect with sitting round and consuming bonbons all day. In reality, it’s a satisfying factor to do. On the New York Town store, Susanna Yoon manages to pack the entire flavors of different elaborate truffles — like calamansi meringue pie or black woodland cake — into a fantastic package deal. You’ll’t make a choice person flavors whilst you order to send on-line, however accept as true with, they received’t disappoint.
Vesta Chocolate
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New Jersey-based Vesta Chocolate is a bean-to-bonbon chocolate manufacturing unit, that means chocolatiers Roger Rodriguez and Julia Choi Rodriguez get started the chocolate-making procedure with complete cacao beans which they then procedure to shape the foundation of confections starting from scorching chocolate to bars to bonbons. The ones bonbons are to be had to send in bins of six or 12 wonder flavors, however they all are gluten- and nut-free.
Exquisito Candies
In Miami, bean-to-bonbon Exquisito Candies prides itself on moral sourcing. You’ll see precisely how chocolate maker Carolina Quijano turns cacao into chocolate on this episode of Eater’s “Home made.” And for Valentine’s Day, you’ll pre-order bins of 3 or 32 bonbons in vintage heart-shaped bins.
Topogato
Eater SF referred to as Topotgato San Francisco’s “maximum audacious on-line chocolate store.” The hand-painted confections from pastry chef Simon Brown and fashion designer Beau Monroe include taste mixtures like pistachio marzipan with hibiscus jelly and pear jam with chamomile tea and a white wine ganache. Topogato additionally sells art work through Monroe; this “rosebud” print would make a candy addition to a Valentine’s Day present of candies.
Sugoi Chocolates
Elle Lei makes bonbons in small batches out of Chicago; they promote out rapid. Sugoi partnered with fellow Chicago small industry Aya Pastry on festive Halloween bonbons and is doing the similar for Valentine’s Day. That collaboration is to be had for native pickup and supply, however keep tuned for extra choices to be had without delay from Sugoi, and within the period in-between, peruse the standard choices in flavors like beer pretzel, Chicago corn, and cotton sweet pop rock, all embellished with brilliant pops of colour.
Cacao and Cardamom
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Houston-based Cacao and Cardamom acknowledges the jewel-like enchantment of the bonbon, which right here are available a number of shapes, packaged in gold-lined bins. As the store’s identify implies, spices take a starring function in chocolatier Annie Rupani’s flavors: there’s strawberry szechuan peppercorn, garam masala pistachio, 5 spice praline, and cardamom rose, simply to call a couple of.
Kate Weiser
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The Valentine’s Day choices at Dallas-based chocolatier Kate Weiser mix my need for high quality, fancy chocolate with the gaudy Valentine’s Day imagery I unironically love. Simply take a look at the ones crimson hearts!
Monsoon Chocolate
In Tucson, Monsoon Chocolate places in combination bins of bonbons that exhibit a number of aesthetic types with flavors that replicate the southwestern environment, comparable to chiltepín pepper, prickly pear caramel, and Sonoran sea salt darkish chocolate. Like Exquisito Chocolate and Vesta Chocolate, Monsoon is a bean-to-bar operation.
Jardí Candies
Atlanta-based Jardí Candies is especially neatly suited for the fruit lover. For Valentine’s Day, pastry chef Jocelyn Gragg is striking in combination a four-piece set of bonbons; flavors come with liquid cherry cordial, piña colada, passionfruit and vanilla marshmallow, and a heart-shaped blood orange caramel.
And Sons
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At And Sons in Los Angeles, second-generation chocolate makers elevate at the circle of relatives custom with sublime bonbons and different chocolate confections. In case you’re having a look to provide chocolate hearts for Valentine’s Day, glance no additional. In reality, And Sons makes a massive heart-shaped bonbon (massive, at 3 inches) stuffed with cinnamon hazelnut gianduja, salted vanilla caramel, and hazelnut praline, at the side of smaller heart-shaped bonbons.
Bon Bon Bon
Bon Bon Bon’s bonbons may no longer have the standard domed form, however the flavors take complete benefit of the anything-goes spirit of the bonbon. The Detroit store’s Valentine’s Day assortment is particularly, um, spirited, together with flavors with names like cherry pop (candied Luxardo cherry confiture, toasted poppy seed ganache, and dried Michigan cherries), circle of relatives jewels (banana ganache, hazelnut praline ganache, hazelnut croquant, and pearl sugar), and S&M (strawberry and mascarpone). And whilst the Valentine’s Day pre-orders are bought out, thriller boxes-o-bons are to be had and most probably simply as amusing.
