Valentines galore:
Two local chocolatiers sure to treat your most romantic appetite
Valentine’s Day was established in the 5th century as a feast to honour the saint.
The history is a bit murky but by the 15th century it was well linked to romance and the sharing of written valentines. The sinful link to chocolates happened in the 1800s. Prior to that, chocolate was served mainly as a beverage with Mayan/Aztec roots. It did not become “eating chocolate” until 1861 when Richard Cadbury transformed the cocoa butter extracted from making the beverage into edibles, packaged in cupid-adorned boxes.
Here are two local chocolatiers all set to help you indulge.
Christy’s Gourmet Gifts
In response to, “How are you?” Bernie Mueller replies, “Living in the land of chocolate is always good.” His wife, Christy, wrote the first chapter of the Gourmet Shop’s story about 20 years ago. Baking often with her grandmother, the success of their butter crunch led to craft shows, then taking the next step of making it more of a business.
Bernie’s reaction was, “Christy, you can do whatever you want, just don’t expect me to help.” But in time, the business needed someone else to come in. Bernie began training as a chocolatier — travelling every year to upgrade his skills and knowledge. He has even done “bean to bar” training on a farm in Central America. In turn, in non-COVID times, he runs workshops.
The shop is filled with many items dipped in chocolate ranging from sour gummies and licorice to butter tarts. With the exception of a chocolate from Ecuador, all the chocolate is imported from Europe.
For a chocolate melt-in-your-mouth experience try the Belgian Bites — recently featured in LCBO’s Food and Drink. “(They) are made with creamy Belgian milk chocolate and garnished with … sponge toffee, crunch, pecan butter tart toffee and caramel.” The Valentine’s version is garnished with freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry chocolate hearts (made with essence of strawberry and no food-colouring).
In the online shop, (toffee) crunch is an entire category with variations combining chocolate and a buttery toffee biscuit for a sweet/salty treat. There’s a lovely pink chocolate crunch available for Valentine’s. Sweet and salty go to extremes in the Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rod.
In a mostly chocolate shop, I was surprised that my favourite purchase was the Espresso Shortbread. Also a recipe from “Nanny,” it comes in several versions. The cookie decorating kits look like fun. Christy’s adapts to the season and they are known for their Easter bunnies and high-end, artfully decorated gourmet eggs.
For Valentine’s, there are two noteworthy treats. The Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Bomb comes with a raspberry sauce meant to be heated. The pour-over melts the chocolate, leaving a delicious brownie treat for two. The Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board is a clever idea.
Christy’s also sells Provision Jams and Tea Amo teas. Under the current lockdown, they offer online orders/curbside pickup, delivery to Burlington, Waterdown, Oakville, and shipping to anywhere in Canada.
Chocolat on James
Sheryl Cameron (previously Cronsberry) began crafting chocolates in the 1990s, selling them at craft and trade shows. In time, her brother and his wife took the business to the next level by opening Chocolate Sensations in Paris, Ont.
After running Pam’s Coffee in Jackson Square, Cameron returned in 2015 to her chocolate roots.
“Inspired by the wave of creative and entrepreneurial energy in the James North area, Sheryl knew 123 James North was the perfect spot to fulfil her dream of opening a sophisticated chocolate boutique with whimsy,” her website, chocolatonjames, says.
Selling an abundance of treats, hot and cold beverages and wildly creative soft serve ice cream, Chocolat has become a favourite of many. In addition to offering lovely truffles, their focus is also on chocolate snacks and candies. Products are grouped as house specialties, fudge and premium bars, truffles, panned, bars and bark.
“Panned” refers to the machine that coats items in chocolate and that includes nuts and dried berries, caramel bites, cookie dough, espresso beans, jujubes, and malt balls. Other sweets are simply dipped — such as licorice and sponge toffee.
The specialty marshmallow caramel Himalayan sea salt bar was delicious with a base of homemade marshmallow — also available as a dipped stick and cookie dough marshmallow cupcakes.
A pleasant surprise were the matcha green tea stuffed Oreos. Having never been a fan of Oreos, I now have to reconsider. The matcha filling, enrobed in luscious chocolate was heavenly.
Oreos also appear in the “bombs” — a recent viral trend, that involves pouring steaming milk over a chocolate bomb for a delicious beverage. For Christmas, staff was coming in at 4:30 a.m. to make 300 to 500 hot chocolate bombs that sold out daily. For Valentine’s Day, they have added a strawberries and cream version.
Salted caramel, kettle corn, peanut butter cups, and caramel pecan tortoises entice. Especially pretty are the cherry cordials — stemmed Bing cherries dipped in chocolate — special enough for any occasion. Most popular on Valentine’s Day are the dipped strawberries, truffle caramel box and the chocolate heart with a surprise inside.
Vegan-friendly and sugar-free options are available.
Currently, Chocolat on James is open to walk-in customers and offers online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery.