In Love? Count the Endless Ways—All in Chocolate

Editor's note: This article originally ran in Feb. 2011. Check with each Melrose store for this year's prices and offerings.

Valentine’s Day is just days (hint hint) around the corner. Classic gifts like flower, cards, and a romantic dinner out in town or neighboring towns—without the kids—are on lover’s minds.

But for a gift that speaks the language of love—universally and unilaterally—look no further than Melrose, which might as well be shaped like a heart-shaped box of chocolates, there’s that much chocolate in this small, but apparently, densely rich, cacao-infiltrated city.

To help you decide, we’ve done a round-up of all things chocolat for your eating, baking, drinking, and yes, even perfuming pleasure. Provided in a list form—think of it as a wish list—make your sweetheart’s shopping for you that much easier!  Just print out, check off or highlight your heart’s desire(s), and voila!  No one gets hurt.

In the round-up you’ll find (deep breath):  rich chocolate candies, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate cakes, chocolate cake lollipops, chocolate cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries (hand-dipped, natch), chocolate candy-decorated wine glasses and chocolate pizza.  (Another deep breath.) Not to mention more chocolate in liquid (liquor) form, dry (ready-to-make pancake mix), frozen (death by chocolate custard), and in a jar (fudge sauce)…exhale. There’s just too much to list. 

So here are a few highlights for each of the 10 spots (click through the photos above to see the highlights). Do some research yourself!  And shop (and sample) forewarned: All stores are open for Valentine’s Day, but for some products, you’ll need to place orders ahead of Monday, so don’t say we didn’t give you fair notice.

7ate9 Bakery

• New for 2012: Have a few special Valentine’s Day cheesecake delivered right to your door: a Red Velvet Cheesecake with a Red Velvet Heart, or a Classic Cheesecake with chocolate hearts in both full sizes and mini cheesecakes (the minis also come in Taza Chocolate flavor). See attached photos.

, 1 Hurd St.

• For the gluten-free love in your life, try the Flourless Chocolate Cake shaped like a heart, covered in raspberry sauce and dotted with whipped white chocolate. It tastes like a custard brownie. The owner made this in wedding cake form for her daughter last summer (so you know it’s a winner.) Savor one for yourself. Also found: Chocolate covered strawberries and cream puffs. Ah, heaven.

, 530 Main St.

• Now, you might not be thinking of one of Boston’s favorite Irish places for the red heart holiday, but this Valentine’s, there’s two new items on the menu: Red Velvet cupcakes, covered with cream cheese frosting is being served, along with Sweetheart Scones, chocolate chip scones topped with light pink frosting, then sprinkled with hearts. You might have the luck of the Irish if you bring these home.

, 538 Main St.

• Who knew this wine store had more than wine on the shelves? (10 points if you did!) Try a bottle of Trentadue Chocolate Amore, a smooth liquor enjoyed, sipped by itself (18.5 percent alcohol by volume) or poured over vanilla ice cream. Or into a hand-painted wine glass decorated with red hearts and chocolate candies. Need more? Find Chilly Cow’s Death by Chocolate Frozen Custard in their freezer shelves, or ask for the Bacon Chocolate pancake mix. Warning: kids love this salty-sweet pancake mix, so hide it!

, 504 Main St.

• Welcome to the undisputed “Chocolate Capital of Melrose!” All year long, the chocolate candy counters are filled (and regularly emptied) by Melrose’s collective sweet collective tooth. But for Valentine’s Day, well, it’s like the Fourth of July—exploding in chocolate. What’s your heart’s (err, sweetheart’s) desire? Chocolate covered pretzels, sugar-free chocolates and new this year: Salted Caramels, dusted with sea salt. A must try! If Chocolate Turtles interest you, the treats come in 3 chocolate flavors (dark, milk, white) with three choices of nuts: pecan, cashew, and almond. One of Harbor Sweets top five distributors in Massachusetts, a selection in size and type is available. Tip: Try the Sweet Sloops. Your love will sail right into your arms!

, 163 West Emerson St.

• Is your love life a checkered past? Celebrate it with the signature checkerboard squared chocolate and vanilla cake (how do they do that?). Chocolate ganache is spread between the layers, then frosted in chocolate ganache. If your love likes presents gift-wrapped, the chocolate gift “box” cake will be a big hit. Also check out the baker racks filled with packages of light pink and vanilla colored Italian butter cookies or the tall bag of Chocolate Pizzelle cookies. For the young loves in your life, the cute panda cupcake is a must. Oh, and the chocolate dipped by hand, made fresh daily, chocolate covered strawberries.

, 460 Franklin St.

• Speaking of young kids, this sweet Melrose institution comes to mind, but they have sweet treats for big kids, too. Winfrey Candies are sold here. Sprinkle your love’s pillow with Mercken Foiled-covered Hearts, pink foil for dark chocolate lovers, red for milk chocolate. Or buy them in a heart-decorated coffee mug. Top it all off with a red heart balloon.

, 132 West Emerson St.

• Need to kick off your morning with a little sweet treat for yourself, and maybe someone else, on your way to catch the train? Chocolate brownies, large chocolate chip cookies and chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons are on the counter, wrapped and ready for you, to grab and go.