COUTURE CHOCOLATES: A TASTING MENU

A love seat is a wide chair.

It was first made to sit a lady + her wide dress. Later the love seat, or courting seat, had 2 sections, usually in an S shape. Intended for the couple to sit together, but not too closely.

If seating is not your gift of choice this V-Day, how about something small like Chocolate?

But not just any box will do.

Here are a few of our favorite picks for an exotic confection fix:

MarieBelle 484 Broome Street between Wooster + West Broadway These exquisite post card sized truffles are infused with both unique + familiar flavors. Adorned with hand transferred original art work, these tidbits look too good to eat + taste too good not to! We recommend their Cacao Bar + Tea Salon, complete with table service, to sit, relax + rejuvenate.

La Maison du Chocolat 1018 Madison Ave 30 Rockefeller Center 63 Wall Street Their signature line has flour mixed with the chocolate, so it tastes more like fudge, than what you might expect. Know worldwide, their tarts and macaroons are absolutely delectable. The Madison Avenue Boutique offers tasting sessions both in the Evenings + on Saturdays.

Vosges 1100 Madison Ave 132 Spring Street A wonderful mix of chocolate with exotic ingredients from all over the world, their truffles are surrounded with Sweet Indian Curry, Organic New Mexican Pecans + Hungarian Paprika.  A different type of taste experience.

Charbonnel et Walker Saks Fifth Avenue - 8th Floor Founded in 1875, they are one of  Britain's earliest chocolatiers. Famous for their plain dark chocolate that has a luscious richness + unforgettable silky taste.

The Bald Man 841 Broadway between 13-14th Street This East Village destination for deserts has a hip shop in the front area with everything chocolate you could image + most things you couldn't even think of.  Touristy but unusual.

Jacques Torres 350 Hudson Street Chelsea Market 285 Amsterdam Avenue 66 Water Street, Brooklyn Some of the more elaborate selections include liquor or fruit based flavors, like Bin 27 Port or Alize Hearts of Passion. Not to be missed is the Wicked Hot Chocolate.  You be the judge.

All boutiques have on-lines stores, some even with NYC delivery.  Indulge with ease.

Yummy V-Day Events 2011:

A walking tour of chocolatiers in SoHo and Greenwich Village will be given by Walking Tours Manhattan this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.   It starts at Kee’s Chocolates, 80 Thompson Street (Spring Street). Admission is free, but a $5 donation to the Food Bank for New York City is requested (purchases are extra): walkingtoursmanhattan.com.

For a different Valentine’s Day dinner, there will be a cooking class for couples on Monday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Culinary Loft, 515 Broadway (Broome Street); $150 a person: (212) 431-7425, culinaryloft.com.

Another cooking class that evening, from 6 to 9, and featuring Champagne and tapas, will be given at Cooking by the Book, 13 Worth Street (Hudson Street); $125 a person: (212) 966-9799, cookingbythebook.com.

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Did you know? A tradition since 1994, each Valentine's Day the Empire State Building, hosts 14 lucky couples for a romantic wedding, vow renewal or commitment ceremony atop the  this famous landmark?  Historic but kitschy.

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With the complete Great American Songbook  to choose from, I used restraint + picked just one musical accompaniment:

Diana Krall "The Look of Love", from Live in Paris

To purchase the CD, visit Encore Decor's Amazon Store

All these listings seem so nice....  As a single gal, I look forward to what the next year brings. Pardon me while I dig into a bag of  super dark  Hershey's kisses. xox mmg

P.S.  What's your favorite chocolate addiction?

Leave your comment  below + let it be known!