Believe it: Many women will opt for chocolate over sex. Don’t make her choose on Valentine’s Day, of all days. Whet her appetite with product from Toronto’s finest chocolate shops. The rest is up to you.
Soma
The chocolatiers at Soma roast small batches of fair trade, organic cacao beans, masterfully executing truffles, cacao nibs and micro-batch single-origin bars. Their Mayan Hot Chocolate — dark chocolate, ginger, vanilla and chili — is the perfect antidote to winter. 55 Mill St., Bldg. 48, 416-815-7662.
Nadege Patisserie
Visit this Parisian bakery for Valrhona chocolate ganache-filled cappuccino macaroons, or the Addiction cake: a pink cylinder of chocolate, stuffed with pomegranate and dark chocolate mousse and topped with a dark chocolate truffle. 780 Queen St. W., 416-368-2009.
Xococava [pictured]
DailyXY blogger Chris McDonald channels Spain in his vision for Xococava: His talented staff offers creative truffle concoctions, including those filled with Pedro Ximenez sherry, rosemary and honey, and, you’re reading correctly, chorizo. If sausage and chocolate won’t do the trick, opt for a sure bet: fudge brownie ice cream. 1560 Yonge St., 416-979-9916.
OMG Baked Goodness
The best way to a woman’s heart? Vegan chocolate cupcakes, my friend. Don’t let the V-word scare you; these moist, rich delights are decidedly decadent, with icing so creamy, you won’t believe it’s not butter. 1561 Dundas St. W., 647-3485-OMG.
Odile Chocolat
The handmade truffles here fuse traditional French techniques with exciting flavours. Think tangy raspberry vinegar, cardamom and silver leaf, or the classic cognac ganache. Each truffle is topped with edible cocoa butter artwork. 829 Dundas St. W., 416-538-1016.
Image courtesy of Renée Suen
All great suggestions but what about Yorkville-based Moroco Chocolat? Utterly delicious
Hi Michael, thanks for the suggestion. I’m quite familiar with Moroco, but as a true chocophile I really felt these places deliver the most fantastic products in Toronto on a consistent basis…..and believe me, I have tried them all…..
If anyone can find chocolate with good-quality lime-flavoured filling inside, then I would buy about a million of them just for myself.
Odile Chocolat has a couple of lime options for truffles: Mexicana has tequila, candied lime peel & chipotle pepper. There is also a bourbon vanilla & candied lime peel truffle. If you like citrus other than orange with chocolate, Soma also currently has a Sumac Truffle, which is dark chocolate with a really interesting lemony flavour from the sumac. Definitely worth checking out!