While chocolate is a noteworthy, year-round necessity, its finest season is February. Edible Valentine’s Day gifts are almost always iced, filled, baked or garnished with dark, milk or white chocolate. Here’s a sweet spotlight on eight of our favorite chocolate stops in the Mid-South.
Café Eclectic
Café Eclectic has amazing customer service and a knowledgeable staff. They serve a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner specialties, but especially this time of year, make sure to stop into one of their three locations — Harbortown, Midtown or Highland Street — for the treat of your choice. Their chcocolate-peanut butter cookies are delightful, and they are 85 cents each or three for $2.29.
Dinstuhl’s
Every February at Dinstuhl’s, all hands are on deck to prepare 5,000 pounds of chocolate strawberries in two days for the Valentine’s Day holiday! They have been making custom candies in Memphis since 1902, and they have expanded over the years to additional locations and a larger kitchen to meet high demand for their products.
SB Tip: Thinking about sending Dinstuhl’s famous chocolate-covered strawberries to your long-distance Valentine? They will be available beginning today (February 12) for shipping. The chocolate strawberries will be shipped Thursday for Friday arrival and must be shipped overnight. These delectable fruits are $26.50 for a pound, with a minimum of six in a box.
Frost Bake Shop
The Frost Bake Shop’s philosophy is that, like any Valentine, it’s what’s inside that truly matters. But their specialty cakes and desserts are pretty good looking on the outside, as well. All of their cakes are amazingly moist, tender and delicious. They say that there are no secret ingredients, simply the right equation of quality products. Their Frost Bites are a chocolate delicacy! They are $2 each or you can purchase four for $7 or a package of six for $10.
Phillip Ashley
Award-winning chocolatier and chef Phillip Ashley Rix believes “every chocolate should tell a story.” Self-trained in the difficult art of chocolate, he left his career in creative marketing with FedEx, UPS and Apple in 2012 to pursue his chocolate-making passion. Phillip Ashley has a 12-piece All-Heart collection for sale this week for $44.
River Oaks
MoJo Cookies are made at River Oaks Restaurant in honor and memory of Joseph “JoJo” DePete by Colleen and Jolene, mother and sister to JoJo. To describe the name, Colleen and Jolene explain: “The moon is an ever-constant reminder of our love for JoJo. And thus, Moon+JoJo gives us MoJo.” These delicious, dark chocolate chip, walnut cookies are available to purchase at River Oaks Restaurant.
Square Beans
Square Beans is a quaint hideaway located on Collierville’s historic town square. It is Collierville’s only independent coffeehouse, and in addition to fun coffee drinks, Square Beans is known for its homemade desserts, light lunch items and gelato. Their turtle brownies are decadently delicious and $2.95 each.
Sweet Noshings
Sweet Noshings is an old-fashioned candy store in Overton Square. This sugary shop is brimming with all of the colorful charm and tasty treats you would expect in a traditional candy shop, plus a few surprises, such as gourmet popcorn, ice cream, coffee and a multitude of fudge and chocolate. Milk or dark chocolate turtles, one of their many chocolate options, are $3.99 each.
Tart
There is a lot of chocolate at Tart! This chic neighborhood bakery, coffee shop and cafe in Midtown offers many dessert specialties and delicious French- and Cajun-inspired cuisine. Tart is much more than a cozy coffee shop, though. It’s a lovely place for breakfast, lunch or a late-night dessert on the weekend. There are many chocolate choices at this Midtown favorite! Try their famous pain au chocolat, $3 each. Miniatures are $1.50.
Have a delicious day!
From chocolate stops to coffee shops, fine cuisine and comfort foods, the SB Memphis Guide will point you in the right direction!
