Valentine's Day Chocolate Fix

That twinkle in your eye will drift back in forth from your loved one to the rich melted chocolate in your cup. For the hot chocolate lover this is heaven on earth. One of my favourite spots for a cup of hot chocolate or rather a mug of melted chocolate and cream. It takes me back to Italy where, as a child, I enjoyed little espresso sized cups of the richest smoothest hot chocolate. They come in dark, milk or white and for me the smallest size or the sampler is the most I can handle.

Hot cocoa, whipped cream and yearbook photos all around the wall. This will take you back to your puppy love days.

The Chinese five spice chocolate soup, one of over 80 mostly chocolate desserts, pastries and confections served at The Chocolate Bar from 11-3 on Saturdays, is not exactly hot chocolate but it is lovely! There is a delicious hot chocolate served but the combination of the chocolate and the Chinese five spice is divine. If hot chocolate is not your thing then there are plenty more chocolate indulgences to enjoy from Boston Cream Pie to chocolate pasta.

If you want a real Cadbury's chocolate bar this is the place to go. Shower your beloved Anglophile or homesick Brit/Canuck with some classics from Flake and Mars Bar to Buttons and Coffee Crisp.

Formaggio has a great collection of the fancy bars from all over the world. Ask the staff for some guidance they know their stuff and have often been to the source.

Lots of sweets and candy and chocolate here. From non-pareils to color-coded M&Ms. They even have a good collection of sugar-free candy and chocolate. This is a great place to get some "gag-gift" chocolate bars for those in your life who are close enough and love you enough to survive your constant taunting. Pick up an "over the hill" bar or a "pms" chocolate and they will know deep down you love them.

If you want to impress someone with the latest and greatest, then perhaps a little something from this British chocolate boutique and relative new-comer to the area. If you won't be on Newbury Street you can always stop by at The Mall a Chestnut Hill after you pick up that perfect gift for your loved one(s).

I love this little place chock-a-block full of everything from rakes to cheese and specialty decorating sugars to chocolate. From basic to bacon, you will find all sorts of chocolate in a range of prices. If you are feeling more like cake or cookies (chocolate of course) there are plenty of those too.

Most people come here for the freshly roasted nuts, but the chocolate is also very good. It is more of a confection than a pure chocolate place. Worth a visit and you can pick up chocolate bars or chocolate covered sunflower seeds as a little gift.

If you like rough around the edges, then Taza is your chocolate. This stone-ground locally made chocolate has an unrefined charm. If you want to get the whole story, you can either go online and see how your batch of chocolate was made or head over to the factory and get a live tour. For a taste, just track down one of their many tastings!

Their chocolate bread is a real draw!

Their chocolate loaf is rich and buttery but for a little more chocolate power, try the brownie or the chocolate cork. If you want to go wild and crazy try the sin sandwich.

The Spa has a Chocolate at the Shore Salt Glow 30-minute body treatment: $60 or a Chocolate Manicure/Pedicure Hands or feet receive a pampering treatment with a chocolate milkshake soak followed by a chocolate nutty scrub; indulge in a chocolate whip cream massage, sealed with heated chocolate paraffin. The products used are rich in botanicals and vitamins A, E, and C. (Manicure 45-minutes $35 or Chocolate Pedicure 60-minutes $55) There is also the whole Chocolate Paradise package: Chocolate Paradise Chocolate Manicure, Chocolate Pedicure and a Chocolate-Raspberry Body Scrub. 2hrs 15-minutes $135