Columnist Muriel Stevens: Sweet talk for the holidays

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2001 | 8:21 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping and travel columns appear Wednesday. Her dining column appears Friday. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

How sweet it is having such a grand selection of candy shops in Las Vegas. Ethel M, See's, Godiva, Teuscher and M&M's all provide a plethora of holiday items ideal for gifts.

I admit to being partial to our hometown chocolatier, Ethel M. And although I never met him, the late Forrest Mars Sr. once sent his cook to take the cooking lessons I was offering at a local cook shop.

That's not why I'm partial to Ethel M. It was just a bit of trivia I wanted to share.

Being able to go to the Ethel M chocolate factory assures the freshest chocolates at all the stores. And the factory store is always filled with a smashing selection of creative gift packages suitable for every age and every occasion.

Visit during the holiday season and experience the spectacular holiday lights illuminating the rare cactus garden. The lights will continue to glow daily from 4:30-11 p.m. through Jan. 3. All this and free chocolate samples.

See's Candies is a West Coast tradition. Before See's opened shops in Las Vegas a trip to L.A. meant dragging back the boxes of See's chocolates and those chocolate lollipops that friends requested. This was long before See's packaged designer Barbie dolls with sweets.

This year's beautiful Barbie, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," is $28. See's Christmas packages are on display at most of the stores. An almost 5-pound Christmas Tray Basket is filled with tempting holiday confections. Free chocolate samples, always.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the holiday gift stuff at M&M's World, on the Strip in the Showcase mall.

This appealing sweet shop offers everything from velveteen Christmas stockings to character Christmas ornaments and a selection of garb for kids to teens.

Another hometown goodie is Bay Area Biscotti Company, created by Arlene Dameli. Arlene bakes excellent biscotti (don't miss the chocolate-dipped orange biscotti). For gift-giving she fills a blown-glass cookie jar with 2 1/2 pounds of mini biscotti. Choose from pistachio, marble or peanut-butter chocolate chip. Bay Area also offers a large gift tray or gift box ($30-$22). Includes assorted flavors, some are chocolate-dipped. Prices include shipping. Call 795-8700. Or order online at bayareabiscotti.com.

It was Ogden Nash who wrote "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker." A gift of Teuscher champagne truffles settles the dilemma.

These scrumptious chocolates are irresistible and are only found at the Teuscher chocolate shop at Desert Passage at Aladdin. A box of champagne truffles, about 1 pound, costs $40.

A favorite, true chocolate story: A friend set out out to buy a gift of Teuscher's champagne truffles and was dismayed when they didn't have any. There were many words exchanged about how a candy shop could be out of one of its best sellers.

As he left my friend said, "As long as I'm here I might as well ask the correct way to pronounce your name."

The sales clerk's response? "Godiva."

The Godiva shop is just across the way from Teuscher.

Its chocolates are good, too.