Vegas Valentines are a confectioner’s dream

Jennifer Prosser

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

It's almost Valentine's Day and you want to buy some sweets for your sweet, but where to go? Before you grab that rock-hard box of chocolates off the shelf at your local grocery store, consult our list of extravagant chocolatiers to help you make some intelligent, informed choices. It could just get you some sweet rewards later.

You haven't had chocolate until you've had Godiva's raspberry truffles. Godiva is the place to buy truffles in town. Rich and smooth, the raspberry truffle is made with butter, cream and bits of raspberry in a dark chocolate shell and rolled in sugar. They are absolutely divine and meant to savor. The truffle hearts and boxes packaged special for Valentines Day include only one raspberry truffle; you may want to create your own box and include more (A pound of truffles, or 16 pieces, is $33). You should also add in some champagne truffles, a nice light-tasting liquer truffle drenched in milk chocolate, with another layer of milk chocolate in the center. Round out your truffle selection with some tart key lime truffles, smooth strawberry truffles and tangy mandarin orange.

For those looking for a wider selection, the 7.4 oz. truffle heart, which contains one each of raspberry, strawberry, key lime, mandarin orange, honey-roasted almond, vanilla, coconut, milk chocolate, espresso, pecan caramel and the special Valentine's French vanilla, is a deal at $40. The heart, one of those in the store marked with a special sticker, includes an entry into the "Chocolates and Diamonds" sweepstakes. The grand prize in this drawing is a 7.5-carat diamond ring set in platinum and 18-carat gold (worth $125,000), and 75 runners-up receive a $3,500 diamond bracelet. Now what woman wouldn't like that?

Godiva boutiques are located at:

A close second to the champagne truffles at Godiva are those at Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland. Their premier item, these champagne truffles are a blend of fresh cream, butter and chocolate with a Dom Perignon champagne center, dusted with confectioner's sugar. They're light, refreshing and not overly sweet. Boxes of champagne truffles begin at $4 for 2 or $7.50 for 4.

The raspberry chocolates are also good here, but even better are the apricot gianduja, a light pleasant cream and the coffee chocolates will make a fan out of those who aren't even coffee drinkers. All chocolates are finely-blended and made fresh daily.

Special fantasy gift boxes that adorn the store are a perfect choice for Valentine's gifts; prices range according to weight (Teuscher chocolates are $50 a pound). Box choices include hearts, flowers, clowns, animals and more.

Vegas' own Ethel M Chocolates has the best selection of chocolates in town. With more than 60 varieties of caramels, liquers, toffee and crhmes, Ethel M received national acclaim this past Christmas when actor Jim Carrey gave the chocolates as gifts.

Ethel M also has a large selection of Valentine's gifts, with more than 20 items; many of the heart boxes can be customized. Our favorites include the lemon truffle heart (the tart lemon and dark chocolate create a nice zing), the orange and amaretto liquers, which are strong and subtle, the chocolate satin crhme, very rich with three layers of chocolate and the wonderful macadamia nut cluster.

Ethel M's gift items are quite imaginative (and tasty) - where else in town can you find a jewelry box made entirely of chocolate? Chances are this doesn't last more than an hour ($25 for milk chocolate, $28 for white chocolate). The velvet-nosed Taffie bear, filled with truffle hearts, will have her cooing with delight. (Large bear with 18 chocolates, $48, small bear with 4 chocolates, $26.) And the straw Valentine tote will remind her of your thoughtfulness all year round - plus, it's filled with a solid milk chocolate heart, $14.

You can find Ethel M shops at:

There's a reason you always see long lines in front of the See's Candies store in the mall. Simply put, it's great chocolate. The best chocolates here are the butterscotch squares, rich pillows of brown sugar and vanilla buttercream covered with milk chocolate. Eating a butterscotch square tastes like you sat down with a bowl of brown sugar, butter and a spoon. Also good are the raspberry creams, which are vibrant and juicy. The Mayfair takes chocolate-covered cherries one step further with maraschino cherries, walnuts and buttercream. And the chocolate chip truffles are rich, creamy and delightful.

See's Candies has a variety of Valentine's Day items, some, such as the kitty novelty heart, which contains sugar sticks, lollipops, butterscotch chews and a marshmallow heart, sell for less than $10. Fine if you're giving gifts to friends or children, but for your sweetheart, try the fancy plum heart, $35. The beautiful box contains a two-pound selection of See's most popular candy including truffles, soft centers, nut chews and more. Or go for the one-pound fancy velvet truffle heart, which contains only truffles, $18.50.

See's Candies can be found at: