Back in high school, my very first boyfriend asked me what I wanted for Valentine’s Day. “Chocolate,” I replied without hesitation. “But that’s so boring!” he said. “I don’t care,” I said. “I want chocolate.”
I don’t know who came up with the tradition of giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day but I’d like to thank that person. Well done. And if you want to give your loved one some superb chocolate this week, you’ve got lots of choices. There are many fine local chocolatiers in Bucks and Hunterdon. Their chocolate ranges from exotic, to healthy, to decadent, to sweet, to just plain good.
Tom Sciascia (pronounced: sha-sha) sells his beautiful chocolates at the Stockton Market every weekend. His business, Sciascia Confections (a.k.a. The Painted Truffle), is a work of love. Being Italian, he comes from a culture where food is one of the ways you show your love. This, combined with his previous career as an artist, results in some creative and exquisite chocolate. “It brings all my talents together,” he explains. “I truly love bringing happiness to people.”
His customers love his Sea Salt Dark Caramel Truffles the best. Another big favorite are his cordials, which take four days to create. The Cabernet Cordial is made with Stag Leap Cabernet and dark Madagascar chocolate.
And if you’re a fan of both whisky and chocolate (which I certainly am), try his other cordials filled with Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon, Macallan 15 year old scotch, Laphroaig scotch, or Bucks County’s own Dad’s Hat Rye whisky.
One of Sciascia’s favorites is his hot chocolate made from three different types of ground 70% chocolate. In addition to truffles, caramels and cordials, Sciascia also offers macarons, chocolate bark, and cookies. You can purchase Sciascia Confections at the Stockton Market or online at www.sciasciaconfections.com.
When I walked into Pierre’s Chocolates, there wasn’t a square inch not covered with chocolate. Pierre’s famous truffles were in abundance, of course, and the small store smelled fantastic. You wouldn’t even know that the original owner wasn’t at the helm. Tom Block, former owner of Thomas Sweet in Princeton, bought this popular New Hope confectionery three years ago and has been continuing the tradition ever since. And then some.
He has introduced a line of “small batch” chocolates featuring single origin chocolate from Central and South America and Hawaii. For instance, the Kokelika truffle features Hawaiian chocolate from one plantation.
“You can taste the pineapple and papaya in the chocolate,” Block explains. “It’s in the earth.” Come in and taste some of his other creations like the Bangkok truffle made with Thai tea, ginger, coconut, lemongrass, and vanilla blended with milk chocolate. Or the Solebury Red: a dark chocolate truffle featuring red wine from the New Hope Winery.
Block, along with his son-in-law Justin Zaslow, has also been blending in other local libations like beer from the Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company in Croydon. Pierre’s is at 360 West Bridge Street in New Hope.
Raymer’s Homemade Candies is one of those places that feels like it’s been there forever. In fact, the family-owned business has only been in downtown Doylestown for 13 years.
But the Raymers have a long history of making chocolate. Sue Raymer’s father had a candy business in Wisconsin for 60 years and many of his recipes are in the cases and on the shelves. One of Sue’s favorites is “anything made with the caramel from my father’s recipe” which originally came from Germany in the late 1800’s. Customers also love the Sea Salt Caramels.
But for a really unique gift for your honey, get a chocolate-covered bottle of wine. You buy the bottle and bring it to the store. They take it, wrap it in plastic wrap and attach a small red ribbon at the top. It’s then dipped in the chocolate of your choice and decorated. When it’s time to open the bottle, you pull on the red ribbon which cracks open the chocolate covering. Enjoy your favorite wine or liquor with pieces of chocolate. What could be better? For only $19.95, it’s a real winner. You can find Raymer’s Homemade Candies at 21 East Oakland Avenue in Doylestown and online at raymershomemadecandies.com.
Here is a list of local chocolatiers and confectionery makers in Bucks and nearby. Some sell at retail locations, some only online. Click on the name of the confectionery to go to their website. [If I’ve missed one of your favorites, please drop me a line at info@BucksCountyTaste.com.]
Laurie’s Chocolates Truffles, toffee, caramel, hot cocoas and barks made fresh to order in small batches, using local ingredients including locally-roasted coffee, wines, peanut butter and lavender. (Online and at select retail locations.)
{Luv} Superfoods Raw, organic chocolates made with local honey, cacao powder, cacao butter, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut oil, goji berries, hemp seeds, chia seeds and sea salt. (Online and at select retail locations.)
Newtown Chocolatier Artisanal chocolates using Belgium’s finest chocolate (Barry-Callebaut) and other quality ingredients found around the globe. (Retail location in Newtown and online.)
Noble Sweets Chocolate, baked goods and other sweets from this home-based business in Pipersville. The toffee is amazing! (Online)
Pierre’s Chocolates Truffles! And a lot more. (Retail location in New Hope and online.)
Raymer’s Homemade Candies Over 50 varieties of homemade candies including Geneva creams, specialty fudges, and a wide variety of the finest homemade caramels available anywhere. (Retail location in Doylestown.)
Sciascia Confections Artisanal gourmet chocolates and confections. (Retail location at the Stockton Market and online.)
Skip’s Candy Corner Since 1993 making their own chocolates and sweets, nestled in Peddler’s Village (Retail location in Lahaska and online.)
Stutz Candy Company This legendary confectioner has been in business since 1940, now run by the 5th generation. Known for an array of store-made chocolates, fudge, nut confections and nonpareils, you’ll find them in Hatboro and Warrington.
Warner’s Candies In business for over 55 years, this local favorite makes all their own chocolate on the premises at their retail location in Bensalem.
Over the past three years I have been ordering from Noble Sweets. Everything I’ve gotten has been delicious! Cakes, cookies, pies, you name it. And their toffee is AMAZING!
Ooops – another famous store, ‘Skip’s Candy Corner’ was inadvertently omitted: Handmade chocolate specialties such as (new) Nutella filled chocolate bars, large Turtles, chocolate covered Strawberries (a Valentine favorite), Irish Potatoes (all year not just St. Patrick’s Day), and Sea Salt Bark to name a few products – all fresh – made in small batches.
Skip’s also has ‘tree nut and nut free chocolates’ for those with allergies.
Location: Street Rd & Peddler’s La., Lahaska, PA 215-794-8087 Call and order your chocolate Strawberries.
thanks, janet! Sorry for the omission. I’ve added you to the list.
Good list! I want to experience all of them!
Newtown Chocolatiers also have wonderful delights!
66 Richboro Road, Newtown, PA 18940
Phone:(215) 579-2333
Hours: Open today · 11:00 am – 6:00 pm