Got to love chocolate!

It just isn't Valentine's Day without chocolate, but chocolate and gifts didn't enter the Valentine's Day scene until the second half of the 20th century. Before then hand written notes were exchanged. After her graduation from Mount Holyoke College in 1847, Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts had received her first English Valentine. She was interested in making similar Valentines and her father owned a large book and stationery store. She imported the paper lace and floral decorations from England and began taking orders for Valentines. Demand was so great she had friends assist her and issued her first ad in a Worcester newspaper and created a thriving business. It later became popular to exchange gifts and not just cards, including roses and chocolates packed in red satin heart shaped boxes.

We've moved beyond the red satin boxes and the chocolate selections have grown up since Cadbury's first first heart shaped chocolate box of 1861. So what have we got for you or your Valentine this year?

Red Collection - 9 Piece Box

Our 9-Piece Box is filled with 5 beautifully decorated hearts and 4 hand-dipped bonbons specially decorated for the occasion. The flavors included in this collection are raspberry, ginger, caramelized white chocolate, bourbon caramel, peanut butter, cherry, milk chocolate creme fraiche, passionfruit, and Ceylon cinnamon. This collection comes to you in our signature black box wrapped in a red Japanese paper sleeve and is sealed with a wax heart.

Orders to be shipped can be placed through Sunday, February 6 at midnight and will be shipped USPS Priority Mail Tuesday, February 8 (2-3 day delivery time.) Orders to be shipped placed after February 6 at midnight will be shipped on Tuesday, February 15.

Local orders for pickup can be placed through Friday, February 11 at midnight and can be picked up Monday, February 14 between 10am and 5pm.

Red Collection - 5 Piece Box

Our 5-piece box is filled with beautifully decorated hearts. The flavors included in this collection are raspberry, ginger, caramelized white chocolate, bourbon caramel, and peanut butter. The hearts are nestled in a unique handmade cocoa leaf box with a window to admire each heart. The boxes are made by artisans in remote villages using sustainable materials.

Orders to be shipped can be placed through Sunday, February 6 at midnight and will be shipped USPS Priority Mail Tuesday, February 8 (2-3 day delivery time.) Orders to be shipped placed after February 6 at midnight will be shipped on Tuesday, February 15.

Local orders for pickup can be placed through Friday, February 11 at midnight and can be picked up Monday, February 14 between 10am and 5pm.

New Year! New Chocolates!

We are back in the kitchen with new seasonal sweets for you to enjoy and quite a few new venues where our chocolates can be found. The January Chocolate Club is in full swing with treats that reflect the season available exclusively for Chocolate Club members. Feast your eyes on this month's Chef's Choice:

• Caramelized White Chocolate - Valrhona Ivoire with warm tones of butterscotch and dulce de leche
• Hot Chocolate - Winter classic has dark chocolate ganache flavored with a hint of creme de cacao and topped with handmade marshmallow
• Vanilla – A dark chocolate ganache infused with fresh vanilla bean
• Cayenne / 5 Spice – A savory dark chocolate ganache flavored with Chinese five spice and the heat of cayenne
• Honey Caramel - Floral tones of wildflower honey in a soft caramel, balanced with
• fleur de sel
• Passion Fruit - A white chocolate ganache with the tart and tangy presence of passion fruit
• Confection of the Month: Maple Bourbon Pecan Clusters

Should you feel that you just can't be left out this month, you can still join the January Chocolate Club, but you have only a short few days. The deadline for this month is January 9th at the stroke of midnight. Click here to become a member.

Local Finds
We are starting to pop in on local neighborhood shops and make ourselves at home. Look for us at Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge. On the shelves they'll have bags of confections, and 9 piece boxed collections of both our Three Teas and Caramel Trio. Behind the chocolate display case, you'll find individual bonbons available a la carte. Grab a bottle of Champagne, some cheese and wine, a selection of charcuterie and a baguette and you have the perfect last minute feast!

A little closer to the source, our local bean to bar chocolate friends, Taza Chocolates, will be selling a classic truffle that we have made for them with a ganache based on Taza’s 70% Stone Ground Chocolate, hand dipped in Taza 80% dark. It's fruity and dark with delicious tones of cherries. The truffles can be found at Taza's new retail shop downstairs from our kitchen at 561 Windsor St. Somerville. They'll also have samples of all their chocolates, and take a peek through the windows at their expanded production facility!

In the News

Public Radio Kitchen
"New Sweety in Town - Fate threw Elaine Hsieh and Catharine Sweeney together over ten years ago when a mutual friend asked them to make a wedding cake (their first). The two are still talking, and they’re even in business together with the brand spankin’ new Elaine Hsieh Chocolatier in Somerville. Check out these beautiful chocolates (did I mention there’s a monthly chocolate club membership?)."

Weekly Dig
"SOMERVILLE AS HERSHEY: IS THAT A LOCAL FIRST AMUSEMENT PARK? - In October, chocolatier extraordinaire Elaine Hsieh set up shop on Taza’s second floor. She, along with cofounder Catharine Sweeney, makes confections that fall just a smidgen short of adultery in guilty bliss. Their Pecan Clusters ($18.95), dripping with dark chocolate and bourbon-infused caramel, are the closest you can come to absolutely ecstasy without oxygen deprivation."

Celebrate Winter

Many local food folks are celebrating because on Saturday, January 8th the Somerville Winter Farmer's Market makes its début. Come visit us at the Somerville Winter Farmer's Market, January through March, 2011! The market will be held at the Arts at the Armory building.