Ideal evening in Winnipeg: Drinks and dinner at Langside Grocery or One Sixteen “For me, that’s usually cooking a good meal at home with a good bottle of wine.”Īnd what goes with the wine? “Wine goes so well with chocolate,” she adds. “We’ve had a really busy few days and it’s nice to just relax,” she says. “We bring the women in (early) and then all the boys come in on the 13th and 14th,” she laughs.Īfter a whirlwind month of romantic treats, Staines is looking forward to nothing more than a quiet night at home with her wife. Over the past seven years of running her own shop, Staines has seen a somewhat stereotypical pattern emerge around Valentine’s Day. Wine goes well with chocolate on Valentine’s Day, says Helen Staines, owner of Decadence Chocolates. Rich, fruity notes are popular with customers. This time of year she offers specially shaped products and gets creative with themed flavors like cinnamon chili, raspberry lychees and cherry white chocolate ganache. Valentine’s Day is one of the three busiest times of the year at Decadence Chocolates, along with Christmas and Easter. Helen Staines has been a chocolatier for 15 years and is well versed in the ups and downs of the chocolate shopping calendar. “It’s the epitome of romance to me,” she says. “When it gets dark, go to Thermea, eat there and end with a nightcap somewhere.”Ī surprise box of chocolates would be the icing on the cake. “If I couldn’t be at my shop on the 14th, my day would go like this: sleep until eight or nine… start the day at Bird’s Hill with a bit of skiing, then have a nice lunch or brunch at our house and move on reading by the fireplace,” Menzies says of her ideal Valentine’s Day plan. Menzies can expect a delivery of red roses that day and the duo try to have some quality time together around the busy holiday. “Our employees have really cute or funny or silly ideas, but people still want the heart,” Menzies says.Īlthough she works with cocoa beans every day, chocolate often plays a part in her personal Valentine’s Day celebrations with her partner Tim (the couple refer to each other as “playmates”). While she’s experimented with different styles and shapes in the business for the last 16 years, heart-shaped chocolates and boxes in shades of red and pink are reliable hits.Ĭonstance Menzies says her employees at chocolatier Constance Popp come up with a lot of fun ideas like this, but more often than not, “people still want the heart.” Menzies sees chocolate as a versatile, accessible gift that can be given to lovers, friends and colleagues alike. Boniface store is transformed into an oasis of red hearts, and employees prepare for a rush of shoppers – February 14 is the company’s busiest sales day of the year. Constanze Menziesįavorite love song: sing me a song by William Prince and Serena RyderĬonstance Menzies is all about Valentine’s Day. The free press After weeks of struggling with melted chocolate and wrapping paper, I turned to several independent chocolatiers to get their take on the holiday and how they celebrate the season of love. In the region, Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest times of the year for Winnipeg’s chocolate makers. The holiday also represents approximately $4 billion in annual confectionery sales in the United States. A recent survey by the National Confectioners Association shows that 92 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate and candy this year. Sweets remain a February staple for many lovers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |