Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yesterday I wrote about my morning chocolate tour of Back Bay. You might think that after spending 2.5 hours consuming chocolate — truffles, cupcakes, ice cream — I’d be stuffed. And you’d be right. But of course I will rally for Boston Chocolate Tour’s afternoon walk in the South End.

We begin at Code 10 (which, by the way, is police speak for a meal break) to sample the Chocolate Orgasm Brownie by Rosie’s Bakery. This slice of chocolate is so rich we only need a little bite.

Next up we stop at Flour Bakery to sample their homemade oreos…

We continue our scenic walk through the South End. This is a neighborhood I didn’t get to explore much in college and it’s blossomed with so many cute stores and restaurants.

Our third stop is Tremont 647 and its other half, Sister Sorel.

This restaurant hosts pajama brunch on the weekends and the staff dresses accordingly. I love the atmosphere of this place.

We are greeted by these very kind folks:

Heather, the pastry chef, has crafted a unique dessert just for our chocolate tour. Today it’s a chocolate ganache and coconut creation.

Matthew, the assistant general manager, has put together a special cocktail to accompany our chocolate.

Then we head next door to David’s Tea. This is not a stop I would’ve expected on a chocolate tour, but it’s actually fascinating to learn about tea varieties (including chocolate) and sample flavors.

For the record, we try about five different kinds of tea and my favorite is the daily special: White Chocolate Frost. It has a peppermint kick that I love.

Check out this entire wall of tea varieties:

Our chocolate tour guide Victoria smiles for the camera:

I immediately fall in love with this next store, the supremely adorable Olives & Grace.

We sample Apotheker’s cherry & almond dark chocolate made with raw honey (no sugar).

The store features items I’d expect to find on Etsy. Their website notes,

“We feature emerging artists, gift producers, and small batch food makers from big cities and quiet neighborhoods across the country. We’re fighting the good fight by helping to preserve the simple pleasure of walking into a shop and discovering products that have been drafted and perfected by skilled craftsmen. Their signatures (be it a batch number or hand-sewn label) are markers of completion and pride. The meticulous and well-earned seal of approval from a maker is what Olives & Grace is all about.”

Love this quote on the wall:

We move on to Felicity Sweets, which is known for their Lake Champlain chocolates.

Victoria is best buddies with this little guy:

We are invited to pick any chocolate in the case. I go for the chocolate covered cherry and it is divine.

I flip through this 100 Places Every Woman Should Go book:

We continue on through the South End, past the Boston Center for the Arts. It’s been nearly a decade since I last saw a show here. How time flies!

Victoria dashes into Picco and returns with a sample of their decadent chocolate gelato.

Our tour ends with a scrumptious cupcake at South End Buttery.

Afterwards, I photograph our chocolate tour guide Victoria in the South End. She happens to be one of my oldest and dearest friends, with our friendship dating back to 1995!

Thanks for hosting me, Victoria! I am so glad to finally experience these chocolate tours.

And if you live in New England and need a last-minute gift for your loved one, look no further than the links below.

DETAILS:

Boston Chocolate Tours offers the South End tour every Saturday afternoon at 2pm. Tickets are $48. Show up with an empty stomach to enjoy all of these sweets! (You can take home anything you don’t finish.) The tour takes about 2.5 hours and there’s less than a mile of walking.

Many thanks to Boston Chocolate Tours for sponsoring my tour! As always, opinions are my own.