4 Local Chocolatiers That Will Sweeten Valentine's Day

The countdown to Valentine’s Day has begun. Wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends and friends are starting to daydream of one thing—chocolate.

You don’t have to go far to find chocolate excellence either. Del Mar and Carmel Valley have a handful of chocolate shops that will satisfy our sweet tooth.

• Chuao Chocolatier: Located in the Del Mar Highlands shopping center at 3485 Del Mar Heights Rd., San Diego, CA 92130, Chuao is a Carlsbad-based artisan chocolatier. They carry bars, bonbons, gift packages and more. We suggest the maple bacon bar for the breakfast lover in your life and the spicy maya bar with cinnamon, pasilla chile and cayenne pepper to spice up your romance. If you are looking for more than a few bars, try their pairings. Let the clerk know if you are planning to drink white wine, red wine, sparkling wine, craft beer or whiskey on Valentine's Day and they will pair a box of chocolate for your date.
• Dallmann Fine Chocolates: Located in Flower Hill Promenade at 2760 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014, Dallmann Fine Chocolates has beautiful truffles and bars. They carry dark, milk and even white chocolate choices for your Valentine. We recommend the lavender truffle with dark chocolate ganash; lavender is a known aphrodisiac. Be sure to swing by Venissimo Cheese and The Wine Connection on your stop at Flower Hill to round out your Valentine's Day picnic basket.
• Del Mar Chocolate Bar: Located at 1416 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014, Del Mar Chocolate Bar carries fine chocolates, confectioneries and sweets. We recommend the chocolate sea salt caramel. You can also run across the street to buy some flowers. Del Mar Chocolate Bar opened over the summer and is the second store for its owners, which also run the Carlsbad Chocolate Bar. 
• Edible Arraingments: Located at 4653 Carmel Mountain Rd., San Diego, CA 92130, Edible Arraignment is open for walk-ins looking for sweet treats and delivery for the busy lover. The berry chocolate roses with semisweet chocolate and the "bouquet" of fresh fruit dipped in chocolate are perfect for Valentine's Day.