Tampa: Any good gourmet chocolate stores?

[ramblinwrek92]

Hi all,

Was looking to buy some gourmet chocolate for a friend's upcoming B-day. I know that there is the Godiva stores at the Westfield but I was hoping to impress her with some of the higher end imported stuff and not just Hershey's, not that there is anything wrong with a Hershey bar.

I would prefer a Tampa location but I probably wouldn't mind a hike to St. Pete/Pinellas as I can always look for an excuse to get a bowl of pho or run over to Mazzaro's. Hey, doesn't Mazzaro's carry a selection of chocolate too? hmmmm even more compelling reasons to hike over the bridge to St. Pete.

Thanks in advance.

[mahikilr]

Godiva is always good just outrageously expensive. In the winter you have see's come in the westfield malls around thanksgiving and Peters in the citrus park mall around October. Both good with peters getting the nod for being small town family owned and operated.

[TampaNativeThatLovesNYC]

I second Choxotica in Carrollwood on Ehrlich, great selection of imported chocolates, and they sample them too:)

[MickeyM619]

You've got to check out City Street Sweets at Hyde Park Village, Tampa, FL. It's right around the corner from Bang and Olfson.

They make their own chocolate fudge, chocolate truffles (out of this world), all sorts of other kinds of fudge like stuff with peanut butter, marshmallows and lots of other stuff. Those things are all handmade so they are always fresh.

He also makes this chocolate / nuts kind of thing call City Street Sweets Bark, and they have a thing called Revolutions that are like Turtles only way way better.

Also, if you get on their Preferred List, you get these email specials that are crazy good things like buy 1 lb. of fudge and get a half pound FREE!!!!

As you can see, I love fudge!! My favorite: Maple Fudge.

Check it out!

[curleegurl]

You must try a new place on Ehrlich Rd called Choxotica (in Carrollwood). The closest cross street is N. Dale Mabry. I went with some girlfriends and they got us our own private room to sample our chocolates and drink our "liquid chocolate"! It was a blast! They carry a lot of different chocolatiers lines. www.choxotica.com

[TampaMeg]

I know I am coming into this post WAY late. I am new to Tampa and am a definate lover of GOOD GOURMET chocolate. This post has been most helpful! One place I saw the other day that isn't mentioned here is the Lindt Chocolate store in the Westshore Plaza Mall on Kennedy and West Shore.

[srcusa]

Actually, Fresh Market carries a very nice selection of chocolates. They carry some Lake Champlain brand product, which my wife (who is a true chocolate aficionado) swears is the best she's ever tried.

[kate7047]

Speaking of chocolate, have you seen this saga from the main board regarding best chocolate? Caveat emptor!
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[emriva]

Sorry for posting this so late but there s a new chocolate store in tampa, Taste of Europe. They have Leonidas chocolates, high end chocolates and tastes better than Godiva's. They are off Busch Blvd in north tampa.

[curleegurl]

In Dunedin there's a little palce called Diadre's Fine Chocolates. The owner is really friendly and her chocolates are delicious!

[DexterD]

In New Tampa off 75N and Bruce B Downs, Soleil Chocolates. They have really good handmade chocolates. I use them for my client gifts.
www.soleilchocolates.com

[Hojo]

Yeah, that's the place I was talking about.

[ramblinwrek92]

Okay,

First off, thanks for all the info. I ended up having a meeting in St. Pete today and so I swung by Mazzarro's on 22nd Ave North. Turns out they have a very nice little selection of chocolates. They carry Scharffen Berger and Amedei as well as some others. So I kind of created my own choco-sampler.

I will definitely keep the other stores that everyone mentioned in mind if I am in the neighborhood.

Thanks again,

--STeve

[RibDog]

There is also a Schakolad on Howard right across the street from Whaley's.

Plus there used to be a place called Desiree's in Dunedin that was fairly good. Don't know if they are still there or not so please check first.

John

[Hojo]

There's also one on BBD in New Tampa across from Home Depot behind Boston Market and Sushi Ko and stuff.

[Wineman]

Here a couple of places in St. Pete
Schakolad Chocolate Factory - - 401 Central Ave, St Petersburg, 33701 - [phone]
Selections of all types of chocolate specialties plus special orders.
Artelle Chocolates - - 5507 38th Ave N, St Petersburg, 33710 - [phone] A tiny little place that doesn't have a big selection but they have some great candies.

[sandra]

there are 2 homemade chocolate places in tampa...one is on howard (around azeele, i think) and the other is on macdill just north of bay to bay (where pane rustica used to be)...let me know what you think