A Sweet, Sweet Valentine's Day in San Francisco

Cocoabella is one of the best chocolate shops in the city.

The pieces are like little pieces of art – mini Rothkos. But they taste better (don’t ask how I know this. I think the MOMA is still looking for me). There are chocolates inside this little shop from all over the globe: Argentina, Europe, and Africa are a few countries of origin.

The extremely knowledgeable staff will take the time to tell you about each piece and its origins, especially at the Cow Hollow location.

Pick individual pieces to create your own palette! Don’t forget to bring some home to a person you love – they won’t soon forget sweet gesture.

Sounds like a ho-hum cake shoppe, right? Wrong! Anecdotal evidence of superiority: several blind taste tests of area cupcakes put cakes from That Takes The Cake at the top.

Check it out, get your sugar fix from the best little guys around.

Dagoba Xocolatl chocolate is better than sex.

It’s absolutely true. Try it.

It has tiny pieces of chiles embedded in 65% dark chocolate.

Ooooooh, yeah.

And Bittersweet stocks it. Along with a bunch of other arousing blends (dark chocolate and bacon anyone?).

AND along with Blue Bottle coffee.

This might be the best place on earth. Nice try, Disneyland. Bittersweet has got you beat.

A shop that only makes Cream Puffs? Beard Papa is where it’s at.

So sweet and gooey, I was sent straight into a sugar coma for over an hour.

But it was worth it.

Do you like chocolate filled with curry? Balsamic?

This is the new concept in chocolate: in a standard box of Richart, you will find five different flavor categories.

Then in each category, there will be individual flavors. Curry praline? Citrus-grapefruit ganache?

Be adventurous.

Oh, Tartine. How I love thee. I just wish everyone else didn’t love you as much. And you always pay them attention.

You little slut.

Um. Ahem. Anyway, ask any Missionite where to get the most amazing pastries (Tartine’s croissants are better than the ones in Paris. Swear) and there will be one and only one answer: Tartine.

Just be prepared for the line out the door and around the block.

Seen and be seen getting your just desserts.

Yes, it’s named after Citizen Kane. Didn’t you watch the clip?

Hey, in SF we support vegan dessert-ies as well! And we also use the opportunity to jack up the price.

But . . . it’s pretty darn good. Absence of any dairy products makes it richer than you’re used too. Just be ready to put your money where your sweet tooth is.

About 4ft by 4 ft of a Sweete Shoppe. I often wonder how the poor people behind the counter don’t go mad. But I think they are all Fiona’s relatives . . . so maybe they’ve been forcefully co-erced.

Anyway, this is the best place downtown to jump in and jump out with a little bag of something yummy.

Rare English and Swedish candy bars are stocked, as well as STRONG, and I mean STRONG, licorice. Try the double salted from Scotland. It’ll knock you on your ass. Just don’t ruin the displays, K?

Undisputedly the best-looking little boogers in SF, even if That Takes The Cake’s, well, takes the cake as far as cake goes.

Your loved-ones are bound to coo all over you when you bring them one of these, so be prepared for the swooning.