This past Valentine’s Day, I was truly disappointed when I purchased a chocolate treat for one of my friends.  You know the kind.  A small token of appreciation for someone you really like and just want to express it.  Chocolate on Valentine’s Day is the perfect way to do that,  whether you’re a young ‘un or a senior.  Anyway, I was sitting at my kitchen bar filling out Valentine cards when I picked up  the chocolate gift for my friend.  It was something of a splurge and packaged fancifully.  My curiosity got the best of me though, and I decided I would open a corner of the package and peep in at how delectable the chocolate was going to be.  Much to my horror, as I opened the outer package, the inner packaging had already been opened and someone had taken a huge bite out of the main part of the bar!  When I could finally get my “to the moon” blood pressure down and start thinking clearly – I sputtered out to my husband – “what kind of idiot would do this?” Red faced and shaking with righteous indignation, I marched over to the trash and hurled it into the stinking abyss.

My gift was spoiled.  The moment and all the love in my heart was clouded over.  Erghhhhh!  I wished I could get my hands on the person who did that!  My husband, the mild mannered senior that he is - calmly reminded me that at least I caught the problem before it left out in the mail.

Later as I reminisced over my frustrating experience with buying a supposedly “high end product” from a chain store, it was then that I remembered Claude’s Chocolates from St. Augustine, Florida.  I shared with my husband, “I would never have had to experience anything but the finest chocolates and service if I’d just ordered from there.”

On my last trip to St. Augustine, Florida, I ventured into Claude’s Chocolates on Hypolita Street, walked up the three small steps into his and his wife’s chocolate shop, and was just speechless.  The aroma of rich Belgian chocolate, the petite chocolates with their tiny yellow stripes, pink polka dots, glistening hearts, ribbed caramels, and an assortment of many other decorated truffles left me speechless.  I had just entered heaven! 

“Claude and Nicole's wonderful chocolate shop is a masterpiece of fine European chocolates sprinkled with the quaint historic ambience of St. Augustine. Keeping with years of tradition, Claude crafts his chocolates by hand in small quantities, using only the purest ingredients. No detail is overlooked by either of the Franques.”

“Claude's passionate appreciation for achieving the proper balance of flavors between the aromatic and flavorful ganache (interiors) and the dark or milk chocolate coatings, results in a flawless little mouthful of heaven. From pecans to hazelnuts, Claude painstakingly roasts all the nuts in his repertoire. The exotic flavors are numerous... from passion fruit and espresso to fresh coconut and lime. There are 24 varieties, one more uniquely designed than the next. Together they tease anyone to just try one!”

When I had been given my samples of Claude’s chocolates, the first bite was so wonderful; I just kept taking those sensual bites until they were all gone!  Just reminiscing about all that chocolate makes me want to be back in that cozy shop surrounded by brownies, cookies, and truffles!  Permit me one more time to indulge in that St. Augustine flavor – rich and traditional, old-world and new! 

All of St. Augustine is perfect for seniors!  The convenience of the inns, the walkability of the town square and the historical sites, just make this a very easy city to visit and fall in love with.   I hope you get to experience Claude’s chocolate shop in St. Augustine, Florida, as well as   I hope you get to experience all of St. Augustine.  The architecture throughout this coastal city just goes hand in hand with the idea of a local chocolatier.  Oh what love.  French and Spanish designs lend an air of romance to the decadent city.  Everywhere one looks the richness of architect surrounds you. We learned in high school while studying languages that French and Spanish are “romance” languages.  How proper that their architecture would also give one the feeling of romance. 

In St. Augustine, you’ll discover many avenues of history.  The old inns  whose ownership has been handed down through generations of time have been carefully maintained and are worth the experience of staying there for the length of your visit.  Some are even said to be haunted.  I happened to stay at the Bayfront Westcott House with its beautiful Victorian décor.  The room I was fortunate to be in “Isabella Room” faced the Matanzas Bay of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway.  Waking up in this beautifully appointed room facing the bay is just ecstasy!  They will really deliver on their romance package – Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. 

When you come to St. Augustine, bring a camera and photograph the architecture of the inns, the Flagler College and church, the bay, the old fort, the horse drawn carriages, the many arched doorways, floral gardens, the statuary…you get the idea. 

Enjoy the multi-venues of art whether in the form of chocolate, paintings, sculpture, architecture, or the art of a beautiful evening dining al fresco.    Even though it is after the fact of Valentine’s Day, I hope you’ll consider coming to St. Augustine and experiencing the romance of the city and Claude’s chocolates.  This kind of romance never fades – it stays special day after day.   Happy Traveling!