10 places in Metro Vancouver to get last-minute Valentine’s Day treats for your sweetie

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      Let’s be real—you can’t really celebrate Valentine’s without a couple of decadent confections, right?

      If you’re tired of the mass-produced bonbons that have been sitting on grocery-shop shelves for the past month-and-a-half, go for some locally made treats to impress your date on February 14.

      From heart-shaped chocolate showpieces to custom apple pies with sweet messages, here are 10 places to get last-minute Valentine’s desserts around Metro Vancouver.

      Kristina Napolskih

      Mon Paris Pâtisserie (4396 Beresford Street, Burnaby)

      Chef Elena Krasnova has created a Valentine’s collection that ranges from elegant heart-shaped cakes to chocolate statues in the form of a ladybug and truffle-filled shoe. Classic pink-hued chocolate boxes with signature and seasonal chocolate flavours are also available.

       

      The Pie Hole

      The Pie Hole (3497 Fraser Street and 7832 6th Street, Burnaby)

      Pie-lovers will enjoy this pie establishment’s V-Day offerings, which include flavours like black forest, triple-chocolate cream, and the ultimate anti-Valentine’s pick: “Eat Your Feelings” (made with brownies, chocolate-oatmeal cookie dough, white-chocolate ganache, and more). Customizable apple pies topped with sweet phrases are also on the menu.

       

      Leila Kwok

      Thierry (1059 Alberni Street)

      This downtown spot is bringing back its Romeo (traditional black forest) and Juliet (white chocolate and vanilla bean) cakes for the love season, which are appropriately portioned for two. Valentine’s chocolates and macarons are also available to satisfy sweettooths.

       

      Purdys

      Purdys (various locations)

      For those who haven’t heard of Purdys, are you even a Vancouverite? This chocolate outlet is offering a variety of sweets for Valentine’s Day, using ingredients that range from sustainable cocoa to caramels to toffee to fruit jellies. Velvet heart-shaped chocolate boxes are stocked in its stores, as well as chocolate-heart lollies, red-foiled chocolate lips, and champagne truffles.

       

      Beta5 Chocolates

      Beta5 Chocolates (413 Industrial Avenue)

      Go big or go home with Beta5’s Valentine’s Day feature: a 7-inch wide dark-chocolate polygon heart.  This baby-pink hued token of love is filled with 12 dark-chocolate truffles and 60 grams of sun-dried Okanagan cherries, and packed in a wooden box. It’s definitely easy on the eyes and taste buds, but will set you back $95. Other Valentine’s-themed treats include a chocolate collection with flavours like Romance (apricot French breakfast) and Lust (Mexican hot chocolate), and chocolate-covered strawberry chocolate bars.

       

      Cadeaux Bakery

      Cadeaux Bakery (172 Powell Street)

      If your date doesn’t fancy candies or chocolates, Cadeaux Bakery’s heart-shaped sugar cookies might be the key to their heart. Hand-painted in pastel colours and topped with a sweet message, this Valentine’s treat is almost too photogenic to sink your teeth into. The Gastown bakery also offers two V-Day cakes (chocolate and vanilla flavours) and six-piece truffle gift packs.

       

      Temper Pastry

      Temper Pastry (2409 Marine Drive, West Vancouver)

      Chocolate hearts are always a sweet gesture, and Temper Pastry is offering several heart-shaped treats for the day of love. Its seasonal collection includes chocolate-heart showpieces filled with smaller red and pink heart-shaped chocolates (strawberry-and-cream, milk chocolate with Bailey’s, and dark chocolate flavours are featured), caramel boxes, and a heart-shaped milk-chocolate caramel cake.

       

      Ladurée

      Ladurée (1141 Robson Street and 737 Dunsmuir Street)

      Paris is often hailed as the most romantic city in the world, so it’s only fitting that this Parisian café knows what to serve up for Valentine’s Day. Its limited-edition pink V-Day gift boxes features a large paper red rose, which can fit seven pieces of its fan-favourite macarons (including rose, vanilla, strawberry candy, and raspberry flavours).

       

      Beaucoup Bakery

      Beaucoup Bakery (2150 Fir Street)

      If your Valentine is a pastry person, go for Beaucoup’s Valentine’s special this year: a five-inch pistachio-raspberry rose heart-shaped macaron. It’s a picture-perfect treat that’s made with pistachio buttercream and raspberry rose gelée, topped with fresh raspberries and crushed pistachios.

       

      giovane cafe + eatery + market

      giovane cafe + eatery + market (1038 Canada Place)

      The Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel's in-house cafe is known for its Instagram famous sugar buns: sugar-dusted pastries stuffed with a light cream filling. Its Valentine's Day edition "love buns" will feature a passion-fruit flavoured cream filling, topped with heart-shaped white chocolates and a hint of gold flakes. These treats come in 12 or six packs, and are available for pre-order.

      Follow Tammy Kwan on Twitter @ch0c0tam and Instagram @ch0c0tam.

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