The brain child of their son, Ryan, Sharing a Lil’ Love with Norman Love Confections will donate $1 from specially marked boxes at both the Fort Myers and Naples chocolate salons and online at www.normanloveconfections.com.

Flavors currently featured in the Sharing a Lil’ Love boxes are Cookies and Cream, Bubble Gum, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Vanilla Cupcake and Cotton Candy.

Money raised from April through July will benefit United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades.

“We are so proud of Ryan for creating this new way to give to those in need,” said Norman Love. “Mary and I, and now Ryan, believe it’s important to give back to the community that supports us.”

Annually Norman Love Confections donates thousands of dollars worth of product to more than 250 nonprofit organizations, schools and churches in Lee and Collier counties.

“We are honored to be the first recipient of this new fundraising program,” said Cliff Smith, president of United Way. “Sharing a Lil’ Love with Norman Love Confections will help provide much needed financial support and awareness for Southwest Florida charities.”

The United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in our community. This is accomplished through fundraising, fund distribution, community building, volunteer advancement, and information and referral.

“We selected United Way as our first recipient because their mission helps so many in our community,” added Norman. “Seventy local United Way partner agencies will benefit from Sharing a Lil’ Love.”

The News-Press Media Group is sponsoring the Sharing a Lil’ Love United Way campaign.
Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from the Fort Myers corporate headquarters that encompasses both production and retail operations. The Fort Myers and Naples chocolate salons are stylish retail shops with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies.

The award-wining Fort Myers-based chocolatier has been lauded nine times by a leading consumer ratings magazine including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates.

The Fort Myers Chocolate Salon is located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Naples Chocolate Salon, which also serves artisan gelato, is located at 3747 Tamiami Trail North in Parkshore Centre and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Artisan Gelato by Norman Love is located at 11300 Lindbergh Boulevard, Suite 112, off Daniels Parkway, east of I-75, and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 239-288-4333.

For more information, call 239-561-7215 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com

1. Morgan Freeman
2. Al Roker
3. Octavia Spencer (winner)
4. Ann Curry
5. Janet McTeer (nominee Albert Nobbs)
6. Glenn Close (nominee Albert Nobbs)
7. Tina Fey (presenter)
8. Meredith Vieira (press)
9. Viola Davis (nominee The Help)
10. Berenice Bejo (nominee The Artist)
11. Michel Hazanavicius (winner The Artist)
12. Ryan Seacrest
13. Martin Scorsese (nominee Hugo)
14. Thomas Horn (actor Extremely Loud Incredibly Close)
15. Thomas Langmann (producer The Artist)
16. Stephen Daldry (Director Producer Extremely Loud Incredibly Close)
17. Leslee Dart PR for Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep)
18. Ben Kingsley (actor Hugo)
19. Jessica Lange (actress)
20. Brad Bird (director)
21. Jean Dujardin (winner The Artist)
22. Michelle Williams (nominee)
23. Steve Buscemi (actor)
24. Graham King (Hugo)
25. Anne Seiber (Midnight in Paris)
26. Meryl Poster (casting)
27. English Actor staying under alias
28. Twin Cities Live Giveaway
29. Charity
30. GM Four Seasons

 
This year’s collection also includes the limited edition heart-shaped Norman Love Confections BLACK and the NLC signature green gift boxes available in a variety of sizes.

The 2012 Valentine’s collection includes:
Blushing Kiss, a white chocolate confection with a ganache of cherry, almond and white chocolate. (Also available in Love & Kisses Collection.)
Bubbly Kiss, white chocolate filled with strawberries and champagne. (Also available in Love & Kisses Collection.)
Caramel Charm, milk chocolate with a ganache of the world’s best caramel and roasted nuts.
Coffee Caress, milk chocolate confection filled with a sweet coffee, Kahlua and white chocolate ganache.
Dreamy Love, a milk chocolate shell with peanut butter, marshmallow and milk chocolate filling. (Also available in Love & Kisses Collection.)
Fiery Love, dark chocolate filled with a Chipotle and dark chocolate ganache. (Also available in Love & Kisses Collection.)
Five Spice Smitten, white chocolate confection with a touch of vanilla and a blend of five spices.
Red Berry Romance, white chocolate confection infused with fresh red berries mixed into a white chocolate ganache.

NLC Love & Kisses
Each individual creation is made from the finest ingredients, no preservatives, using only the best quality of chocolates, butter, spices, nuts, purees and flavors. The famous green gift boxes feature the eight 2012 Valentine’s flavors along with an assortment of NLC’s 36 signature flavors with prices beginning at $13 for a five-piece box. The ultra-premium dark chocolate collection, Norman Love Confections BLACK in heart shapes, begins at $15 for a five-piece box. The custom-designed heart-shaped Valentine’s gift box, filled with 20 pieces of ultra-premium chocolate from the NLC 2012 Valentine’s collection, is $60. An 18-piece traditional heart-filled box featuring the 2012 Valentine’s collection of assorted heart flavors is available in limited supply for $45.50. The Love & Kisses Collection, in two-, four- and eight-piece boxes, begins at $6.25.

 
Norman Love Confections has been lauded nine times by a leading consumer ratings magazine including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates.

 
Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from the Fort Myers corporate headquarters that encompasses both production and retail operations. The Fort Myers and Naples Chocolate Salons are stylish retail shops with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies.

 
The Fort Myers Chocolate Salon is located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, off Daniels Parkway, east of I-75, and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Naples Chocolate Salon is located at 3747 Tamiami Trail North in Parkshore Centre and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 239-561-7215 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

To the exterior world, summer might seem like an uneventful time at Norman Love Confections, but behind the scenes our kitchen is buzzing with activity. Not only did we participate in many community events and fulfill a steady stream of orders for birthday, anniversary and “just because” gifts, we also hosted an unprecedented number of gourmet cooking classes – 14 total!

We opened our new Naples Chocolate Salon and added gelato to the menu there. Behind the scenes, somewhat covertly in fact, we created some exciting new signature flavors, which we’ll launch in the coming weeks, and our special holiday flavors that will launch in November. Yes, the winter holidays keep us busy year-round, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Stay tuned for exciting announcements about the 2011 Holiday Collection! (If you aren’t yet on our mailing list, subscribe here:  http://www.normanloveconfections.com/subscribe/)

So what did you do this summer? Share your exciting news…. Did you get engaged? Welcome any new babies to the world? Did you retire or go on an amazing vacation? We’d love to hear the highlights from your summer. Please comment!

Renowned chocolatier Norman Love will provide ultra-premium hand-made chocolates and confections for Bar Cocoa’s retail offering, presenting flavors which are beloved in America and made with the finest chocolate ingredients from around the world. Considered edible works of art with a focus on freshness and preservative-free preparation, Norman Love Confections have been named the top chocolates in the United States by a highly respected consumer ratings publication. Norman Love was honored as one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America in 2009 by Dessert Magazine, is co-founder of the National Pastry Team Championship and is a regular guest judge on the Food Network Challenge series.

Bar Cocoa’s signature offerings will also include daily Chocolate Afternoon Tea, a five-course weekly Chocolate and Champagne Dinner, hands-on culinary classes in the adjoining Cocoa Lab, retail selections including pastries from acclaimed Ritz-Carlton pastry chef Josh Cain and confections from chocolatier Norman Love, and a Chocolate Rehab package for this fall’s overnight guests. Bar Cocoa will also be open for à la carte chocolate beverage and menu service, highlighted by pastries and other sweet delicacies, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bar Cocoa’s contemporary take on afternoon tea will be presented seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature six teas plus a signature chocolate tea and hot chocolate with house-made marshmallows. Priced at $32 per adult ($10 per child under 12) including valet parking, this uniquely modern tea will eschew the formal linens, intricate tabletops and hushed setting of traditional teas in favor of the vibe, energy and movement of the hotel’s lively Lobby Lounge. With limited seating and a start date of Saturday, October 1st, Chocolate Afternoon Tea at Bar Cocoa will feature flavorful mini-sandwiches, white chocolate and orange scones, petits fours (opera-style, chocolate and salted caramel tart, chocolate mousse with house marshmallow, tiramisu on chocolate sponge), and the restaurant’s signature “Bar “Cocoa — layers of praline and gianduja cake, hazelnut dacquoise, chocolate mousse and milk chocolate Chantilly. A special beverage option for the experience is chocolate-mint truffle tea, featuring a blend of Rooibos herbal tea, chocolate cacao nibs and mint, while Bar Cocoa’s signature hot chocolate beverage will be created with Valrhona Manjari Chocolate, using prized, delicate cocoa beans from Madagascar.

On October 8, Bar Cocoa will introduce its first weekly five-course Chocolate and Champagne Dinner, offered on Saturday evenings and priced at $125 per person. Reservations will be accepted up to three months in advance for this exclusive 7 to 10 p.m. all-dessert dining experience, which will be limited to parties of no more than four guests per table, and which will feature desserts created by Executive Chef Jon Farace and The Ritz-Carlton culinary team. Paired champagnes are set to include Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec, Moët & Chandon Nectar Rose Imperial, Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve, and Dom Ruinart.

Norman Love’s retail confections will be complemented by an array of pastries available for purchase and created by Josh Cain, Pastry Chef for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte and widely known for his glamorous wedding cakes, holiday dessert buffets and sold-out pastry cooking classes. Cain is also the designer and creator of a five-foot-tall Madam Cocoa chocolate statue which will perch atop a pedestal in The Lobby Lounge’s animated water feature, and which will beckon guests with an invitation to indulge their love for all things chocolate.

“Bar Cocoa has been in the works for a long time, and we are delighted to share this amazing new all-chocolate adventure with hotel guests and the local community,” said David Rothwell, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. “The pleasures of chocolate and cocoa are irresistible, and we look forward not only to sharing them on a daily basis, but also to revealing our chefs’ preparation secrets through a series of uniquely-chocolate cooking classes set to begin in October.”

Dates for Bar Cocoa’s 2011 cooking classes, to be presented in the hotel’s Cocoa Lab, are October 15, October 29, November 5, November 12 and December 3. Priced at $75 per person, which includes parking and a keepsake apron, the hands-on classes for a maximum of eight students will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Cocoa Lab’s five scheduled instruction dates.

Norman Love Confections is featured on pages 62-63 in the section titled Entertainment & Shopping because Fort Myers is home to the Norman Love Confections factory and retail store, known locally as the Chocolate Salon. Here’s what the Lonely Planet guide has to say about us:

“Norman Love and his talented staff make the sort of chocolates people commit crimes for. His home base is excellent for a cup of hot chocolate or bar of cocoa that will melt your mind.”

The guide features a color photo of the Chocolate Salon, where customers can get everything that is available online and then some. In addition to the world-famous products with which you may already be familiar, the Chocolate Salon carries fresh gourmet pastries, smoothies, coffees and a unique array of gourmet chocolate specialties and gifts. You are likely to run into Chef Norman Love and will enjoy visiting with his friendly staff.

We at Norman Love Confections thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Lonely Planet crew as they worked to prepare this guide book and are honored they decided to feature Norman Love Confections.

If you’re planning a trip to the Fort Myers-Sanibel area – or just want to daydream about it – request a print copy or download the e-book or app for free from the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau

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• Elizabeth Moss, actress nominee “Mad Men”
• Tina Fey, actress nominee “30 Rock”
• Natalie Portman, Black Swan- Winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture
• Colin Firth, King’s Speech- Winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture
• Jeff Bridges
• Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire- Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series
• Ryan Seacrest
• Helena Bonaham Carter
• Morgan Freeman
• Jane Krakowski
• Hope Davis, actress nominee “The Special Relationship”
• Sarah Wayne Callies, actress nominee “Walking Dead”
• Kelly MacDonald, actress nominee “Boardwalk Empire”
• Andrew Lincoln, actor nominee “Walking Dead”
• Laurie Holden, actress nominee “Walking Dead”
• Olivia Williams
• Ricky Gervais, Golden Globe Host
•  Ethan Coen
• Joel Coen
• Al Roker
• Timothy VanPatten, Director of Boardwalk Empire- Winner of Best Television Series
• Scott Silver, Writer- The Fighter
• Scott Frankin, Producer- Black Swan
• Darla Anderson, Producer of Toy Story 3- Winner of Best Animated Feature Film

Outside of the box, Norman Love Confections offers a variety of Gift Baskets, and our Chocolate Specialties, such as our famous Peppermint Chocolate Christmas Bark and fresh Chocolate-Covered Candied Nuts and Fruits, stand alone as affordable gifts and delightful stocking stuffers.

Want to take it a step further… Here are some creative ideas to incorporate chocolate into your holiday celebration in surprising new ways:

• Present Toppers – Heighten the natural anticipation that comes with receiving a wrapped gift by also putting a beautifully packaged treat on top with the ribbon. Gift Boxes and Chocolate Specialties, as well as Gift Certificates, make excellent present toppers. Christmas morning can’t come soon enough!
• Membership Privileges – Give someone a gift that keeps giving all year long. Sign them up for one of our four Chocolate Clubs. Members enjoy 4 or 12 shipments of signature line or Norman Love Confections BLACK™ boxes of chocolate throughout the year!
• Hidden Gems – You may have heard of the “12 Gems of Christmas” giveaway, in which Norman Love Confections and Mark Loren designs are hiding 12 pieces of jewelry and 12 gift cards in Norman Love Confections gift boxes Dec. 1-25. Surprise someone you love by placing a small precious gift inside on of our gift boxes or baskets filled with chocolate gourmet goodies. A bonus… they’ll never guess there is jewelry inside!
• New Year, New Tradition – Brighten someone’s New Year’s Eve celebration with a gift of champagne and chocolate. White chocolate confections, such as our Candy Cane and Eggnog flavors, make an excellent pairing with champagne. Best of all, you may start a new tradition of toasting with chocolate! Click here for additional wine and chocolate pairings to consider for your holiday preparations.
• Travel Friendly Gifts – This may not be all that surprising, but we thought we’d include it as a friendly reminder. If you or your gift recipient is traveling this holiday season, Gift Certificates and Norman Love Confections BLACK™ sipping chocolate make very travel friendly gifts. These gifts won’t melt on the journey and aren’t as likely to be confiscated at airport security if you take the appropriate precautions. Gift Certificates are also affordable to ship so you can give more!

Inspired? Please share new outside-the-box holiday gift ideas with the Norman Love community here!

• 14k White Diamond & Blue Sapphire Star Pendant with Chain
• Platinum/18k Yellow Gold Gent’s Ring with .55-cts Diamonds
• 14k Yellow Gold Ring Channelset with 1.65ct Sapphire
• 18k White .30cttw Diamond & South Seas Pearl Earrings
• 14k White Gold Hoop Earrings set with .55cts Diamonds
• 14k Yellow Turquoise and Mabe Pearl Earrings
• Sterling Silver and 14k Yellow 2.70cttw PS Garnet Earrings
• 14k White Gold Cross with .75cts Diamonds and Chain
• 14kw Yellow Gold Pendant Set with Pink Druzy and Moonstone
• 18k White Gold Start Pendant set with .55cts Diamonds and Chain
• Carved Burmese Black Jade Bangle
• Freshwater White Pearl Bracelet