Gourmet Chocolate Love

Opening a box of Norman Love Confections is always a treat but this holiday season it could be even sweeter. Custom jeweler Mark Loren and gourmet chocolatier Norman Love have once again partnered for the 12 Gems of Christmas.

From Nov. 30 through Dec. 24, 2012, customers of Norman Love Confections could discover a Mark Loren Designs’ rare and precious gem, or an NLC or MLD $50 gift certificate hidden in a box of chocolates. Twelve gems and 40 gift certificates (20 each from Loren and Love) will be randomly placed in signature boxes of Norman Love Confections.

Lucky customers or gift recipients have the opportunity to find one of the following gems in an NLC signature box this holiday season:

-12.16ct natural oval-cut Zircon from Africa

-7.81ct pear shape Orange Citrine from Brazil

-1.21ct emerald cut Orange Sapphire from Sri Lanka

-13.8ct millennium-cut oval Lemon Quartz

-.53ct fancy green round brilliant Sapphire

-6.14ct Pink Topaz fancy round cut

-4ct fancy shape Aquamarine from Brazil

-10.52ct Crystal Opal double sided

-oval-cut large faceted oval golden Amber

-14mm Large Black Pearl from Tahiti

-3 pieces/3.14cts total weight radiant-cut matching Peridot from Pakistan

-Matched pair oval-cut Imperial Topaz 1.49cts from Brazil
The NLC 2012 holiday flavors are:

Apple Cider: Filled with slow cooked pureed granny smith apples, this milk chocolate confection is flavored with vanilla, cinnamon and sweet cream butter.

Candy Cane: Creamy white chocolate ganache and cool peppermint are swirled together in this beautiful holiday classic.

Cranberry Orange: Tart cranberry puree and fresh orange juice blended into a Swiss white chocolate ganache bring cheer in its sweetest form.

Cup of Cheer: The dark chocolate “cup” is filled with milk chocolate ganache featuring coffee, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, cream and butter.

Egg Nog: Toast the holiday with a traditional spiced egg nog ganache, covered in white chocolate and infused with freshly grated nutmeg and a hint of brandy.

Gingerbread: Fresh baked gingerbread cookies are blended into silky milk chocolate ganache and a delicious mix of grated fresh ginger, spices, cream and butter.

Hot Cocoa: Inspired by a sweet cup of warm cocoa made with rich dark chocolate, a touch of Habanera makes this confection truly unique.

Mint Patty: A cool mint cream sits atop intense dark chocolate ganache, capturing the wonders of winter with each bite.

S’mores: Delicate white chocolate marshmallows, toasted graham cracker and milk chocolate combine for a modern twist on this childhood favorite.

White Christmas: A traditional blend of crunchy hazelnut praline and creamy cinnamon ganache are layered inside a beautiful milk chocolate shell.

Prices range from $13.25 for a 5-piece box to $95 for a 50-piece box. The 12 Gems of Christmas boxes are available at the Fort Myers and Naples chocolate salons, online at www.normanloveconfections.com, as well as at Mark Loren Designs showroom at 13351 McGregor Blvd., between College Parkway and Cypress Lake Drive in Fort Myers.

This offer is available for local purchases only. The 12 Gems of Christmas boxes aren’t available through online purchases/shipping.

The much-anticipated 2012 Holiday Collection is officially in stores, and the first shipments went out today! We’re celebrating with two great promotions for Southwest Florida customers next week. Please save these dates to shop with us:

Holiday Pie Promotion – Nov. 21
Get the perfect holiday pie at Norman Love Confections. Call 239-561-7215 to order apple, pumpkin and chocolate pecan pies made fresh for pick-up in Southwest Florida. Customers picking up pies on Wednesday, Nov. 21 will also get 50% off a pint of Vanilla Artisan Gelato by Norman Love! Please order at least 48 hours in advance.

Small Business Saturday – Nov. 24
Any time is a good time to support small businesses, but the Saturday after Thanksgiving is “the” day to show your pride in being a small business shopper. To thank our local customers, we are offering 10% off the Chocolate Salons in Fort Myers and Naples, FL and at Artisan Gelato by Norman Love, all day.

Also, stay tuned for more upcoming specials and information about our expanded annual 12 Gems of Christmas holiday giveaway with Mark Loren Designs, beginning Nov. 30!

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 13, 2012) – Known for their philanthropic generosity, Mary and Norman Love are launching a year-round program to raise money for local charities. Sharing a Lil’ Love with Norman Love Confections is a new fundraising opportunity that will raise money for a different nonprofit organization every four months.

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

The first day of fall is tomorrow, and although it doesn’t feel much like autumn here in Southwest Florida, the start of football season and local back-to-school activities make it feel like change is in the air. As we look forward to pumpkin patches and cooler temperatures, we reflect on what we did this summer.

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!