Gourmet Chocolate Love

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

Norman Love Confections gift boxes were showcased among other items in the gift bags given to top celebrities participating in the 84th Annual Academy Awards! Here’s the list of celebrities who got some LOVE:

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

Chef Norman Love has announced the Norman Love Confections 2012 Valentine’s collection which features the return of the much sought after Love & Kisses Collection as well as a custom-designed heart-shaped Valentine’s gift box.

 
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.

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!

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte will open its new Bar Cocoa on Friday, Sept.30. Bar Cocoa will present a sophisticated, all-new chocolate and cocoa experience, featuring food, beverages, retail, teas, dessert dinners and cooking classes centered around the irresistible taste, appeal and drama of chocolate.

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.

If you are a fan of Norman Love Confections, Lonely Planet, amazing beach destinations or all of the above, check out Discover the beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, a new travel guide specially produced by the leading travel publisher Lonely Planet. It is available in multiple formats including Print, E-book and a multimedia Mobile App including video.

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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Now through Dec. 24, 2010, Norman Love Confections will be giving away 12 pieces of Mark Loren jewelry, worth $500 to $3,000, and 12 Norman Love Gift Certificates in denominations of $25, $50 or $100! The jewelry and gift certificates will be hidden in boxes of chocolate sold at the Norman Love Confections Chocolate Salon in Fort Myers. Here’s a list of the “12 Gems of Christmas” jewelry by Mark Loren Designs that will go to 12 lucky Chocolate Salon customers:

• 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

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Nathaniel Reid has joined Norman Love Confections. A rising star in the pastry world, Nathaniel was recently selected as U.S. Pastry Competition Pastry Chef of the Year 2010 in New York City! 

This award-winning chef specializes in contemporary, modern bakery creations with a European flair. He will oversee the production of specialty cakes, desserts and bakery items at the Norman Love Confections Chocolate Salon in Fort Myers, and consult with Chef Norman Love on the chocolatier’s new Naples location. For more information about Nathaniel, visit http://bit.ly/dChJPJ.

After nine years in Fort Myers, Norman Love announced today that he has signed a lease at Parkshore Plaza in Naples for the second location of Norman Love Confections. Construction on the chocolate salon will begin soon with a projected opening prior to Christmas.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Love. “We’ve always wanted a presence in Naples and the timing is right to expand into a new market.”

According to recent reports, premium chocolate sales have increased in recent years. Consumers are indulging in chocolate on good occasions and bad days and dark chocolate is gaining momentum for its health benefits as a good source of antioxidants.

The new Euro chic retail space, located next to the popular USS Nemo Seafood Restaurant at 3747 Tamiami Trail North, will be a combination of a confection shop and coffee bar. The shop will include a complete selection of NLC ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates, pastries, desserts, breakfast bakeries, Italian Gelato, specialty coffees and smoothies.

Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes ultra-premium, handcrafted artisanal chocolates. Based in Fort Myers, the corporate headquarters encompasses both production and retail operations. The Chocolate Salon is a stylish retail shop with an intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and smoothies.

For more information or to place an order, call 239-561-7215, toll free 866-515-2121, or visit www.normanloveconfections.com. The Chocolate Salon is located at 11380 Lindbergh Boulevard, east of I-75, off Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers, and is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.