For many, the best part of Valentine’s Day is the chocolate. And while Valentine’s Day may not have originated in France, the chocolate we enjoy indulging in the most is usually French.
But better than the chocolate on Valentine’s Day (at least for those without Valentines) is the chocolate in the days following Valentine’s Day. And while not all chocolatiers discount the price of their heart-shaped, love-themed confections, getting chocolate now is still an excellent way to keep the holiday going (especially if you missed out on February 14.) Here’s a list of some of our favorite New York chocolates and chocolatiers. If you go now, maybe you’ll catch some deals, or at least enjoy some festive red and pink packaging.
Francois Payard
François Payard is a third generation pastry chef originally from Nice. The Houston Street location is both a bakery with sweet and savory items and a chocolate shop. For Valentine’s Day, Payard released a set of chocolates featuring Valentine’s Day designs and truffles in heart-shaped boxes.
Jacques Torres
Jacques Torres has locations on the Upper West Side, in Chelsea, Dumbo and the West Village. According to an employee at the Upper West Side location, they send their festive chocolate back after the holiday, but if you check all the stores, you might just find 
some left. If not, try out some of Jacques Torres’ amazingly rich hot chocolate instead.
La Maison du Chocolat
The quintessential French chocolatier (with locations in the Financial District, at Rockefeller Center and on the Upper East Side) still has some of the holiday fare in stock. This year, the Valentine’s Day collection was inspired by Indian and African fruits and spices and, of course, also included heart-shaped confections. While chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat are unlikely to ever go on sale, Valentine’s Day provides the perfect excuse to indulge.
MarieBelle
Though not French, MarieBelle chocolates do make the perfect Valentine’s Day (or post-Valentine’s Day) gift. And the name certainly has a French ring to it. MarieBelle chocolates are characterized by the colorful images that top each ganache. For Valentine’s Day, the chocolates come with love-themed illustrations. There’s no better way to say, “I love you,” even after the holiday has passed.
By Monica Burton
