I think I've made a habit of stopping in here on random holidays and honestly, no regrets. I first…read morecame on Valentine's Day when my now husband couldn't celebrate because of his situation, so I surprised him with a box of multiple desserts. They were a hit then, and they're still a hit now. This past weekend we picked out 12 different truffles with the intention of giving one to every guest who walked into our Friendsgiving... but the 5 of us who arrived on time ended up doing three rounds of tasting instead. Zero complaints, every single one was amazing in its own unique way. Norman never disappoints.

I recently received a box of chocolates from Norman Love Confections as a surprise from one of my…read moreclose friends. I was definitely caught off guard and the moment I opened the box I knew I was in for a treat... that said... you know what they say... you never know what you're gunna get. I opened the box to find that it included ice packs to ensure the chocolate didn't melt while on the way to my doorstop - much appreciated. Inside was the most beautiful packaging ever. It was branded, bright green, and even included a one sheeter on what each chocolate was. Once it was all unwrapped I was blown away at how incredibly goregous the chocolates were. I stood in awe for a minute and it took me a hot second to decided which one to try first. I'm not going to list out every single one but my favorites were the tiramisu, sea salt caramel truffle, pistachio, tahitian carmel, and strawberry. I made sure treasure each one and I'm still dreaming about them. If you're looking for a lovely gift for someone, or even looking to treat yourself, you won't be disappointed, I promise.

BLUF: Good ice cream in St. Armands circle and even better when it's not crowded…read more Yes, I like Kilwins ice cream and I love it when I don't have to find a parking spot or wait in line. This Kilwins is located in St. Armand's Circle. Given that, parking can be tricky and lines can be long. Conveniently, this Kilwins was in walking distance to my hotel on a recent stay in Lido Key so I was sure to stop by for a scoop. Also, I am glad to see Kilwins was able to renovate and recover after back-to-back Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton hit the area. I wouldn't drive to St. Armands Circle and fight parking just for Kilwins but if in the area and craving a sweet treat, Kilwins has visitors covered with ice cream, fudge and candy.

More than ice cream!…read more Yes, we bought ice cream here. Seating on benches in front of the store while seeking to complete a cone before meltdown has been a family tradition for years. So, this time, I though readers would like to learn of our experience with two non-traditional items for us: chocolates and peanut brittle. Bottom line is - both were excellent! We wanted to bring home treats for those who could not join us for ice cream. Chocolates and peanut brittle were practical and appreciated choices. The appended photos convey more information than these words would - so please see them. Notes: 1 ) There is no indoor seating. So, plan to sit outside on benches or stroll the circle with ice cream. 2) Afternoon street parking was surprisingly available. Perhaps a weekday afternoon in summer is not prime time. 3) Free samples - The staff will gladly offer a free sample of ice cream. Don't be shy about asking for advice. 4) Price - As a grandparent, I am surprised at how pricey everything is nowadays. However, my millennial kids say that Kilwin's offered a decent value. Kilwin's remains a much-anticipated highlight of family visits to the Circle.

Posh chocolatier inside UTC mall. They had an array of chocolate candies and treats using chocolate…read morefrom Switzerland. I sampled a few items before deciding on a piece to take home. Very friendly staff and the chocolate tastes amazing!

My favorite chocolate with hazelnut! I love that place so delicious sweet and creamy chocolate .read more

Small shop that may go unnoticed in this strip of shops on Gulf Gate Dr. I often get care packages…read moreof various chocolatey items from this shop on appropriate holidays from my mom (even though I am no longer in college). I have visited on a few occasions myself as well. My mother is addicted to their bark, and I loved the truffles that I have sampled, especially the one with cayenne. The employees are always very friendly and helpful. Stop in and give it a look next time you are driving by.

Great selection, seasonal options but can be a bit pricey. They Offer a punch card which is great…read morehowever. Location is right off 41 too so its very easy to access.

We really wanted a coffee while we walked around and this was the only place we could find but it…read morewas so good. They should definitely market their coffee options more as they were delicious. We tried the chocolate stout latte iced and got several macarons. Parking is on street with park mobile app! They have a great selection of macarons with creative flavors like champagne, caramel banana, coffee, and coconut. Staff was super sweet and welcoming here.

Le Macaron French Pastries is a favorite of mine! I fell in love with their Lavender White…read moreChocolate Macaron a couple years ago. This time was no different! I bought a box of six. I was lucky I even made it home from our trip with any left in the box! To drink, you guessed it, I had the iced Lavender Coffee! It was so flavorful and refreshing. Le Macaron French Pastries still has my heart. Until next time!

AMAZING!!! We went to the one on Main, but closer to Washington St. it doesn't come up when you…read moresearch on the map, but it's there! We had an Amazing Mother's Day Brunch! So sweet that they gave us (2) heart shaped macaroons, which were delicious! The bakery display, was just beautiful and the coffee was perfect! We had the Syrniki, Stuffed Butter Croissants, and Chia Pudding! The Syrniki were fantastic. We've never had them before and we got one for the table to share. The cream sauce with the fresh fruit and pancake was the perfect tart and sweet. The croissant was so flaky and it was th perfect amount of spinach with cheese and eggs. The Chia pudding was so creamy with a mild flavor of blueberry sauce topped with fresh fruit. What a great find! I can't wait to go back!

This is such a cute place. The staff is helpful and the baked goods are delicious. A but more…read morevariety would be great. Lots of seating.

This is a very cute little gelato place with authentic handmade fresh flavors…read more They have fruit gelato, chocolate gelato, and a bunch of other different flavor flavors that are classic and a little bit more un unique. It's all fresh and can come in either a cup or a cone. They also serve cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso if you'd like. There's little seating, but it is offered indoor and outdoor.

Gentleman working behind the counter was so kind and generous with the samples. Pistachio gelato is…read moremy favorite and this was the best I've ever had! Can't wait to visit again

If you want to be transported straight to a sidewalk café in Paris without leaving Sarasota, C'est…read moreLa Vie is the place. It's a small, quaint spot with an amazing atmosphere, but definitely be prepared to wait if you're coming for brunch it's very popular for a reason! The wait was absolutely worth it, though. I started with a cappuccino, and it was perfection rich, smooth, and exactly what you need to wake up. For food, the savory crepe was outstanding. It had that perfect authentic texture slightly crisp on the edges and soft in the middle. I also tried the cauliflower soup, which was a surprising highlight. It was incredibly creamy and flavorful honestly, one of the best soups I've had in a long time. Highly recommend this gem if you're in the area!

Excellent breakfast. Coffee, French pastry, Fresh fruit…read more Many of the customers seems to be regulars who meet there every day. Good service. Cozy ambience. Family owned. We'll be back.

Larissa has the best wildflower honey in the area With a…read morevariety to choose from I especially like the lemon and plain wildflower honey I like it changes with seasons to help with allergies

shelly's cookies are delicious. she is great to work with. cookies arrive fresh and enjoyed by all.read more