great love stories
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE EDITOR
The book How they likedby Florian Illies
For lovers of reading, what better than to offer them a book that recounts the idylls and great loves of famous people – poets, writers, painters…? From Paris to Berlin, via New York, the 1930s saw the sentimental and sometimes incredible adventures of illustrious characters: Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich… is boosted and the stories, just as tasty.
How they liked, Florian Illies. Flammarion, 496 pages.
Laila Maalouf, The Press
A classic that always pleases
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHOCO CHOCOLAT
Chocolates from Choco Chocolat are colorful and will bring many smiles with their charming shapes and colors.
Chocolate remains a classic for Valentine’s Day and this one, produced in an artisanal way in Lanaudière, will arouse many smiles with its charming shapes and colors. Choco Chocolat’s Valentine’s Day collection has more than 20 unique pieces; among many others, a surprise heart filled with chocolates in shades of pink and purple, fruit chocolate cubes, marshmallow hearts, chocolate bear lollipops or a delightful chocolate bouquet.
Price: from $3.99 (individually wrapped full chocolate heart) to $45.99 (surprise heart of 16 chocolates) online or at the Joliette boutique
Laila Maalouf, The Press
Burst of colors
PHOTO PROVIDED BY KANDJU
Valentine’s Candy Jar: 450g for $11.99
Kandju’s colorful and themed collections are perhaps the new must-have for those who love sweets, but not necessarily chocolate. You can gift jars or buckets of irresistible gummies in the shapes and colors of love, or choose from decadent rosy-hued fudges like chocolate raspberry or strawberry cheesecake. Skewers, on the other hand, make delicious additions to any gift.
Price: from $2.99 to $31.99, online or at points of sale
Laila Maalouf, The Press
Relaxing
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOJA & CO
Soja & Co offers Touch of Romance and Complete Ritual for the bath
The Quebec brand Soja & Co has also thought of a special gift for the occasion, available in the form of two boxes – Touch of Romance and Complete Ritual for the bath. Candle, eucalyptus, birch and oat milk bath, bubble bath and a 100% natural lip exfoliant are some of the products that are included. Note that you can also add a personalized note to the boxes (handwritten) by selecting the gift option when purchasing.
Price: $49 (Touch of Romance) or $90 (Complete Ritual for the Bath), online or at points of sale
Laila Maalouf, The Press
Say it with flowers
PHOTO PROVIDED BY L’ATELIER VÉGÉTAL
A bouquet that will not fade!
To make a change from the famous bouquet of red roses very often offered on Valentine’s Day, why not opt for a pretty arrangement of dried flowers? Located in Montreal, Atelier Végétal offers a variety of bouquets composed of local or wild flowers. A touch of nature and colors that the loved one can add to their decor without fearing the moment when the petals fade.
From $40, online
Veronique Larocque, The Press
children’s words
PHOTO VINCENT CASTONGUAY, PROVIDED BY MARLONE
Marlone’s collection of children’s words
Children grow up fast, many parents would say. To freeze in time a few snippets of their daily life, the Montreal company Marlone has created a cute collection in which you can write down your toddler’s first words, but also the funny or endearing formulations he invents. Whether the child renames the gouache “boulette paint” or prefers to have “a few two” cookies rather than a few, these little pearls transcribed on paper will turn into sweet memories. An ideal gift for young parents with a bit of nostalgia who you want to please.
$14, online
Veronique Larocque, The Press
A bit of magic
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ABSINTHERIE DES CANTONS
Panoramix gin
Create a little magic during your romantic evening with Panoramix gin. Distilled by Absintherie des Cantons, this drink which highlights different boreal spices can change color. When mixed with a tonic or a lemon, the gin changes from indigo blue to lilac pink… Tadam! Magic!
$49.75, at the SAQ
Veronique Larocque, The Press
Looking to the future
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BCUIT MTL
Bcuit Mtl’s love box
What does the future hold for your significant other? A massage ? A travel ? A marriage ? You decide. To tell him, fortune cookies from Bcuit Mtl can help you. These handmade vanilla, strawberry, cinnamon or cherry candies can hide personalized messages. Do you lack inspiration? Benevolent, inspiring, funny, comical and even naughty texts have already been imagined by Bcuit Mtl. These are also bilingual and gender neutral.
From $55 for a box of 25 cookies, online
Veronique Larocque, The Press