If you’re planning ahead for Valentine’s Day or looking to ingratiate yourself with — well, anyone who likes sweets, Legacy Chocolates may well be your solution. Many will recall Legacy from its former iterations on Marshall Avenue and also in Menomonie, Wis. Now, it’s a small, skyway-level cafe in the Pioneer-Endicott Building (Robert Street between 4th and 5th on the edge of Lowertown in St. Paul), and the chocolates are still top notch.
Legacy curates a collection of truffles in varying degrees of cocoa strength (see below). Dark chocolate lovers, especially, will appreciate the 99-percent versions, in which the more bitter coatings deftly balance the sweeter fillings. We’d suggest getting a variety pack of six or a dozen because there’s just no reason to give chocolate research the short shrift.
But our favorite buy from Legacy these days is Potion No. 9 (above, $6 / 8 oz.). It’s probably just as strong and dangerous as the stuff The Clovers were singing about, and thankfully, Potion No. 9 contains no Sweetness #9. Instead, it’s full of Hope Creamery butter, cane juice, cream, and cocoa. This spreadable fudge would be dynamite if swiped on shortbread cookies or pretzel sticks. Though it might even be better melted, for dipping fruits or pouring over ice cream. Either way, try to give it as a gift, or prepare yourself to eat the entire tub by way of tiny spoonfuls every time you pass the fridge.
