Food Stuff

Heading out to buy the usual box of chocolates for your sweetie for Valentine’s Day? Well, maybe you should think again about the message you’re sending. Is your love really dark, with a bitter edge? Or would you rather proffer a gift that is pure sweetness and light? If the latter, try heading to homey Kobasic’s Candies for something a little different. I’m partial to the gooshy handmade marshmallows, but a bag of saltwater taffy—in vanilla and raspberry for a Cupid-approved white-and-pink color scheme—has all the soft and sugary innocence of pure romance. Just look for the inflatable candy hearts outside of this isolated shop in the Pocket area. And if you’d rather be guardedly realistic about the nature of love, Kobasic’s has plenty of dark chocolate, with both sweet fillings and (if you really want to send mixed messages) clusters of nuts. 5324 Riverside Boulevard, (916) 448-3555, www.kobasicscandies.com.