Hi! My name is Stephanie Zonis, and welcome to the February, 2002 edition of "For Chocolate Lovers Only". Each month, you'll find recipes, tips, and recommendations for great chocolate specialties.

Chocolate Recommendation of the Month: Sometimes, a name can be a little misleading. When I first heard about this month's recommendation, ChocolateoftheMonth.com, I was sure they worked only on a series of 3-, 6-, and 12-month plans to deliver chocolate to fortunate recipients. Well, they do have such programs, and an impressive selection of them, but it turns out they sell many other chocolate goodies outside of their monthly plans, too. Cakes and cookies (including the Cecilia Bartoli almond cheesecake covered in dark chocolate); caramels and toffees; and truffles are only some of the categories you'll find represented. There are even chocolate-related books (my favorite is Murray Langham's great Chocolate Therapy, a small volume that is terrific fun for any gathering of chocolate lovers).

At least a couple of the companies whose products are sold on the ChocolateoftheMonth.com site have appeared in this column before, so you know I like them. Of those I haven't tried, I really like the idea of the trompe l'oeil white chocolate ravioli, and those chocolate-covered potato chips in the Gourmet Snacks section sound very appealing. Custom orders are accepted (including for monthly packages), and the nice people behind this site will try hard to help you find the right gift for any occasion. I'm betting that you can find something for just about anyone for Valentine's Day-or almost any other celebration or occasion-on the ChocolateoftheMonth.com site. Online ordering? But of course! Their name is their address: www.ChocolateoftheMonth.com, or phone (703) 359-1400/fax (703) 277-9667 to place an order.

Chocolate Book of the Month: Have you ever given any serious thought to how that chocolate bar you're about to devour originated? Perhaps you've wondered how it was made, or what type of chocolate most Americans, or French, or Germans prefer? Or maybe you've never been curious about any of this, but if so, I have a book that will change your mind. Maricel Presilla's The New Taste of Chocolate: A Cultural & Natural History of Cacao with Recipes is amazing! There's information on everything from the subtleties of chocolate flavor to identifying cocoa to how to taste chocolate. If this all sounds too technical, be reassured; it merely makes for fascinating reading. Lots of illustrations and some recipes round out the book nicely. Published in 2001 by Ten Speed Press, this would be a perfect gift for your favorite chocolate-lover.

Do you have a comment, question, or suggestion? I'd like your input into this column. You can reach me at: sdziadwm@nac.net. Thank you!