Artisan chocolate from Everett shop may be the ultimate valentine

Published 3:09 pm Saturday, February 6, 2010

The name Enchanted Florist might throw you at first, and you may not realize there are luscious-sounding teas for sale here with names like white vanilla grapefruit and pomegranate oolong.

But we’re coming up on Valentine’s Day, and we need chocolate and flowers, stat.

Turns out Enchanted Florist has plenty of those, too.

In fact, the chocolates also come in many exotic flavors, such as passion fruit caramels, Dom Perignon champagne truffles, lemon grass coconut and mint cookies.

These single piece chocolates are beautiful, delicate works of art displayed individually in shiny wrappers on cool slabs of marble in glass cases. Almost too pretty to eat.

“Like little pieces of jewelry,” Brian Schenck said.

Schenck co-owns Enchanted Florist with his wife, Janice. Though the Everett couple have run this specialty flower, chocolate and tea shop for three years, you might have missed them.

They moved about a year ago farther south on Colby to a skinny storefront between Romio’s Pizza and Starbucks and, in their subtle way, set up their shop with an elegant yet understated sign and not much fanfare.

But inside, customers will instantly be wowed by the exposed brick interior, baby grand piano (Brian Schenck is a classically trained pianist), a tasteful yet fun Valentine’s Day design that complements a collection of antiques and the knock-your-socks-off exquisite chocolates that come from all over the world.

The Schencks have built the chocolate part of their business on this theme: Find the highest quality chocolate for the best value.

So how does the couple hunt for the perfect chocolate? They use a blend of years of experience living in Europe, a willingness to experiment with different varieties and training from a course in chocolate making.

The result is a knowledge of chocolate the Schencks are happy to share, and a line of select products from more than a dozen different chocolatiers.

“Chocolate is just as sophisticated as wine,” Brian Schenck said.

Though commercially produced chocolates have a common-denominator taste, artisan chocolate, like wine, takes on the flavors of the different parts of the world where the cocoa beans are grown; some may taste fruity, or floral or may pick up the flavor of mushrooms from a surrounding forest.

“The most important thing is to have something that is interesting and different,” said Brian Schenck, who is particularly fond of the mint cookie truffles.

“So we have some chocolates that are very pronounced. There are things about it in the flavor that you can’t miss.”

Along with sophisticated chocolates, Enchanted Florist carries a line of Spokane-based Spokandy items for those who are looking for old-fashioned confections such as sea foam, peanut brittle and fudge.

Janice Schenck said the artisan chocolates pair well with the flower part of the operation.

“We didn’t want that typical flower shop. We didn’t want it full of kitsch,” Janice said. “We don’t do the balloons. We don’t do the stuffed animals.”

Though you won’t get mum-infused or carnation-based bouquets, you will find an exotic selection of flowers, including orchids, calla lilies and hydrangea.

There are, of course, roses for Valentine’s Day as well. And last minute shoppers rejoice: Enchanted Florist will be open on Valentine’s Day to take orders and make deliveries.

The Schencks, both 48, are as particular about their flowers as they are about their chocolates, insisting on buying from only fair-trade businesses.

“A lot of flowers are covered with pesticides,” Janice Schenck said. “I try to buy from companies that are documented as organic and fair trade.”

As for the teas at Enchanted Florist, the story is the same: These are teas that cater to connoisseurs, with flavors as diverse as fantastically fruity or a smoky Russian country tea that you almost want to stuff in a pipe.

Rose teas are available for Valentine’s Day, along with a special Valentine’s blend.

“We are always looking for high quality for our shelves,” Brian Schenck said. “Gift oriented, high quality, nice tasting, fresh products.”

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.

If you go

Enchanted Florist &Confections, 2809 Colby Ave., Everett. 425-258-1065 or go to enchantedfloristandconfections.com. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 Saturdays. The shop will be open on Sunday, Feb. 14, only.