Max Brenner, Philadelphia

 Chicken Alfredo

Chocolate Hazelnut Crepes with Strawberries

When I need to satisfy my sweet tooth at dinner time, Max Brenner, in center city, serves decadent chocolate entrees as well as delicious dinners and lunches. We've enjoyed brunch here during the Mummers Parade on New Years Day, and recently stopped by for dinner.

For dinner we ordered the chicken alfredo entree, which was absolutely delicious. The chicken was tender, the sauce addicting and a perfect portion.

We also ordered the chocolate hazelnut crepes with strawberries that was on their specials. It was served with a little vial of chocolate ganache to pour over. Chocolate hazelnut filling and little crunchy things inside the crepe, as well as strawberries inside and outside made the crepe decadent and sweet.

The kitchen is open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and open until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Max Brenners is the perfect location for dinner after a show at the Kimmel Center, which is only mere blocks away.

The Chocolate Bar

Across the street from the doors into the House of Blues is the Chocolate Bar. We stopped here for dessert while waiting for the doors to open for a concert at House of Blues.

With a large dessert menu and a nice sized wine and cocktail menu, this was the perfect place to enjoy an after dinner drink and something sweet.

We shared a Peanut Butter Mud, a chocolaty brownie, with peanuts and caramel. Super yummy. It was the perfect size to share with another person. If you’re more of a visual person, the bakery case is near the bar and you can go peruse the goodies in there.

We also ordered the chocolate dipped strawberry martini, which was creamy and chocolaty, with a wonderfully sweet strawberry flavor. A perfect after dinner drink.

Our waitress was also very knowledgeable about the wine list, which was a refreshing change.

Ethel M Chocolates

In Henderson, NV, just off the 215, is Ethel M Chocolates, which offers a free, self-guided chocolate making tour and a free botanical cactus garden.

Chocolate makers work Monday through Friday, except on holidays, making fantastic chocolate confections. As you walk through the factory, signs guide your eyes to show you what you are seeing and signs around the windows and behind you tell you more about making chocolate, about Ethel M chocolates and the history of chocolate.

The best part, at the end of the tour, there is a free sample of their milk, dark, or white chocolate awaiting you. (I tried their dark chocolate, which is very dark. I’m accustomed to Hershey’s Special Dark, and this was much, much darker dark chocolate.)

The tour leads you into their store where you can purchase candy, confectioneries, truffles, and all sorts of items made with, coated in and filled with chocolates.

Next door there is also an M&M’s World store for the kiddos who may not have the sophisticated taste buds for Ethel M Chocolates.

Before you leave, make sure to take a stroll through the botanical cactus garden, with all sorts of cacti, more species than most people know exist. It’s beautifully sculpted and the walking path leads you through the garden.

During the holiday months, the gardens are covered in lights and at night light up for a “prickly” holiday adventure. Santa is also there to greet the little ones.

Chocolate and ice cream at Ghirardelli

 Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in downtown San Diego is a great stop for an ice cream sundae on a warm and sunny San Diego afternoon or an after dinner delight.

The shop serves ice cream sundaes featuring Ghirardelli chocolates and ice creams. They also sell Ghirardelli chocolates, including varieties that are seldom found in stores. Chocolates can be bought individually, in packs, or in gift sets.

The sundaes on their menu are huge – meant for at least two people. However, if the delicious concoctions on the menu don’t entice you, there is an option to build your own sundae where there are size options available.

We tried the Rocky Road Sundae, made with rocky road and vanilla ice cream and topped with Ghirardelli chocolate syrup.

 The Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in San Diego is located at 643 5th Ave in city's Gaslamp District.