The World's Most Extravagant Valentine's Day Box of Chocolates

How would it feel to lunch at Michelin-starred The French Laundry while chatting with San Francisco Chronicle dining critic Michael Bauer? Or enjoy a chocolate and wine pairing with Alice Medrich, considered by many to be the first lady of chocolate, and Debbie Zachareas, co-owner of Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant? It’s possible through IfOnly’s $100,000 Ultimate Food Lovers Getaway, with impeccable timing as a Valentine’s Day gift .

The inspiration for the six-day package, which includes meeting the chefs at the helm of restaurants regularly decorated with Michelin stars, food writers, critics and wine and chocolate wine connoisseurs well respected in their field, was the Constellation Chocolate Collection, a chocolate box of 21 truffles, each representing a chef’s unique style.

Each piece of chocolate was developed by some of the world’s most recognized chefs including Tyler Florence, Jose Andres, Michael Mina and Traci Des Jardins, among others, and meant to showcase their signature culinary style. For example, Mina’s caramel is flecked with Maldon sea salt while Des Jardins' smooth dark truffle is made with single origin cacao. The collection is packaged in an elegant box with an enclosed legend describing the chef's inspiration for each confection.

"Whoever indulges in this offering is already passionate about food and wants us to unlock access to the best of everything,” says Michael Murphy, IfOnly’s culinary director. Murphy set out to secure those influential culinary tastemakers and create a package that would bridge the gap between fine-dining experiences with those who are part of it, whether as a chef, writer or tastemaker.

He reached out to Adam Sachs, a James Beard Award-winning journalist who now heads Saveur magazine as the editor-in-chief and Medrich, known as the queen of chocolate. “And there is Michael Bauer, the legendary food and wine editor and restaurant critic who has been at his post at the San Francisco Chronicle for 26 years,” Murphy adds. “He knows the west coast food scene intimately as he dines out every night.”

IfOnly will arrange the reservations for the dinners prepared by the six chefs featured in the chocolate box. The trip takes place from one coast to the other, via private jet with an in-flight champagne and chocolate tasting and five-star accommodations. A portion of the package benefits the James Beard Foundation.

If $100,000 is too steep for this Valentine’s Day, a private dinner inside the Venetian Gothic Palace, Palazzo Ducale can be had for $65,000. Or, surprise your love with the Constellation Chocolate Collection box of chocolates, available for $75, and re-create an intimate dinner using the chocolates as inspiration.