Trenton chocolatier prepares for Valentine’s Day

By Carrie A. Mizell

Flowers and jewelry are just fine, but Chef Linda Bowen’s husband Tim knows better than to buy her chocolate for Valentine’s Day.
As a chocolatier, Chef Linda knows good chocolate and frowns on poor imitations.
“Before my husband, I would say that my best friend was chocolate,” Chef Linda said with a smile.

Having studied with the foremost chocolatiers in the United States, Canada and Europe, Chef Linda jumped at the opportunity to open her own business, Simply Delightful Confections in March 2010. Utilizing a commercial kitchen located inside the Crystal Ice House in downtown Trenton, Chef Linda hand creates a variety of delectable chocolates, truffles, caramels, ganaches, and marshmallows.
She also customizes chocolates and confections for special events, be it a wedding, anniversary or holiday party.
Speaking of holidays, Chef Linda began preparing her Valentine’s Day collection in mid-January. The collection includes an assortment of hand-painted truffles in a variety of flavors, including Bailey’s Irish Cream, Strawberry and Vanilla Bean. The truffles are sold individually, or in boxes of four, nine and 16 pieces.
Chef Linda has also made chocolate dipped cherries, mini solid chocolates, foiled chocolate hearts on a stick, chocolate crunch hearts on a stick, a chocolate heart box with mini hearts, chocolate dipped caramel apples, and much more!
To try something truly unique this Valentine’s Day go for Chef Linda’s caramel chocolate puffles, which are a light confection of butter and caramel that literally melts in the mouth. Chef Linda’s puffles are a top seller.
Local residents who stop by the Crystal Ice House to purchase chocolates actually pay less than someone who orders online through Chef Linda’s website. Prices in Trenton are also considerably less than what Chef Linda’s confections go for through her Gainesville retailers, the Shands Hospital Gift Shop, The Perfect Gift, and the Wine and Cheese Gallery.
“This is also the only place someone can come in and buy a chocolate or truffle out of the case by the piece,” Chef Linda explained.
A Wisconsin native, Chef Linda said she always loved to bake and work with chocolate. Eleven years ago she was accepted into a prestigious culinary institute, but opted to get married instead. She began taking classes, however, and studied with acclaimed chocolatiers like Chefs Ewald Notter, Norman Love and Derrick Pho.
“I loved it, and one day it just hit me that my chocolate was as good as theirs!” Chef Linda recalls.
It wasn’t long before Chef Linda decided to go out on her own. After meeting with Paul and Stephanie Metts, owners of the Crystal Ice House, and hearing their vision for the community, she knew that starting her business in Trenton would be ideal.
“People can be really snobby about their wine and chocolate,” Chef Linda said. “And a lot of people told me that opening in Trenton would be a mistake because people here would not pay for good chocolate, but they were wrong. My business has been really good.”
Chef Linda is confident in her products, which are made with only the finest ingredients, including butter from France, chocolate from Europe and vanilla beans from Tahiti.
“They are simple ingredients, but I feel like it really comes out in the taste,” Chef Linda said.
While working five days a week to prepare for Valentine’s Day, Chef Linda said she really doesn’t know what to expect next week, since this is her first Valentine’s Day in the chocolate business, but she hopes to be swamped with local customers.
For more information on Chef Linda’s Simply Delightful Confections call (352) 317-3158 or visit her website simplydelightfulconfections.com