Roses and chocolate-covered strawberries are the quintessential gifts for Valentine’s Day.

While no Valentine would scoff at those traditional offerings, you could also think outside the (heart-shaped) box and get them something made right here in Memphis. 

I spent the last week taste-testing local treats such as cheesecakes, croissants and ice pops. Here are five delicacies, all inspired by roses and chocolate-covered strawberries, that are my top picks for Valentine’s Day this year.

The mini cheesecake collection from Dvour Desserts includes, from left to right, strawberry-rose cheesecake, an Oreo-crusted cherry cheesecake, their classic cheesecake shaped as a heart and their cookies-and-cream cheesecake. (Courtesy Dvour Desserts)

Strawberry-rose cheesecake from Dvour Desserts

Downtown bakery Dvour Desserts is serving up some special flavors of its mini cheesecakes for Valentine’s Day. The mini cheesecakes can be purchased individually or in a special Valentine’s box with four flavors. The strawberry-rose cheesecake is guaranteed to wow, with Chef Tyler Jividen infusing his top-selling strawberry cheesecake with a hint of rose for this holiday flavor. 

Also in the Valentine’s collection are a chocolate-covered cherry (an Oreo-crusted cherry cheesecake stuffed with a Toschi cherry and glazed with chocolate), a pink heart (their classic cheesecake shaped as a heart) and Dvour’s popular cookies-and-cream cheesecake.

Citrus-rose entremet from 17 Berkshire

For Valentine's Day, 17 Berkshire serves a white chocolate-citrus mousse molded around a blood-orange marmalade and set atop a crisp shortbread. (Jennifer Chandler/The Daily Memphian)

The citrus-rose entremet at 17 Berkshire is a dessert that has its roots in classic French pastries — and is worth every calorie! A white chocolate-citrus mousse is beautifully molded around a blood-orange marmalade and set atop a crisp shortbread. The mousse is light and airy, and each bite is cloyingly sweet with a hint of rose. A work of art, it is elegantly decorated with a citrusy glaze and dried edible rose petals. And if you need more rose-flavored treats, pick up a box of owner Nuha Abuduhair’s rose macarons.

Chocolate-strawberry croissant cube from Hive Bagel & Deli

Hive Bagel and Deli is located at 276 S. Front St. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

For Valentine’s Day, Hive Bagel & Deli is offering a chocolate-covered-strawberry twist to its signature croissant cube. Chef and owner Josh Steiner has stuffed a chocolate-glazed squared croissant with a strawberry-cream filling. The cube comes topped with a chocolate-covered strawberry. Steiner recommends eating the strawberries first, then warming the croissant cube for a minute before slicing it in half to enjoy with your Valentine.

Mempops' Valentine's ice pops are dipped and drizzled in chocolate. (Courtesy Mempops)

Chocolate-dipped strawberry pop from Mempops

Each year for Valentine’s Day, Mempops offers a collection of chocolate-dipped-and-drizzled strawberry pops. Owner Chris Taylor knew what he was doing when he decided to use the strawberry fruit pops as the base of this treat. Each bite tastes just like you are biting into a juicy chocolate-covered berry. You can choose from either milk or dark chocolate (both drizzled with white chocolate for the holiday), and a set of four pops is $15.

Chocolate-covered strawberries from Dinstuhl’s

Dinstuhl's Fine Candy Company has made chocolate-covered strawberries for more than 60 years. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Or you could go with the sweet that set the standard. Memphis candy company Dinstuhl’s has made chocolate-covered strawberries for more than 60 years, and they have become a Valentine’s Day go-to. These famous chocolate-covered strawberries are just as unique as they are delicious. Think chocolate-covered strawberry meets chocolate-cherry cordial.

This Week on Memphis’ restaurant scene

Ryan Glosson, Heather Bain and Bryant Bain pose for a portrait at the Barksdale Restaurant Feb. 4, 2025. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Memphis in May International Festival announced it will be hosting its first Junior Barbecue Cooking Contest for youth ages 9-17 during the 2025 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. In its first year, the junior contest will feature four categories of competition: pork chop, ribeye steak, chicken legs/thighs and dessert. The grand champion will receive a $3,000 cash prize and a golden ticket to the World Food Championship. Contestants can register at memphisinmay.org; the deadline to register is March 15.

Sweet LaLa's owner Lauren Young and Vinculo Coffee founder Andrew Banker are partnering for the bakery's coffee. (Courtesy Caleb Sigler)

Sweet LaLa’s Bakery has partnered with local roaster Vinculo Coffee as its source for coffee beans. In addition to being available at the counter for espresso drinks or drip coffee, Sweet LaLa’s will sell Vinculo’s 12-ounce bags of whole beans as well as their newly launched KPods.

Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman announced that they will be opening a new restaurant later this year in Germantown. Josephine Estelle will be a two-story restaurant at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Kirby Road in the new The Standard Germantown development.

The Barksdale restaurant is set to reopen in March. From building renovations to menu changes, the new owners shared what to expect during the next chapter of this Midtown breakfast institution.

Jowa Horn and son Xaviour Horn buy Girl Scout cookies from Lisa Butler, troop leader, and Girl Scout Preauna Richardson at Crosstown Concourse on Feb. 8. (Greg Campbell/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Girl Scout cookie season has officially kicked off. Jody Callahan interviewed some of the top sellers of last year and shared some facts about these famous cookies.

Jane Roberts reported that the waiting list for Meals on Wheels has hit a recent high, with nearly 3,000 people on the list for this local meal program.

Abigail Warren brought us the story that Belly Acres is expanding to Collierville. Belly Acres plans to occupy the 4,125-square-foot space formerly home to Staks! Kitchen before Easter.

In Food Files, Sophia Surrett reported both 901 Hot Pot and the Half Shell are opening new locations in the coming weeks, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is moving and demolition of the former 40,000-square-foot Bed Bath & Beyond at 2810 N. Germantown Parkway has begun to make way for a new Raising Cane’s Chicken.

Memphians got excited last week with news that In-N-Out Burger was opening soon in Tennessee. Surrett reported that while the California chain is opening several locations in Nashville, the company has no specific plans for the Memphis area yet.

Takashi Bistro’s pepper tuna tataki, a raw appetizer, is a knockout at $11.95. (Joshua Carlucci/Special to The Daily Memphian)

On this past week’s Sound Bites podcast, Holly Whitfield interviewed Joshua Carlucci. Carlucci, a freelance writer for The Daily Memphian, talked about his South American travels, writing about food as a Memphis transplant and his endless quest for The Daily Memphian’s $10 Deals.

Carlucci’s $10 Deal this week comes from Takashi Bistro in Midtown. He recommends the Pepper Tuna Tataki and the restaurant’s take on drunken noodles (pad kee mao).

Thanks for joining me for this week’s Table Talk. Be sure to look for this column weekly for all the latest food news in Memphis.

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