If you think there’s no such thing as bad chocolate, then you’ve never had good chocolate, and Sarasota’s chocolatiers are about to show you what real bliss tastes like. Sirard’s takes the title in the category’s debut amid mention of myriad truffle selections and the world-famous Sarasota Sea Foam candy, while The Chocolate Bark Company in Gulf Gate (formerly Chocolate, Nuts and More) takes first runner-up in a grassroots campaign. Kilwin’s Chocolates and Morton’s Gourmet Market round out the list for chocolate seekers as second and third runners-up respectively.

Terrance Burzynski (on Sirard’s): Carol, the owner, is extremely creative and attentive to detail. Custom baskets for clients, gifts for special occasions and Sarasota Sea Foam for my family back in Ohio that now request it by name... it’s all amazing. Kevin Keegan (on Sirard’s): We often frequent Sirard’s because not only do they make fantastic chocolate cakes, cookies and chocolates, etc., Sirard’s is our favorite “go to” breakfast and lunch restaurant. Bill Jones (on Sirard’s): I voted for Sirards chocolates because the on-site confectioners use lots of love in making them. And I need it. Michael Ann Wells (on Chocolate Bark Company): Chocolate Bark Company has wonderful fresh chocolate barks with all sorts of tasty crunchy goodies in them. My sisters and sister-in-law look forward to them when they visit.