Upscale caterer, Crave Culinaire, has announced that it has partnered with local farmers and distributors, including award-winning chocolatier, Norman Love Confections, to launch Crave Pantry, which will help provide a wide variety of food and household items to families available for pick-up or delivery. This service will launch this weekend, March 28-29, 2020. They have also expanded the Crave2Go gourmet prepared meal delivery service to accommodate families in Southwest Florida to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Crave2Go offers heat and eat gourmet meals with no prep work or clean-up and easy heating instructions. Meals can be ordered from www.craveculinaire.com/crave2go.
In an effort to help more families obtain the items that they need to keep their household running, yet feel safe and stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Crave Pantry will provide items ranging from fine grocery items such as filet mignon steaks, Atlantic salmon, cage free eggs, and assorted, locally-sourced vegetables, to household items such as toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and latex gloves. Beer and wine pairings, along with decadent desserts from Norman Love Confections are offered as well. In addition to the launch, Crave Culinaire has also released more menu items as part of its Crave2Go meal delivery service. Crave2Go began last year as a way to help more people enjoy delicious meals without having to clean, chop, cook and prepare the meals. It has now expanded to include family portions and a larger number of options available. Crave2Go provides a safe alternative to dining out, feeding families to help prevent COVID-19 from affecting our area more so than it has already. With no need to leave the house, this service is perfect to ensure the health and safety of the Southwest Florida community.
A sweet pairing, to your door! In partnership with Crave Pantry and Chef Brian Roland, Southwest Florida can experience the art and love of chocolate and desserts from Norman Love Confections, delivered directly to your door. In addition to a selection of award-winning ultra-premium chocolates, customers can choose a variety of individual gourmet desserts including Grandma’s Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Tarts, Caramel Chocolate Tower, New York White Chocolate Cheesecake, Raspberry Dome, Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding and Hazelnut Bars. Large cakes serve 6-8, and feature Vanilla Bread Pudding, Chocolate Mousse Cake, New York Vanilla and a Fresh Baked Cookie Platter. Fresh from the bakery are Butter Croissants, Chocolate Croissants, Almond Croissants, Blueberry White Chocolate Muffins, Chocolate Chip Muffins, Vegan Muffins and a variety of Danishes. Dessert snacks include fresh-baked cookies, brownies, blondies, macaroons and more. In time for Easter, customers can order the most Eqqsquisite gifts to elevate Easter baskets and dinner, as Norman Love Confections presents its limited-edition 2020 Easter Collection featuring 10 rich egg crèmes in white, dark and milk chocolate. In addition to fruity favorites like strawberry, raspberry, lemon and orange, the collection’s delicacies include vanilla, coffee, coconut, caramel, Madagascar chocolate and peanut butter. The 2020 Easter Collection is offered from March 23 to April 11, and sweet Easter desserts and cakes are also available.
“Norman Love Confections is proud to partner with Chef Brian Roland and his team as we adapt to the changing landscape of our business and community in order to continuing serving our customers with high quality foods and products during these challenging times,” said Norman Love, founder and president, Norman Love Confections.
Crave Companies, which consists of Crave Culinaire, Venue Naples, Crave Event Staffing, Zest Bonita and Crave2Go is working closely to ensure the safe operation of its facilities and staff. The team ensures that it is adhering to the strict guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, the World Health Organization and local government officials. All health recommendations are being followed and the team is closely monitoring all updates to ensure that proper compliance is in place.
Chef Brian Roland and his wife Nicole, Owners of Crave Companies, express their desire to help in this challenging time.
“This is one of the most difficult times in our lives, which is why it’s so important, now more than ever, for us to band together and work to keep each other safe and healthy. We are doing as much as we can to be of service to our community, and we are all looking forward to getting through this, becoming even stronger in the process,” they explain.
Both Crave Pantry and Crave2Go orders are available on Tuesdays and Fridays. Orders are due by 5 PM on Sunday for pick up or delivery on Tuesday. Orders are due by 5 PM on Wednesday for pick up or delivery on Friday. Please visit www.craveculinaire.com/crave2go to place your order today.
About Crave Culinaire
Crave Culinaire was founded by Chef Brian Roland, Owner and Executive Chef. Chef Brian and his team specialize in creating an exclusive culinary experience through in-home dining, private and public events, cooking classes, customized catering, food and wine pairings and showcasing immaculate culinary delights. Crave Culinaire is driven by their passion for food, and focuses on incorporating fresh and local ingredients. Crave Culinaire is also paired with the fully customizable space of Venue Naples. Venue Naples is a multi-use event space and art gallery incorporating fine dining and exquisite service.
About Norman Love Confections
Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from its corporate headquarters at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers, Florida. The award-winning Fort Myers-based chocolatier has been lauded more than a dozen times by a leading consumer ratings magazine, including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates in the nation. Forbes.com included Norman Love Confections BLACK line on its list of the nation’s top 10 truffles; The Huffington Post listed it among the six best U.S. destinations in its Chocolate Lover’s Travel Guide; and USA Today named Love as one of its top 10 entrepreneurs for 2014. Love was named the inaugural inductee of Dessert Professional Magazine’s Chocolatier Hall of Fame, partnered with local chefs to present a six-course meal at the James Beard House in New York and Norman Love Confections was ranked among the top 10 shops in the world for chocolate lovers by U.K. media outlet Daily Telegraph.
Norman Love Confections has Chocolate Salons in Fort Myers, Estero and Naples, including a pastry shop and café at Whole Foods Market in Fort Myers. Chocolates, gift baskets, sipping chocolate and Love’s book, “Artistry in Chocolate, A Story of Love,” also can be ordered online at www.normanloveconfections.com. In addition, Norman Love Confections chocolates and desserts are offered on 18 Princess Cruises’ ships through the “Chocolate Journeys” partnership and at independent retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information visit www.normanloveconfections.com or call 239-561-7215.
