Melissa Sanders, who owns Essential Chocolate Desserts in Culver City is busy putting together rich, Belgian chocolates into bright red heart-shaped candy boxes in time for Valentine's Day.

Along with the melt-in-your-mouth morsels, Sanders expects they'll sell out quickly of another two of their favorite items: red velvet ding dongs -made in heart shapes specially for the holiday - and thick, chocolate-coated moon pies hand-decorated with little hearts.

People will drive from as far away as Orange County, Sanders said, just to pick up their favorite chocolates, cakes and cookies ahead of the holiday.

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