Chocolate and flowers has long been a favorite gift choice for most any occasion. Most of us love to eat chocolate, and so naturally, we like to receive it as a gift.

With all the choices available today, it's easier than ever to come up with the perfect chocolate gift for any occasion.

Sending a chocolate gift basket that is personalized for the occasion or the recipient's interests is sure to be remembered the most. And no one is better at doing that than your local florist. Here are a few ideas that our shop has done to give you some inspiration...

• For a person who enjoys traveling, we combined different types of gourmet chocolates, such as Belgian chocolates, Swiss milk chocolates, chocolate truffles from France, Italian and German chocolates, along with coffee, a travel guide, and travel DVD into a basket along with fresh flowers.

  There are many imported European chocolates available, such as Amedei, Michel Cluizel, Domori, Galler, and Hachez, among others.

• Holidays are a time for showing the special people in your life just how important they are. We've combined chocolate roses with fresh roses to create a unique bouquet for Valentine's Day. Or how about a teddy bear holding some balloons, a few red roses, and a large Hershey Bar?

• Traditionally, the biggest holiday for chocolate is Easter, because of the variety that's available. Last year, we featured a basket that contained a white chocolate bunny, along with marshmallow-filled chocolate eggs, and a beautiful arrangement of fresh spring flowers.

• Birthdays are always an occasion to give a chocolate gift basket or gourmet chocolates. Along with flowers, it will add a special touch to the celebration. Chocolates are the perfect compliment to just about any gift item.

If you really want to create a memorable gift for a chocolate lover, a little research will help. Start by visiting online chocolate shops and looking at their specialized offerings. Many will have products created for the special occasions in your life. You can also find a lot of related items, such as chocolate recipe books or chocolate molds. Then check with your local florist and find out what they can suggest you add to really turn your chocolate gift basket into something truly memorable.