Itinerary: Chocolate City

Get ready for Valentine’s Day by tracing Los Angeles’ sweet chocolate route. Ever since See’s opened its first shop on Western Avenue in 1921, Los Angeles has been home to unique and notable chocolate factories and shops, films and cultural experiences.

Although the Culver City See’s factory stopped giving tours a couple years back, you can still get a Willy Wonka-style look into Los Angeles’ treasure trove of chocolate-makers, and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time.

Today

For those truly passionate about chocolate, visit the Monastery of the Angels in the Hollywood Hills (1977 Carmen Ave., corner of Gower, Los Angeles; Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. [323] 466-2186). When a company called Juliette Candies retired in the 1950s, candy equipment was donated to the Cloistered Dominican Nuns, who’ve been creating sinfully delicious truffles, divinity and Marmels (chocolate-covered marshmallow and caramel) ever since. Pick up a loaf of pumpkin bread or pause for quiet reflection at the adjoining chapel. What makes Monastery’s candies so special? “We pray over them,” they say.

Hit some of the area’s finer candy stores. Edelweiss Chocolates sells handmade fruit, cream and truffle chocolates from its landmark Beverly Hills candy kitchen, which opened 59 years ago (444. N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills; Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. [310] 275-0341).

If you’re mad about Belgian chocolates, march into Leonidas (201 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles; Monday-Friday, 11:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday, 11:30-5 p.m. [323] 860-7966) and fill, to your heart’s content, red Valentine boxes with Manon Blancs (coffee cream covered in white chocolate) and I Love You pralines (lemon cream enrobed in dark chocolate).

Friday

It’s an all-out chocolate war between vice and morality in the charming “Chocolat” (general release). Locals in a tradition-abiding French village fall prey to Juliette Binoche’s spell-binding chocolate concoctions in this Lasse Hallstrom film. Look for Leslie Caron’s cameo role.

Once you leave your theater seat, you’ll be craving deep, dark chocolate, so knock yourself out with the Chocolate Blackout Fudge Cake featuring espresso-infused filling at Sweet Lady Jane (8360 Melrose Ave., two blocks east of La Cienega, Los Angeles; open 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; closed Sundays. [323] 653-7145). Call ahead for luscious, heart-shaped berry cakes.

On your way home, set the dial to KCRW’s “Chocolate City,” (FM 89.9; weeknights, 10 p.m.-midnight), featuring a smooth, creamy mix of urban rhythm and soul hosted by Garth Trinidad.

Saturday

Take your love to the Chocolate Bar at Gabah (4658 Melrose Ave., corner of Normandie, Los Angeles; Saturdays, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. [323] 860-8873). What started out as an Echo Park house party has turned into a hip, feel-good multicultural gathering of club-goers celebrating multi-ethnicities and rare groove dance mixes. DJs Daz, T. Lee and Higher spin a blend of hip-shaking reggae, Chicago house, drum ‘n’ bass and more. Look for the chocolates displayed on the table.

Sunday

At your local video house, rent the magical 1992 love story “Like Water for Chocolate” or the wacky 1971 movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” to investigate the secret Oompa Loompa scenes.