Captain's Log, Stardate 04.22.2008
Lately I’ve been on this chocolate kick. Normally, I’m not a huge chocoholic like Captain Caffeine. I enjoy chocolate, but if given a choice, I’ll usually choose a fruit or custard/creamy dessert over a triple decadence chocolate layer cake or a chocolate-lovers’ downfall brownie.
But lately, I’ve been eating dark chocolate squares. I think it started when I went into Joseph Schmidt gourmet chocolate shop in Santana Row.
We’d gotten Joseph Schmidt truffles for Christmas, and they’d been fabulous—I can honestly say that they were as good as DeBrand truffles (author Colleen Coble’s favorite).
So when I saw the brick and mortar shop in Santana Row, I went in immediately.
Inside, this man was buying up stacks—and I kid you not, stacks—of the Joseph Schmidt Belgian Dark Chocolate bars. He raved about them, said they were terrific.
A cashier was restocking the display case the man had cleaned out, and I snagged a bar. “I’ve got to try one, after watching him,” I told her.
She laughed. “The last time we didn’t have any, he got so upset. I’ve never seen a customer so upset that we didn’t have a chocolate bar.”
I have had Ghirardelli chocolate, and Trader Joe’s Belgian chocolate, and DeBrand, and Scharffen Berger, and Vosges Haute-Chocolat, and See’s, and Ethel M—basically, a lot of gourmet chocolate. So I was a bit skeptical about this particular chocolate bar.
OH. MY. GOSH.
This chocolate really is very good. It’s smoother than most chocolate, yet not as sweet as some other dark chocolate bars (which is an aspect of it that I like). It’s bitter, but not too bitter, without the harsh aftertaste you sometimes get with bittersweet or extra dark chocolate.
I even tasted it side by side with Scharffen Berger just to make sure I wasn’t kidding myself. I can truly tell the difference between them, and the Joseph Schmidt chocolate is better.
My second favorite is Vosges Haute-Chocolat, but that is just insanely expensive and I only indulge because my friend Patti Lacy gave me two bars that I’m savoring.
So lately I’ve been keeping some dark chocolate by my computer and eating small pieces while I work. I’m a good girl—I break off a small piece and let it melt in my mouth so it lasts longer and I ingest less fat and sugar. My thighs have been thanking me.
So how about you? What chocolate do you turn to to warm your heart, ease your aches, dry your tears, or just boost your spirits?
Lately I’ve been on this chocolate kick. Normally, I’m not a huge chocoholic like Captain Caffeine. I enjoy chocolate, but if given a choice, I’ll usually choose a fruit or custard/creamy dessert over a triple decadence chocolate layer cake or a chocolate-lovers’ downfall brownie.
But lately, I’ve been eating dark chocolate squares. I think it started when I went into Joseph Schmidt gourmet chocolate shop in Santana Row.
We’d gotten Joseph Schmidt truffles for Christmas, and they’d been fabulous—I can honestly say that they were as good as DeBrand truffles (author Colleen Coble’s favorite).
So when I saw the brick and mortar shop in Santana Row, I went in immediately.
Inside, this man was buying up stacks—and I kid you not, stacks—of the Joseph Schmidt Belgian Dark Chocolate bars. He raved about them, said they were terrific.
A cashier was restocking the display case the man had cleaned out, and I snagged a bar. “I’ve got to try one, after watching him,” I told her.
She laughed. “The last time we didn’t have any, he got so upset. I’ve never seen a customer so upset that we didn’t have a chocolate bar.”
I have had Ghirardelli chocolate, and Trader Joe’s Belgian chocolate, and DeBrand, and Scharffen Berger, and Vosges Haute-Chocolat, and See’s, and Ethel M—basically, a lot of gourmet chocolate. So I was a bit skeptical about this particular chocolate bar.
OH. MY. GOSH.
This chocolate really is very good. It’s smoother than most chocolate, yet not as sweet as some other dark chocolate bars (which is an aspect of it that I like). It’s bitter, but not too bitter, without the harsh aftertaste you sometimes get with bittersweet or extra dark chocolate.
I even tasted it side by side with Scharffen Berger just to make sure I wasn’t kidding myself. I can truly tell the difference between them, and the Joseph Schmidt chocolate is better.
My second favorite is Vosges Haute-Chocolat, but that is just insanely expensive and I only indulge because my friend Patti Lacy gave me two bars that I’m savoring.
So lately I’ve been keeping some dark chocolate by my computer and eating small pieces while I work. I’m a good girl—I break off a small piece and let it melt in my mouth so it lasts longer and I ingest less fat and sugar. My thighs have been thanking me.
So how about you? What chocolate do you turn to to warm your heart, ease your aches, dry your tears, or just boost your spirits?
Comments
Oh my gosh, German chocolate with a strawberry center???? I'm drooling. With envy.
Wow, Brenda, Brussels chocolate? You lucky girl!
Camy
However, I would love to try the chocolate bar you are talking about, yummy.....
Blessings!
Im currently trying to get off it.
its been about 40 hours since the last chocolate bar!
I cant stop at one square i tend to have to keep eating it.
White chocolate I can make last longer as its much richer.
Now I have to get through today without having any just reading this is making me want some bad.
camy
Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...
Lynne