PASSIONATE RATIONS

If you’ve been reading closely, you know that I have a particular fondness for praiseworthy dark-chocolate confections.  Apparently, this fact has not been lost on my relatives, several of whom showered upon me gifts of deep, dark sweetness this past holiday season, for which I thank them from the bottom of my heart (and stomach).

Having enthusiastically sampled my gifts, I simply must take a moment to update my previous list of chocolate faves to add some of the most beautiful and tasty chocolate I have ever known.  Thank you, Garrison Confections of Providence, Rhode Island, for your seasonal collection.  The flavors are provocative.  Take, for example, their “Poached Pear,” described as “[a] sweet pear pate de fruit on top of a dark chocolate ganache infused with poaching spices.  Enrobed in dark chocolate.”  A bit naughty-sounding, it truly is a scrumptious morsel.  Consider these for a great gift option.  Even if the recipient doesn’t like chocolate (unimaginable!), they can frame the chocolates as art.

I also want to give props to Amy’s Decadent Chocolates of Bremerton, Washington.  Like the web site, these offer less in the visual-works-of-art department, but are well beyond your regular assorted-chocolate collection in terms of flavor.  Their chocolate nut-covered toffee is particularly noteworthy, as is this little round truffley-thing dusted with cocoa powder and…is that…chile powder?  Quite frankly, I really like their spunky, punky, “I-am-handmade” look.  I can see their web site using a retro comic-book-esque (yet sophisticated) visual theme.  The web site needs something, but their candy doesn’t.
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STATUS, VEGETARIAN ADVENTURE, DAY 11:  Still hangin’ with the veggies.  Today’s menu has consisted of:  two slices of rye toast with locally-made barrel-churned sweet cream butter; over-dry “Good Luck” cake with Kermit-green piping; home-made vegetable stir fry with peppers, mushrooms, peanuts, pineapple, bok choy, carrot, onions, corn, green beans, tofu, cumin, garam masala, Mongolian fire oil, soy sauce, Mirin, and rice; Stacy’s Simply Naked baked pita chips with Hot Mama’s horseradish hummus; four Dr. Peppers; pomegranate paneer, naan, and chai tea.  May every day be so exciting.