Speaking of Hot Chocolate

This is the business

It is so rich that it is solid at room temperature.
I am pretty sure it is actually just chocolate butter.
mmmm melt in your mouth chocolate butter

If you cannot find a place to buy this, it seems that Anthony Bourdain has a replacement recipe because he likes chocolate butter too. 

Not your regular birthday cake

but it works because secretly I am a quite the tarte...

white chocolate, lemon, raspberry, strawberry

so I get 4.

Souvenirs from the edge

When we went to the candy shop with my friend who lives in Istanbul. We picked up the traditional Lokum (Turkish Delights) and he picked up a box of these.

piz-mahn-ee

So, of course, we bought some too.
It's a sesame-based cotton candy wrapped tightly and covered in chocolate.
 They're weird.  It's a confusing texture and strange flavor.  I can't quite explain it, but I'm addicted to them and I can't even decide if I actually like them. 

Think circus peanuts.

Chocolate hangover

Did anyone ever leave you free to consume something you LOVE as much as you want?  Like maybe your parents didn't know where you kept an entire bag of candy? Like you might have hidden yourself in a closet or in the basement to eat as much as you wanted?

B's Mom:  Do you want to go to the Salon du Chocolat?  (Chocolate expo?)

KB: What time do I need to be ready?!


6 hours later and 3000 people later

KB:  Let's not do this again.

So there is this Chocolate expo. Complete with 300 exhibitors.  300 chocolate exhibitors.
And b's mom wanted to do each aisle twice.  In order to hit both sides and spend the appropriate amount of time at each stand.
b's mom is slim.  And clearly lives on coffee, coffee and chocolate.  She and her friend did not eat anything but chocolate based items and coffee for 6 hours.  I, at 32, in near sugar shock, broke down and stopped for a sandwich.
Weak sauce.   



Other Salon du Chocolat commentary:


There was a big showing of Japanese chocolatiers (Chocolate makers).  Like every delicacy in the world the Japanese will study it, talk to the authorities, take it back to Japan and produce perfection. (check out Tokyo Chocolate or Sadaharo AOKI)

There were 3 chocolate mousse bars, being served like ice cream. In between every 100 samples of chocolate.

Clothes made of chocolate are never anything but ridiculous.

 There were live peace doves in that skirt.

B's mom told me (when I didn't buy these marshmallow bears covered in chocolate. and then she did) that someone had to be thinking of B.  ....Uh, did I just get reprimanded by my boyfriend's mother? 

Panna Cotta

Because panna cotta is a game. Pacman, in fact.

I always want to believe in Panna Cotta. That, if it is just prepared correctly, then it is actually some sort of amazing, delicate delight. But it is JUST NOT TRUE.

I had a dinner in an italian restaurant, Crudus, in a very chic area between Opera Garnier and the Louvre. A little pear bubbly. Artichoke hearts alla Romana (finely cut and pan fried in garlic and olive oil) and "big pasta" in a pumpkin sauce with scamorza cheese. Simple, true italian food. And then stupid panna cotta.

yogurt of the day

We have "dessert" yogurts too

Daily torture

Yep, it totally says 28Euros for a 4 person cake.


And they taste good too.

PS sorry for the crap quality of the photos.

Ice Cream Professional

From the inside out: chocolate, pistachio, yogurt

I know the good places to get ice cream. Trust me.

Macarons may be very à la mode (by the way if no one told you by now "à la mode"does not mean "with ice cream" like they tell you at church activities - but like it says ice cream is, and will always be, in style).

So this ice cream is probably from my favorite chain. It's called Amorino. And oh how I love pretty and edible things. You can choose up to 4 flavors for your "flower" and this is just the small.

Then there is Grom - soft serve but SO full of flavor. Like so much full of flavor that you should only get the small and even then you have to REALLY like the flavor. They are chic and snobby. And apparently buy the places where their ingredients are made in order to guarantee the flavor...including the lemon grove of the owner's mother. But, the lemon is to die for.

And the winner is this tiny little place at metro République where they don't even speak French. My friend, who is not an ice cream professional, tried to tell me that the best ice cream was in the neighborhood of her work. I did not want to believe her. But I cannot contest after having tasted. It is an Italian woman and her daughter and not only was it delectable the first time I went, but I went back less than a week later and saw the daily delivery of fresh fruits for the making of all the different flavors. If it wasn't 30 minutes from my place, I would go there everyday. Everyday.

If you come and visit me, I'll take you there.