Chocolate

It's FINALLY going to be spring. Any day now. Any... day....

And this Sunday is Easter, which means family, friends, church, cooking, and most importantly..... Chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Chocolate Easter bunnies, cream eggs, robin egg malt balls.... it's a chocolate lover's dream. 

Inspired by this, I did something for you guys, a favor for my devout, loyal readers. Tired of the chocolate sold only by large corporations and influenced by the Local Produce spirit of this blog, I tried lots and lots of small chocolatier's spring choices. ALL FOR YOU. You are welcome, yes.

Now don't get all judgmental, I didn't eat 30 bars of chocolate (though don't dare me, I could probably pull that off). I merely sampled. Delicious yummy samples. 

First, I want to point out how important it is to buy chocolate that is Fair Trade labeled or from a chocolatier who sources from small co-ops or local farmers for their cacao beans. Cocoa beans are grown in Central and South America and Africa, most harvested by slaves, including children, who work all day in the hot sun. They breathe in the intense pesticides, are paid virtually nothing, and have been reportedly beaten if not working fast enough. Fair Trade certification ensures that farmers receive a fair price, allows farmers to invest in techniques that bring out the flavors of the region, and strictly prohibits slave and child labor. 

Alternatively, organic chocolate is a safe bet as organic farms are inspected regularly to ensure the farm maintains it's 'organic' certification, which makes it difficult to exploit workers. Also, organic chocolate is typically shade grown under the canopy of the rainforest, which helps with deforestation prevention- another problem for the growing cacao fields. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are two larger grocery store chains that have excellent Fair Trade chocolate options, both as their own store brand and also as a distributor for other artisans.

But back to local producers. Here are some suggestions should you choose to indulge...

Mast Brothers
Craft chocolatiers out of Brooklyn, NY, they make chocolate in small batches with incredibly unique flavors: Dark Chocolate with Stumptown Coffee(local coffee brewer Portland/NY), Vanilla & Smoke, Black Truffle, Serrano Pepper, Maple; all their additions (fruits, herbs, maple, etc.) are sourced locally as well.

First, the packaging is gorgeous. Unique prints for each variety of chocolate on the outside and inside the chocolate is wrapped in gold, which gives you that quick Willy Wonka flashback as you rush to find your Golden Ticket. But the prize, in this case, is the chocolate itself.

I tasted the Fleur de Sel bar first: I love salt and dark chocolate so this was a major win for me. It is heavy on the salt, you can see the sea salt on the bottom of the bar, but it melts away quickly and blends into this delicious masterpiece. I loved this.

Next up was the Vanilla & Smoke. The cacao beans are apparently smoked then stone ground with vanilla and sugar over the next couple of days. Neither the vanilla or the smoke are a heavy flavor (you taste the smoke toward the end) but it all blends nicely together. I can't wait to try the Belize 70% and the Serrano pepper. 'One bar at a time' = my mantra I must repeat. Repeatedly. 

The Mast Brother website has great videos about the company and where they source their cocoa beans. If you have a sec, have a look.

French Broad Chocolates

Made in one of my favorite cities in the world, Asheville, North Carolina. Not only do they source their cacao beans straight from the farmer (Costa Rica and Peru) they also locally source their milk, honey, fruit, spices, and coffee. 

First up: the Palo Blanco Chulucanas. The beans are harvested from special cacao trees in the coastal desert of Piura, Peru and then blended with unrefined, dark brown sugar that they import directly from a cooperative also in Peru. The sugar gives the chocolate a molasses, earthy flavor that is unexpected and delicious.

Next: the Riverbend Malted Milk Chocolate. Dark chocolate with malted barley from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville and milk powder from the National Dairy Coop in Pennsylvania. I like malts so I love this chocolate. It also has hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, which works beautifully with the malt flavoring. But you do need to like malt.

They have a great tasting room if you ever find yourself in Asheville. Craft chocolate, craft coffee, craft beer.... is that the best place in the world? Maybe so.

Olive and Sinclair

Nashville's own bean-to-bar chocolate. It begins with handpicking the best fair-trade cacao beans delivered from Ghana, Dominican Republic and Panama. 

Photo courtesy of Eat-Drink-Smile

The packaging is beautifully retro in spirit and design, taking you back to the days of general stores with ice cream counters and swivel stools. You're already smiling and haven't yet tried the chocolate! My favorite, that I've tasted, was the Mexican Style Cinn-Chili. It's smoky, it's warming, it's the best Mexican chocolate I've had since I lived in Texas. You also can put it in a pot of hot milk and make yourself some freaking amazing Mexican hot chocolate.

I also loooooooove the Bourbon Nib Brittle which, I know, isn't a chocolate bar, but the word bourbon is in the title and that's all it really takes for me to be interested and quickly fall in love. 

Askinosie Chocolate

Based in Springfield, Missouri, Askinosie's founder and chocolatier was a criminal defense attorney for 20 years before he discovered his love of creating chocolate, what a bizarre career change.

Askinosie works one-on-one with cacao farmers in Ecuador, the Philippines, Honduras, and Tanzania where they source their beans, paying even higher than Fair Trade requires and additionally, sharing company profits with the farmers. They've created relationships and work with the farmers to cultivate the best flavor from the beans, resulting in some delicious chocolate.

I love me some white chocolate so required tasting was the White Chocolate + Pistachio. I could have shoved the entire bar in my mouth in one go. It wouldn't have been pretty, but it could have easily happened. Pistachios are kind of my favorite food.

They also sell baking chocolate, which is great for the cake, cupcake or cookie creations you know you love to attempt.

sweeteeth chocolate

Made in Charleston, South Carolina with fair trade beans from Columbia. Their most popular bar is their Sea is for Caramel and rightfully so, it is addictively good. Slightly burnt caramel and vanilla bean inside a 65% dark chocolate shell. Yeah, you could eat that.

Next up was Call of the Wild, a dark chocolate bar filled with a port wine caramel. It is decadent and has massive flavor. I actually could not eat this in one go, but I could keep it in my purse and nibble.

Their packaging is whimsical and the illustrations unique to each bar, reflecting perfectly the product inside.

If you have any questions about Fair Trade chocolate go to the Fair Trade website. They have a great FAQ section and lists of places to buy Fair Trade.

Happy Easter everyone! Enjoy some chocolate. And wish me luck (and my Easter dinner guests) as I will be attempting these:

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Gah! Chocolate!!!!!!

Travel: Glasgow, Scotland

I had a very fortunate college experience: I left America and enrolled full-time at the University of Glasgow. Not a semester, not a year, but three years- terrifying, yet hands down the best decision I've ever made.

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. It has a population just under 600,000 in the city limits and well over 1 million including the surrounding towns. It stands on the Firth of Clyde, in the West Central Lowlands. An hour flight from London, 45 minute train from Edinburgh, it's easy to access and explore.

Glasgow has a long industrial history: shipbuilding, engineering, industrial machinery, bridge building, chemicals, explosives, coal and oil industries. It also developed as a major centre in textiles, garment-making, carpet manufacturing, leather processing, furniture-making, pottery, food, drink and cigarette making; printing and publishing. And! It was the first European city to have a population of over a million people. Pretty impressive.

Now most of the industry has gone and still it remains a vibrant city with a large business and finance community and also a strong artist community. It was recently voted a top 10 tourist city destination by Lonely Planet. Which obv means you have to go. Also, Brad Pitt's new movie, 'World War Z', shot all over Glasgow, pretending it was Philadelphia. Why? I have no idea, but most of the trailer is Glasgow.

If you want to plan a wee detour in your summer excursions, here are a few suggestions of what to do, where to stay and where to eat.

What to Do
Museums: I love myself some art galleries, so let's start there.

Gallery of Modern Art

This museum is so much fun. It's located in the city center in a building built in 1778 as a private residence and later turned into the Royal Bank of Scotland, then the Royal Exchange. It opened as a Modern Art museum in 1996 and has featured artists such as David Hockney and Andy Warhol. 

Photo courtesy of The Independent

Entry is free, it's open everyday. You can have a peek at some of the exhibitions here. Go check it out!

Kelvingrove Art Museum
One of the most beautiful buildings in Glasgow. There's an urban myth that when the architect saw the completed building, he committed suicide from the highest tower because they built it backwards. Who knows if it's true??

Kelvingrove holds a massive collection of art from many periods of history, weapons and armor and a natural history collection. It's also free and the best bit is the beautiful walk you can take afterward through Kelvingrove Park, toward the University of Glasgow. Absolutely gorge.

Hunterian Museum: The Mackintosh House

Located on the University of Glasgow campus, the Hunterian has the largest collection of Charles Renee Mackintosh, Glasgow's most famous artist, in Scotland. 

Mackintosh furniture design

Signature Rose design

You can't go to Glasgow without paying homage to Mackintosh. So either go to the Hunterian, check out a tour of the beautiful (and designed by Mackintosh) Glasgow School of Art, or have afternoon tea at the Willow Tea Rooms.

Glasgow School of Art

Music: There are some fantastic venues to see music around the city. Some I love-

Fruitmarket

I saw some wonderful Celtic music here.... and also the Indigo Girls, which was rad

The Arches 

(which is also a club and art installation space)

King Tuts Wah Wah House

the best small venue. Bit of trivia for you: Oasis was signed here

If you find yourself in Scotland in January/Feb of 2014, make it a must to see some shows in the Celtic Connection festival. Celtic artist from around the UK and Ireland take over venues all over the city. It's magical.

Theater: A lot of people don't know this, but Glasgow has a massive theatre culture, including some really provoking experimental theatre. Take a night to see some Scottish plays like "Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off" or, if you're lucky, an experimental piece by Anne Seagrave.

Check out the Tron Theatre, Tramway, Citizens Theatre, Theatre Royal and see a show!

Day Trip: Want to escape the city for a day? Go to Loch Lomond. You can drive (it's an easy drive, but please remember what side of the road to drive on), take a bus or take the train. Golf, water sports, hiking- all within 25 minutes of Glasgow. 

Where to Stay

1. citizenM - newer, modern hotel in the city center. Affordable, smaller rooms, but fun and tech-driven.

2. Carlton George - classic Glasgow hotel. Perfect location, you can walk anywhere in town  including both train stations. Rooftop restaurant with a gorgeous view of the city.

3. Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens - this small hotel is in the West End of Glasgow, close to the University and the gorgeous Botanical Gardens. It's posh and luxurious and where Sean Connery stays when he comes to visit. Imagine that, you could go down for tea and James Bond could be sitting next to you. I mean, priceless.

4. Blytheswood Square - in the city, but a few blocks removed from the busy streets. Very nice, newer hotel with delicious spa packages and scrumptious high tea.

Where to Eat

1. Ashton Lane - a cobble street alley in the West End. Have a wander and eat at Ashoka, Ubiquitous Chip or any of the pubs you'll pass along the way.

2. Blackhouse/Grill on the Corner - fresh Scottish salmon and mussels paired with local organic beef. 'Simple, proper food' is their slogan. It really is so good, but it's also pricey, so plan ahead. (unless you're one of those people who has so much money you never look at the cheque. if that is the case, yes, you can take me to dinner)

3. The Butchershop Bar and Grill - West End, close to the Kelvingrove Museum. Neighborhood steakhouse and cocktail bar. Yum and casual. Good price points.

4. The Sisters Kelvingrove - modern Scottish food. Small plates, small prices, deliciousness.

5. Dhabba Glasgow - Glasgow loves its curries. Some of the best Indian I have ever had, has been in Glasgow. Dhabba is easily my favorite (Ashoka being my second favorite). It's Northern Indian food, apparently dhabba means roadside diner in North Africa. Just go. You'll thank me.

And Finally.... Where to Drink

Like most of the country, you will encounter a pub on every corner. Here are a few I enjoy, but the city is your pub oyster. Explore away.

1. The Universal - city center

2. Lansdowne Bar - west end, Great Western Road, also a restaurant.

3. Oran Mór - used to be a church and is now a bar. Sums it up pretty well. Also a live music venue. 

Honestly, there are so many, and they're all great. Check out the List for a more complete.... list.

So to sum up: edgy and cool city with awesome art, theatre and music; enticing places to stay; delicious food to eat. Need I say anymore? GO!!

Beer Geek Tuesday

There's a neighborhood bar I like to frequent in Atlanta called Cypress Street. On Tuesdays they have a Beer Geek night, which means they have small batch beers and do a food pairing with them.

This week I was "dragged along" by my friend Josh. He's had a rough week, I've had a rough week. Beer was needed.

The brewery of the evening was Bell's, one of my favorites out of Michigan. They only distribute to 18 states, so if you live in one of the unfortunate 38, you should think about moving.

Tonight's beer fest was centered around Bell's Hopslam. Delicious and hoppy and bitter. I love hoppy beers, and I will be bold in saying the best IPA's come from America- we do the IPA proud. 

Hopslam is brewed with 6 different hop varieties and then dry hopped with Simcoe hops, a variety from the Pacific Northwest (you are all part of the 38 states, sorry). Balanced with a generous malt bill and a big dollop of honey, they keep the beer balanced. It's kind of a craze in Atlanta. You hear people whispering "Hopslam's been released" and then like a zombie craze people rush to the local beer stores and it's gone in an hour. Literally an hour. Cypress is apparently the last bar in Atlanta to have a keg. So we took full advantage of this.

Test photos: the firelight casts more beautiful shadows in picture 1 or 2.... hm......

My brother met up with us and like the renegade he is, he said no! to Hopslam and tried a little stout action. Left Hand Milk Stout that is.

It's ok, not my favorite stout in the world, and I love me some stouts. I mean honestly, I pretty much love many things.

A few other fine selections they have that are worth trying:

Mother Earth Dark Cloud

Munich Dunkel Lager

Kinston, NC

Sprecher Black Bavarian

Kulmbacher-style Lager

Milwaukee, WI

New Holland Monkey King

Saison

Holland, MI

(that is one seriously badass monkey)

Give them a go, let me know what you think!

Paris Fashion Week

I know, there have been a lot of posts about Fashion. And when Paris FW is finished, you will have a fashion reprieve. Maybe. So really you should look at this post like a gift, savoring every word. Maybe a small tear runs down your cheek from premature longing. That would be really nice.

In a sea of melancholy fashion, Paris Fashion Week became the example of what every designer should aspire to show. Paris Paris Paris. It took the 'ready-to-wear' assignment and elevated it to a new level of beauty and sophistication. It awed me, and that's not easy to do.

Let's start with Chanel. 

As Women's Wear Daily said about Karl Lagerfeld, "Many aspire; few achieve." This collection took the classic Chanel and modernized it in a way unheard of; to reach an audience of young and young-at-heart within the same collection is a feat achieved by no one else.

The show itself was in the Grand Palais in Paris. Glass, beauty, light- the perfect setting.

The audience sat far off the runway forcing them toward the clothes, making them desperate for a closer look, almost a need. Proving Lagerfeld's genius at not only design, but at creating a customer. 

Take a moment and fall a little bit in love with Chanel Fall 2013.

Valentino

Valentino, Valentino, Valentino. I want to just write "ahhhhhhhhhhh" but that doesn't sound eloquent, so instead I will tell you that once again, Paris shows us true design. Valentino designs clothes for the woman who can feel sexy in anything- she doesn't need sheer and strappy. She's confident and classic. Who doesn't want to be a Valentino woman?

Louis Vuitton 

I'll be honest, not a line I have loved in the past. But the matured Marc Jacobs has taken the reins and I'm kind of head over heels in love with most of this collection (I still say no to crushed velvet). It's kind of a grungy, yet classic Parisian woman- I know how bizarre that sounds. Jacobs welcomes her curves instead of hiding them; puts her in delicate fabrics and cuts, accentuating her body in a sexy but not slutty way. It's magical.

Christian Wijnants

A recent recipient of the prestigious International Woolmark Prize for knitwear, Christian Wijnants proved his genius craftsmanship with every garment that walked the runway. Sweaters that flatter and yet simultaneous evoke that need to snuggle deep inside them- in a cabin somewhere cold. Oooh maybe Sweden with snow laying all around you and Daniel Craig.... but I digress...

Jean Paul Gaultier

I liked this show. His clothes aren't for everyone, they definitely have a harder, eccentric side to them. But they're interesting and at the end of the day, that is enough for me. I don't want to be bored and thankfully, you really don't have to worry about that happening with Gaultier. 

He's grown a lot from Madonna's cone-bra days, even though he incorporates that a bit in his opening looks. And if you're the woman who has the balls to wear that, you're kind of my idol.

Nina Ricci

Quite the antithesis of Gaultier, Nina Ricci is soft, elegant and stunning in it's classical designs. These dresses make you feel beautiful and excited to be on the arm of the handsome gentleman next to you wearing his gorgeous tuxedo. Are you going to the opera or maybe a flip cup tournament at your favorite bar? Either way- you'll be the most beautiful people there.

Beautiful pale tartan, a big trend for Fall.

Zadig & Voltaire

I love a good rock and roll suit. These are hot. They make me want to join a band and sing like a rockstar. Even though I can't sing. It would actually be more like a punishment for those listening. But I would look awesome.

Then there were the few pieces I loved in collections I didn't enjoy in totality. I call them 'moments.'

Talbot Runhof

Hermés

Dior

Elie Saab

All photos courtesy of WWD

Boom. That's how you do fashion week. I expect every show next season to bring it like Paris. This is my task to you designers, from a lowly, mostly unknown blogger. Fashion week out. Until next time.