Valentine’s Day is almost here, and if you know anything about me, you know there’s only one thing I want to talk about.
No, it’s not love.
It’s chocolate.
Duh.
My favorite chocolate is milk. I don’t like dark chocolate because it’s too bitter. I like white chocolate even though I don’t think there’s any chocolate in it. Love brownies (Duncan Hines, please) and homemade fudge. I also make a mean chocolate cake.
In Cincinnati, we’re blessed to have at least two great confectionaries: Graeter’s and The Fawn. Take your pick. The Fawn has wonderful–and I do mean wonderful—peanut butter cups. I’ll eat Godiva in a pinch, but I secretly think it’s a little too highfalutin for my taste.
I’ve recently learned that there’s a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate, hot chocolate being richer and containing actual melted chocolate. Here’s a recipe for hot chocolate that I intend to try sometime soon (but I think I may skip the coffee and replace the cinnamon stick with a peppermint stick):
http://www.marthastewart.com
Here’s a recipe for chocolate goo that is, for want of a better description, like dying, going to heaven, and being served warm brownie batter:
http://www.wchstv.com/gmarecipes/chocolatestuff.shtml
Finally, here’s a recipe for chocolate martinis. I’m not sure about the whole concept of mixing my chocolate with a martini, but I’m intrigued enough by the notion to plan to give it a try:
http://www.cocktailtimes.com
So that’s my ode to chocolate. What’s yours? I’d love to give a lucky commenter a gift card from The Fawn at the end of the day.
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Hi Ann,
This is definitely a topic I can wax poetic about. I know most chocoholics prefer dark chocolate But, I too prefer milk chocolate. Good milk chocolate. Dark chocolate often has that slightly sour taste that I just don’t like. I was first introduced to good chocolate in college, and I’ve never looked back.
I like Ghirardelli because it’s easy to get, but I especially love Scharffen Berger, and Valrhona chocolates. Recently, I discovered Burdick chocolates - and learned that they’re one of the top 10 chocolatiers in America, and chocolove. I really like chocolove because it has interesting things in the chocolate - like crystallized ginger, or orange peels in dark chocolate - yum! However, what I really like about chocolove, is that there are “love letters” printed on the inside of the wrappers of each chocolate bar.
At a gourmet grocery store in my neighborhood, they make these amazing chocolate bombs. They take a layer of chocolate cake, and put mousse in it - strawberry mousse, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, oreo, etc- and then pour chocolate ganache over it- and garnish it with icing stripes of whatever type of mousse is on the inside. Beyond delicious, and so very decadent.
I’ve had graeters before but I’ve never heard of The Fawn!
by JSL
on February 11th, 2008 at 6:42 am
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Halfway through my training for the Army I had a really shitty day. I mean awful, my whole job went down the toilet because of an injury. My mom overnighted me a big box of Godiva and a package of calcium chews. To this day I think that was one of the sweetest things she’s ever done for me.
I know you said you like Duncan Hines brownie mix but if you haven’t had it before, you have to try the Ghirardelli double-chocolate type. I make them for potluck days at my office and someone always asks me for the recipe.
Looking at your hot chocolate recipe? What’s even better is to blend until *almost* smooth. That way when you’re drinking you get these little surprise lumps of chocolate that are omg good. That’s the way they did it in Italy.
by Lorelie
on February 11th, 2008 at 7:30 am
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Oooh! Chocolate! I LOVE hot chocolate. My sister went to Germany and bought a can of hot chocolate. It was just these little chocolate beads that you heat up with a couple of tablespoons of milk. then when it melted you stir it up and add about six ounces of milk. You heat that up and stir it up again and voila. A nice, rich cup of hot chocolate. I is soooo good! I do love Godiva chocolates from the Godiva store (the ones sold at Macy’s don’t taste the same for some reason). Oh, and those Lindt truffles…yummm! They just burst in your mouth. I remember getting Sees chocolates when I was little…they were good also! It’s been so long since I had one because I now live on the east coast and I grew up in California.
by brownone
on February 11th, 2008 at 9:35 am
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Since I was very young I have always loved the treat of chocolate. I enjoy dark chocolate from Godiva, and Ghirardelli and Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate. I am careful about how much I eat so that I savour every bite. The best dessert is Chocolate mousse which I create every now and then. it is simply light, delectable and moist, melt in your mouth delish. Chocolate soothes the soul and melts your troubles away.
by sabrina
on February 11th, 2008 at 11:15 am
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love the regular chocatlates. love hershey, any thing with almonds, see cnadies. anything with pepperment.
by kim h
on February 11th, 2008 at 11:32 am
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During the winter I crave chocolate. The intense cold that never ends and the dismal days intensify my need for this ultimate treat. What I love baking is a chocolate fudge cake that is moist, rich and decadent. I have that in the oven and then spoil myself with a cup of herbal tea and a slice of this lovely cake during the evening. Fudge is another specialty which I love, heavy, dark and plain fudge is my best ever indulgence.
by ruth
on February 11th, 2008 at 11:37 am
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Like many, chocolate is something wonderful that I can sink my teeth into when having a tough day. Large quantity isn’t needed for me, it is just that luscious flavor. I am one of the people who love dark chocolate. And though I enjoy it in almost any form, I have a preferance for plain or in a flourless chocolate cake (a slice sitting on a plate drizzled with raspberry sauce and a finger of slightly sweetened whipped cream on the side).
by Little Lamb Lost
on February 11th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
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When I walked home from elementary school and passed by the Laura Secord Chocolate shop many years ago I loved the entire atmosphere in the store. The pristine white tile floors and the glass counters that you looked through would always tempt me, but I never bought anything, only looked. I no longer live there but still love the scent of chocolate when I pass by a chocolate emporium. The last time we went on vacation we were at a place that specialized in fudge. It was fascinating to see the blocks of different flavored fudge and this time I did buy several boxes to bring home for family to enjoy and appreciate.
by ellie
on February 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
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My favorite is milk chocolate but I have not felt inclined to turned down any chocolate. LOL I love hot chocolate too. When I get an expensive box of chocolates, I ration them so that they last longer. I want that chocolate goodness to linger. For Valentine’s Day, I am making mini molten chocolate cakes for dessert.
by Crystal B.
on February 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
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Most sweets are not appealing to me, except for chocolate. The consistency of various types, most especially dark chocolate tempt my palate. They keep mentioning the benefits of dark chocolate versus milk chocolate so I can indulge a little more which is great. During the winter I love drinking cocoa. It brings back memories of when I lived in a harsh northern clime and nothing warmed me up except for the hot cup of cocoa.
by jenna
on February 11th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
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Wow! So many wonderful chocolate ideas, so many calories, so little time!
Although I have to say I’m a LEETLE disappointed at the number of you who like dark chocolate. Yuck!
Mini molten chocolate cakes, Crystal B.? Do you have a recipe to share?
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I love pure and plain dark chocolate, no nuts and nothing else included. The same for fudge, love the dark fudge. The best I have ever tried was Dove dark chocolate. I try to reserve chocolate for special occasions since it is a rare specialty in our home. When I bake I enjoy luscious brownies which are moist and heavy. Yummo. A treat to last.
by pearl
on February 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
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I don’t care for dark chocolate, either, no matter how many antioxidants it has. I love milk chocolate. The best chocolate I’ve ever had was in Spain. Little kids there used to eat chocolate sandwiches — a slab of chocolate on bread — for a snack. And they make the best hot chocolate in the world. It is like sludge it’s so thick. You dip churros into it. The most amazing chocolate fact I know is that Montezuma consumed 50 cups of chocolate a day, believing it was an aphrodisiac. Of course, it wasn’t sweet then. The Europeans are the ones who added sugar to it (and we love them for it!!!).
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Mm… what a lovely topic, Ann! I do love most varieties of chocolate–dark, milk, white… it’s all delicious! It’s such a delightful way to celebrate something special, and it’s a sure pick-me-up for those not-so-great days. We received a couple boxes shortly after our first child was born, and I have to say that there were quite a few days when I had quite a few pieces in the course of a day 
Hooray for See’s (and Dove, Godiva, the Fawn and all of the other grand and glorious makers of some of the world’s best medicine ;))
by Fedora
on February 11th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
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My mom and I used to bake this ultra rich mud pie. Oh, was it wonderful! Not often due to its high caloric content. But the chocolate was the best I have ever tasted. I prefer milk chocolate since I do not like bittersweet at all. The best milk chocolate and my favorite is Dairy Milk chocolate.
by diane
on February 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
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I agree on the milk chocolate. It is my favorite, by far. I love using the milk chocolate chips in my cookies instead of the semi-sweet. Brownies are also a favorite. This past month I have used the football playoffs as an excuse to have brownies on Sunday when my husband, son and various friends are around watching the games.
by Maureen
on February 11th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
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My favorite is milk chocolate. I like it plain, but I also like with various fillings. Some of my favorite fillings are coconut, peanut butter, peanuts, hazel nuts, macadamia nuts, raspberry cream and caramel.
by Jane
on February 11th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
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We have a See’s Candy store in our area that has to die for chocolate yummies. Love anything milk chocolate, assorted or nuts and chews, it’s all good. As far as packaged chocolates, my all time favorite is Reese’s peanut butter cups, but not the miniature kind, it has to be the original. Somehow they just taste better to me.
by Cathy M
on February 11th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
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My ode to chocolate. Bring it on! I’ll eat it or drink it! I love it!
by Estella
on February 11th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
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White chocolate is my favorite. We used to have a local shop that made chocolates and my favorite confection was Marshmallow Pecan Squares. They were basically large marshmallows dipped in chocolate and chopped pecans. mmmm. I miss those.
by Cheryl S.
on February 11th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
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One combination I haven’t seen mentioned yet is chocolate and red wine. I found this at a winery when I was visiting a friend in California and we did the “tour” of all those wineries in the Sonoma Valley. They had chocolate candy sitting next to the wine samples. It is an awesome combo. Try it! 
by Laidybyrd
on February 11th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
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Thanks for this ode to chocolate… in a martini, I am not sure I would try it though
by Nathalie
on February 11th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
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I’ve never tried See’s chocolates, although we have a kiosk here in the mall. I’ll have to add them to my list.
And have you all tried milk or white chocolate covered Oreo cookies? You don’t need me to tell you how great those are, I’m sure. They sell them at The Fawn.
I hate to sound dictatorial about it, but here are two things that don’t belong with chocolate: oranges and cinnamon. Almost anything else is fine with me: coconut, nuts, bananas, raspberries, strawberries, marshmallows, opera cream …
Anyone else getting hungry?
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I don’t like dark chocolate either. always I knew there’s no such thing as white chocolate! I love Reese’s peanut butter cups, Oreo cookies, Ferrero Rocher and World’s Finest Chocolate’s Milk Chocolate with Almond Bars.
by Maria
on February 11th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
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Thanks again for all the great comments! I’ve randomly chosen brownone to win the gift card–please send your addy to me at ann at annchristopher.com
Until next time, have a happy Valentine’s Day!
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wtg brownone. u too happy eating 
by kim h
on February 11th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
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Woo hoo!! Thank you Ann! I just emailed you!
by brownone
on February 12th, 2008 at 7:16 am
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Congrats, Brownone, and thanks, Ann, for a lovely day thinking about one of the world’s yummiest treats!
by Fedora
on February 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
