A Chocolate Week in and around Chicago

Just got back from a great trip to Chicago.  I stayed for a week with my friend Karen and although she's not into the chocolate like I am she was game.

I took the train from Ann Arbor, arrived on time and stored my suitcase in a locker.  Karen took the Metra down and then we took off walking towards a place called Bloomers.  We smelled the heavenly chocolate long before we got there.  We sampled, we bought.  Excellent.

We did some regular shopping: Carsons, Nordstrom's Rack, etc., and started looking for a place to eat.  We checked out several restaurants which were either too pricey or just not our kind of food (okay, not my kind of food, I'm pretty picky).  Turned down a side street and there it was: The Melting Pot.  The thought of chocolate fondue suddenly came to mind.  We did have vegetables dipped in . . . I want to say cheese however, I don't remember.  I DO remember the chocolate fondue though, that we had for dessert.  Fruits, marshmallows, I even dipped the left-over bread from dinner.  Highly recommend.

The next day we drove to Anderson's Candy Shop in Richmond.  Of course I had to buy a chocolate covered marshmallow as that is my favorite, a chocolate covered marzipan, just to see what it was like and a chocolate covered nougat, which in this case turned out to be my new favorite.  Karen bought three different ones (don't remember what although she bought some bar that I wish I had bought).

Disclaimer: All pictures were shot after sampling as none of mine made it home in one piece

We spent another day in Long Grove at Long Grove Confectionery.  If you want to go on the Factory Tour make sure you call ahead and go to Buffalo Grove.  Something we did not do.  Save for next time as we will definitely be back.

Also there we went in the Olive Oil Tap where I ended up buying a bottle of Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar.  I understand you can drizzle this over fruit or ice cream.  I recently had some left over chicken in the refrigerator and I warmed it up in a pan with a little bit of this and butter.  Really good. 


We ended up in Woodstock at Ethereal.  Need to have my family sign me up for their Chocolate of the Month Club.

Another day was spent in Lake Geneva, WI.  We wandered in and out of shops and came across Lake Geneva Spice Company.  A wonderful place and of course, while wandering in there I found Chocolate Tea (with raspberry and candied lemon thrown in for good measure). 

Delicious!

 One evening we went out to dinner at Portillo's.  Although we went for dinner I was mainly drawn there as a friend had recommended their chocolate cake.  It was moist and one of the best I've ever had.

Somewhere in the week we found a spa that offered a chocolate scrub. Exfoliates and hydrates plus you smell divine.  Excellent service. elitelaserandskinspa

My last day we took the Metra early into the city, stashed my stuff in a locker again and took off.  Our destination this time was Uzma Sharif in Chinatown where we met the owner.  Took a water taxi and walked several blocks to get there.  Well worth the trip! 

The best Turtle I've ever had.

 While walking around Chicago I saw a huge sign stating: Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM.  Didn't need the ATM however, I could go for a cupcake.  Lo and behold, the ATM is for dispensing cupcakes!  We watched people slip their credit card through, pick out which one they wanted from a screen and voila!  A cupcake appears in a very nice cardboard box.  We ended up not buying because the lines were so long -- standing at the ATM and waiting to get inside the store so I have to think they are pretty good cupcakes.

I will leave you on a non-chocolate note: Snap Kitchen.  This store looked quite interesting so we stopped in on our way to the train station.  Everything was individually packaged for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc.  These are all healthy items.  There is a microwave and a place to sit but I think most people would head home with their lunch or dinner or back to the office.

Have some new places lined up to visit next time I head for the Windy City and places that I will revisit.