Recently my husband and I went on a month long trip around the USA. We had done this several years ago on our honeymoon. Now, some decades later, we were doing it again, this time visiting our grown children.
Along the way we stopped for fabric, wine and chocolate. Can not believe that the best fudge I have ever had (after my mom's secret recipe which is lost forever) I forgot to take a picture. Will have to have my daughter take it and send to post for another day. Or better yet, she needs to send me a pound and I'll take my picture here.
In the meantime -- my favorite way to have chocolate is dipped marshmallow. Here is a giant one that was delicious. Fudge and marshmallow we discovered in Texas.
Our daughter then took us to another town where she had discovered a chocolate shop. We bought several different chocolates there. All very good.
We stayed for a weekend with friends in Houston. While there they threw a party with family and close friends. The men went outside to smoke cigars. Apparently one of them belongs to a cigar club and had several from around the world. When I walked outside my husband said, "You are not going to believe this, but he has a chocolate cigar." No way. Why would a man in a cigar club want to have a chocolate cigar? I'm thinking the chocolate cigars of my childhood which was chocolate in the shape of said cigar with a piece of paper wrapped around it. He must feel ripped-off.
No. We are talking tobacco leaves somehow soaked in chocolate (I didn't ask for details). Seeing my sudden interest the man gave a puzzled look to my husband. "She used to smoke cigars in college and she has a bad chocolate habit," he informed him.
The man offered it to me.
Yes, I smoked the whole thing! Not a lot of chocolate taste but definitely there. That was a different experience! No calories!
On across the country to Florida. Our youngest daughter was waiting for us. "I have THE chocolate shop for you!" she greeted me. Yes, she did.
Wish we could have gotten back for the gelato but I tasted samples of it while I was standing around picking out individual pieces. I finally landed on these eight.
Don't they look out of this world? And they were. My husband picked macaroons.
As much as I have seen these type cookies I had never had one until then. Very light.
On Sunday we went to a farmer's market in the next town over and had a nice morning by the ocean with the sun shining. On the way home my daughter saw a sign for a pastry shop. "Oh! So that's where that's at! Everybody keeps telling me I have to go in there but I never knew where it was. Well, now I know." We continued down the road. "Why don't you turn around then?" I asked. "What?" "The place was open, you've been trying to find it, we have nothing pressing to do today, turn around and let's go check it out." She stared at me for a split second, checked her mirrors and did a U-turn in the street. We ended up buying several different breads. I wandered over where I saw candy bars that I'd never seen before. I asked the proprietor about them. "They are really good. The lime one is my favorite."
Okay, salted lime chocolate. Never had that before. Need to try.
This has just a hint of lime in it. I lick it off my lips. Yes, my daughter can send me another one of these any time.
The two of us spent a wonderful day at Universal Studios. This is the first thing that caught my eye: the Chocolate Emporium
We saw this again on the way out. We did not go in as it looked pricey and we had already spent plenty of money there. Would love to know if anyone has eaten there.
We celebrated my birthday by going to the Melting Pot. I had been to one in Chicago and enjoyed it. My husband and daughter were game. We did have a regular meal (over a fondue pot) and then, as stuffed as we were we couldn't leave without sampling the chocolate fondue. There are a couple of different ones to choose from but we finally all agreed on one.
It was a lot of fun dipping all the food. I couldn't possibly eat any more when our waitress presents me with this:
Too full, but I got it down! A fabulous and fun night.
We needed to go to Costco of all places while on vacation. I, of course, was rummaging around in the bakery section when I came across these little wonders:
My daughter, who is kind of a health nut, points out that I don't need these, I have plenty of junk (junk? how dare her!) at home. Oh, I forgot to mention -- to start out on our trip I made sure to pack a survival package of my favorite chocolates. Just in case the rest of the country was in a chocolate slump. So yes, it's true I had plenty of chocolate but I didn't have these! Had never even seen these.
Daughter: "Put those back," as I throw them in the cart.
Me: "No. We're going to your friend's get-together. Shouldn't you be bringing something to share food-wise? Go find something. I'll meet you in fruit," thinking this will appease her.
She looks at the box. "We'll take this."
Me: "We're not taking this! This is mine."
Daughter: "Seriously, you can't let a few go? There's 32 of them."
Me: "What makes you think that?"
Daughter. "It says so on the box."
Me. "Oh." I've taught all my kids to share but . . . this is chocolate! "Why don't you buy a box to take? I need this for my blog."
Daughter: "You're telling me you can't spare 10? You need help."
I glare at her. "Fine, but only if they're bad to mediocre. I'm not letting them go if they are decadent like the box says."
Daughter: "I'll take my chances."
We pay for our stuff, hurry back to her place and unload. We need to get moving to get over to her friends' house. "Let's go," she grabs up the box.
Me: "You're not taking the whole thing. Get out something to put a few in ONLY if they are so-so. Remember, decadent, they're not leaving."
Daughter: "Fine. I'm sampling one too."
I open the box, we each take one and bite into them. We look at each other. After finishing it off my daughter says, "These aren't going any place." No. They are decadent! Holy smokes.
We need to leave now to get over to her friends' party on time. We stare at the box. "What if we filled a small container? When we finish these off we'll go to Costco again." Costco is not near nor easy to get to but that's what we did.
All evening we heard, "Where did you get these?" "Have you tried these? You have to get one before they're all gone." "I have to go buy some of these tomorrow." Yes, my
daughter was the hit of the party.
Alas, our trip came to an end and we made our way back to Michigan. Remember in the beginning I mentioned I brought home fabric? Chocolate fabric to be exact.
It was a wonderful trip.
