It’s National Chocolate Day!
And as far as I’m concerned, today should be a national holiday, filled with loads of decadent chocolate. In fact, it very may well be – filled with loads of chocolate, that is!
To celebrate, Chef Alain Roby at the All Chocolate Kitchen in the Chicago area – definitely a place I’ll need to pop into the next time I’m the Windy City – has created the ultimate truffle: a basketball-sized, seven-pound Grand-Cru Chocolate Truffle filled with chocolate truffle mousse ($150). Now that’s a truffle that’s not messing around! (Photo credit: All Chocolate Kitchen)
The glorious day won’t pass unnoticed in Norfolk, Virginia: Bardo’s menu features dip sum doughnuts with chocolate chopsticks; sweet chocolaty treats are whipped up by the mother-daughter team at Chocollage Bakery; and chocolate ice cream will reign supreme at Doumar’s Cones and Barbeque, home of the world’s first waffle cone!
Seemingly just in time, GODIVA Chocolatier just launched a limited edition collection of new Chef Inspirations – Flavors of the World. GODIVA’s Chef Chocolatiers from across the globe took six unique flavors to blend with the Belgian chocolate, delivering six pieces of decadence and surprise: Kuromitsu molasses from Japan (Japanese Dark Sugar Ganache) and speculoos, a traditional Belgian cookie (Sirop de Liege with Speculoos), China (Black Tea Mousse & Sichuan Pepper), Brazil (Brazilian Coffee NutPraliné), United States (Honey Roasted Caramel) and South Africa (Banana & Caramelized Coconut). Bite in!
A few years ago I had a chance to make chocolate myself with chocolatier Laurent Girbaud in Brussels. My mom and I spent a morning concocting our creations, and then, of course, indulging in them! Such fun!
Here in the US, one place that’s a must-stop of mine when in Seattle is Theo Chocolate. The factory tour is not only educational – but tasty – and a stop in the store is perfect for nibbling different flavors. And I only wish that Askinosie Chocolate had been around when I was in school in Springfield, Mo. Well, actually, it may be a good thing it wasn’t!
Today’s a wonderful day! How will you celebrate National Chocolate Day? And what’s your favorite type of chocolate?