Chocolate + Love = Chocolove

Much like the ancient Aztec, the Swiss, and lovers on Valentine’s Day I love chocolate. 

Lots of it.

Chocolate truffles, chocolate milk, fudge, chilled chocolate layered cake, etc., etc.

Recently I came across chocolate bars  from  a chocolate company based out of Boulder, CO. called Chocolove who like to keep things interesting. They have have twelve different varieties but, one in particular caught my eye. Ginger Crystalized in Dark Chocolate. Intriguing. I picked up the bar wrapped in green paper designed to have a the look of a well traveled passport with stamps and seals and chunky, inky typed letters written across it, wondering how the ginger would work with the cocoa.

Once at home I broke off a dark square and tried it. Amazingly enough the ginger was not over powering but was actually a fun and spicey depth of flavor that was so natural I’m surprized more people don’t use the combination. Almost like eating a holiday ginger snap cookie that was perfectly blended in the creamy chocolate. Very, very nice. It was a fun exotic treat.

Apparently the cryastalized ginger is from Australia and the dark chocolate was made in Belgium from cocoa beans grown in the Caribbean and Africa which was then all combined in Colorado – it was a world endeavour to bring these delicious bars into our lives. It also explains all the stamps and seals.

As I’m sure you probably know by now chocolate contains phenylethylamine a feel-good love chemical that our bodies produce. That is probably why love and chocolate walk hand in hand through history and has pretty much been a favorite in every culture it has been introduced to. Chocolove decided to go one step further and include a love poem that is written inside each wrapper  – So  don’t just toss it in a rush of craving, take your time and enjoy a lovey-dovey poem just for you.

Here is mine:

 

From: Venus and Adonis

Venus:   ‘ Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie;

                    These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me;

                    Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky,

                  From morn till night, even where I list to sport me:

                         Is love so light , sweet boy, and may it be

                         That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee?

 

                ‘ Is thine own heart to thine own face affected?

                 Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left?

                 Then woo thyself,  be of thyself rejected,

                 Steal thine own freedom, and complain of theft…

 

                ‘ Torches are made to light, jewels to wear,

                  Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use,

                  Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear;

                 Things growing to themselves are growth’s abuse:

                      Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty;

                      Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty

 

William Shakespeare

 

Wrapping chocolate in Shakespeare is a bit of poetry in itself, don’t you think?

So, have you tried any of Chocolove’s chocolate? Read any of their love poems? Or had any other beautiful chocolate experience?  As always I’d LOVE to know.

Yours Truely,

xoxoxo

Wanderlust and Me

          

Definitions of ‘wanderlust’ (wŏńdər-lŭst́)      Dictionary.com · The American Heritage® Dictionary – (1 definition) [German, wandern, to wander (from Middle High German), + Lust, desire (from Middle High German) (from Old High German; see las-).](noun) A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.	Yes, that’s me!       With my Dad and little brother in 1985 at the Konigsplatz in Augsberg, Germany. My Mom was taking the photos – hi mom! I love this picture.

  Well, as you can see I was traveling since I was itty-bitty. My parents never thought that they shouldn’t travel or move just because we were young. They always figured it was good for us to see the world and experience different cultures and people. I know some people think it’s better to raise children in one town so they feel rooted, and I guess that has its place, but I also think that traveling certainly has its advantages.

I hopped my first flight when I was two and have been bitten by the travel bug ever since. Not that it was a smooth ride for me  – I threw up while landing~read with pout, but everything was worth it. Landing and meeting my Dad at the terminal, running with my brother through our new apartment and finding the marzipan candy my Dad had hid in all the rooms, and all the adventures we had from then on.  We went all over Europe. Who wouldn’t get addicted?

When we came back to America I always thought I’d be back in a couple of years. It’s really amazing how much time has passed since then. I have traveled around America , of course, the mid-west, the south, the Atlantic coast, the Gulf coast. And all of it has had it’s charms, absolutely.

But, recently I have been thinking about  and needing a long vacation. I’m sure all of you have had the same feeling before. I don’t want to move away, but a little excursion to a land where copious amounts of sun block is required, sand sneaking into your shoes, the rhythm of unfamiliar accents dancing on the air… could be a wonderful distraction. Maybe, because it’s spring, maybe it’s a now or never feeling, maybe it’s looking for something I don’t want to loose. Who knows? But, I’ve been checking flights and using words like all-inclusive. I think it’s time to start saving up. All-inclusive never seems to have buy one-get one days.

So, boys and girls, where to go? Bahamas, Greece, Barcelona, London, Brazil, Costa Rica, Porto Fino… the world is our oyster. London is a little lean on the sun, but always seemed interesting. Hawaii is gorgeous, but I want a stamp in my passport. Brazil is exotic and hot, but it’s a long flight and crazy drivers. Greece is completely unique, but I had a dream where it completely exploded – it is sitting on a volcano, you know. I’m a practical woman and compulsively weigh the pros and cons and I just don’t know what to choose.

What do you think? Where do you think I should visit? Have you gone somewhere that is not to be missed? Postcard worthy? A million photogenic smiles a day?

I’m taking recommendations!  

xoxoxo

Morocco – A Link

Here at iLusciousLife we’re on the search for everything luscious, of course, to enrich and sensualize your life. I think savory and exotic certainly fall under that category. So , when I came across a posting for a Moroccan restaurant I decided to explore. It was really nicely done and very interesting.

Here is the link. Nice descriptions,juicy and compelling pictures. I think you will enjoy it.

http://moroccotravelblog.com/2009/03/30/a-vegetarian-moroccan-meal-travel-to-morocco-at-amanouz-cafe/

Also, provided on this page was another link to to a Moroccan travel site that has a really interesting recipe for Moroccan pastries that I will be trying out soon. Delicious. Let me know if you make them ,too and we’ll compare notes. Plus they have gorgeous photos of Morocco that will inspire dreams, fantasies or a plane ticket, your choice.

http://www.travel-exploration.com/subpage.cfm/Deserts_Pastries