Traveling Chocolate
When you are a lover of chocolate and wine, it is easy for friends and family to bring you gifts when they return from their travels. Recently, a gift numerous chocolates hand-made in various small shoppes throughout Italy was presented as a gorging gift. It took months to masticate and melt away in the mouth, but the flavors were generally wonderful, from burnt to pure, with only a few leaving an unfortunate experience. (None had the non-chocolate taste of a Hershey's bar.)
Wine from around the world is easy to come by, but the pleasures of chocolate are more difficult to find because of the delicate nature of the product. Either is a wonderful gift, as they can both be savored and give a hint of an adventure in a far off land. It should not have been a surprise that a country known for great wine could produce so much fine chocolate.
In other words: Go to Italy!
Wine from around the world is easy to come by, but the pleasures of chocolate are more difficult to find because of the delicate nature of the product. Either is a wonderful gift, as they can both be savored and give a hint of an adventure in a far off land. It should not have been a surprise that a country known for great wine could produce so much fine chocolate.
In other words: Go to Italy!
Back In The Day, 1000 AD
Back in 1000 AD there was a place where cocoa was in demand, and toasts were made to the goodness of the gorgeous bean...a place now referred to as New Mexico, USA. As strange as it might seem, New Mexico was at the epicenter of the glorious bean:
People in AD 1000 may have made drinks from cacao, which researchers thought had arrived in what is now the U.S. in the 15th century. [Read]
People in AD 1000 may have made drinks from cacao, which researchers thought had arrived in what is now the U.S. in the 15th century. [Read]
Cocoa: Commodity of the Year
It is more of a financial benchmark, but all who love chocolate have always known how valuable the cocoa bean is:
Investors in cocoa will be having a sweet Christmas as cocoa hits a 23-year high, making it the most lucrative commodity of 2008. [Read]
For a more in-depth article:
Cocoa prices on Tuesday surged to a 23-year high as speculative investors poured into the market amid concerns about dwindling supplies from Ivory Coast, by far the world’s largest producer.
Prices for cocoa have risen 70 per cent in the past year, bucking the weakness in overall commodities prices. [Read]
Again, not news to anyone who understands the true value of the beautiful bean (and the worthlessness of the dollar these days).
Investors in cocoa will be having a sweet Christmas as cocoa hits a 23-year high, making it the most lucrative commodity of 2008. [Read]
For a more in-depth article:
Cocoa prices on Tuesday surged to a 23-year high as speculative investors poured into the market amid concerns about dwindling supplies from Ivory Coast, by far the world’s largest producer.
Prices for cocoa have risen 70 per cent in the past year, bucking the weakness in overall commodities prices. [Read]
Again, not news to anyone who understands the true value of the beautiful bean (and the worthlessness of the dollar these days).
To The EXTREME
All right, so we kid about a chocolate and wine diet, but to some it is not a joke:
It’s a new eating plan that advocates drinking wine and eating chocolate every day to help you lose weight. Not only will you shed pounds but you will also live longer and decrease your risk of heart disease, dementia and diabetes. [Read]
Sure, he is serious, apparently, because he is trying to sell a book.
Here is a formula that is free: Eat, drink & be merry! And it goes without saying that chocolate and wine are a part of that formula...
It’s a new eating plan that advocates drinking wine and eating chocolate every day to help you lose weight. Not only will you shed pounds but you will also live longer and decrease your risk of heart disease, dementia and diabetes. [Read]
Sure, he is serious, apparently, because he is trying to sell a book.
Here is a formula that is free: Eat, drink & be merry! And it goes without saying that chocolate and wine are a part of that formula...
Plus the Economy
Under these economic conditions, it is good to know that drinking wine is a good thing. (I know that if I drink enough, things are not so bad...)
A new insight into the reason for aging has been gained by scientists trying to understand how resveratrol, a minor ingredient of red wine, improves the health and lifespan of laboratory mice. They believe that the integrity of chromosomes is compromised as people age, and that resveratrol works by activating proteins known as sirtuins that restore the chromosomes to health. [Read]
A new insight into the reason for aging has been gained by scientists trying to understand how resveratrol, a minor ingredient of red wine, improves the health and lifespan of laboratory mice. They believe that the integrity of chromosomes is compromised as people age, and that resveratrol works by activating proteins known as sirtuins that restore the chromosomes to health. [Read]
Safe Chocolate
Not sure you want to be eating any Cadbury chocolate for a while. The company said they have concerns about product safety:
A Cadbury spokesman says preliminary results show its Chinese-made chocolates contain the industrial chemical melamine. [Read]
A Cadbury spokesman says preliminary results show its Chinese-made chocolates contain the industrial chemical melamine. [Read]
Red Wine, We Know
Some people apparently have not yet received the message:
A key compound in red wine known as resveratrol appears to protect against many of the health ravages associated with growing old, new animal research reveals. [Read]
Red wine. Get it? You drink your red wine and you will live forever. Well, actually they say life will just be better:
Daily consumption of the compound -- also found in the skin of grapes and the crust of peanuts and walnuts -- broadly improved the long-term quality of life of middle-aged mice, although most mice did not end up living longer.
A key compound in red wine known as resveratrol appears to protect against many of the health ravages associated with growing old, new animal research reveals. [Read]
Red wine. Get it? You drink your red wine and you will live forever. Well, actually they say life will just be better:
Daily consumption of the compound -- also found in the skin of grapes and the crust of peanuts and walnuts -- broadly improved the long-term quality of life of middle-aged mice, although most mice did not end up living longer.
with the crab
Yes, a pinot gris or riesling is a safe call with crab, though a chardonnay is the safest. But what about those prefer red wines? Yes, that means ignoring the rules, but if a red wine is preferred then a pinot noir would be a nice bet.
Rules are made for those that want to follow. You know what kind of wine goes with the crab you like, and if you do not then experiment. Let your taste buds rule!
Rules are made for those that want to follow. You know what kind of wine goes with the crab you like, and if you do not then experiment. Let your taste buds rule!
Wine Fraud?
Who would have thought counterfeiters would have moved to counterfeiting wine? Just like those fancy labels that verify authenticity on clothes, label technology is being developed to enhance wine security.
According to Wine Spectator magazine, 5% of rare wines sold on the secondary market are counterfeit. That is a lot of fraud.
At $500,000 for some wine, this fraud had to hurt:
In 1988, William Koch bought a number of rare bottles of wine alleged to be Thomas Jefferson's, found in walled-up wine cellars in Paris. Koch paid $500,000 for the bottles, which he bought from German wine merchant Hardy Rodenstock through an auction at Christie's.
After lending his collection for an exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 2005, Koch learned that the supposed Jefferson bottles were fakes. The engraved "T.H.J." initials on the bottles were way ahead of their alleged time, done with tools not even introduced until after Jefferson had died. [Read]
According to Wine Spectator magazine, 5% of rare wines sold on the secondary market are counterfeit. That is a lot of fraud.
At $500,000 for some wine, this fraud had to hurt:
In 1988, William Koch bought a number of rare bottles of wine alleged to be Thomas Jefferson's, found in walled-up wine cellars in Paris. Koch paid $500,000 for the bottles, which he bought from German wine merchant Hardy Rodenstock through an auction at Christie's.
After lending his collection for an exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 2005, Koch learned that the supposed Jefferson bottles were fakes. The engraved "T.H.J." initials on the bottles were way ahead of their alleged time, done with tools not even introduced until after Jefferson had died. [Read]
The New Health Food
Seeing a bag of HERSHEY'S ALL NATURAL EXTRA DARK PURE MINT DARK CHOCOLATE on a close-out shelf was a red flag of temptation. Mint. Dark chocolate. Sure it was Hershey's, but why not.
It was pretty good, but what was most fascinating was the packaging. On the front of the package was a small logo touting "COCOA IS A NATURAL SOURCE OF FLAVANOL ANTIOXIDANTS". If you looked at the back of the package it was being marketed for its health benefits. Under the heading "Total Antioxidant Capacity of Selected Foods" was a bar graph. In descending order, the items graphed were HERSHEY'S Cocoa, Blueberries, Hershey's Extra Dark dark chocolate, Red wine, Green tea and Almonds. The marketing text on the back of the package was a discussion of the health benefits of cocoa beans. According to their graph, HERSHEY'S Cocoa is the healthiest thing you can eat!
Yeah, it was pretty good. Really good if you take into account it came from generally bad chocolatier Hershey. But after reading the package, I realize I have greatly improved my health by eating HERSHEY'S chocolate. Sure, you thought the health benefits were from cocoa, but according to Hershey, they are cocoa!
Have fun. Enjoy. And give something new a try.
It was pretty good, but what was most fascinating was the packaging. On the front of the package was a small logo touting "COCOA IS A NATURAL SOURCE OF FLAVANOL ANTIOXIDANTS". If you looked at the back of the package it was being marketed for its health benefits. Under the heading "Total Antioxidant Capacity of Selected Foods" was a bar graph. In descending order, the items graphed were HERSHEY'S Cocoa, Blueberries, Hershey's Extra Dark dark chocolate, Red wine, Green tea and Almonds. The marketing text on the back of the package was a discussion of the health benefits of cocoa beans. According to their graph, HERSHEY'S Cocoa is the healthiest thing you can eat!
Yeah, it was pretty good. Really good if you take into account it came from generally bad chocolatier Hershey. But after reading the package, I realize I have greatly improved my health by eating HERSHEY'S chocolate. Sure, you thought the health benefits were from cocoa, but according to Hershey, they are cocoa!
Have fun. Enjoy. And give something new a try.
Unexpected Goodness: Orange Chocolate
It was a really small piece of dark chocolate. Orange Intense is what the packaging read. It was labeled appropriately.
As one who finds Lindt chocolates to be so-so at times, I was surprised by this perfect little piece of chocolate orange delight. This was the best orange flavored chocolate I have ever encountered. Yes, my experience with orange infused dark chocolate is limited, but this tiny piece of perfection hit the spot.
Surprises are not always welcome, but the wonderful ones that caress the taste buds are a gift.
As one who finds Lindt chocolates to be so-so at times, I was surprised by this perfect little piece of chocolate orange delight. This was the best orange flavored chocolate I have ever encountered. Yes, my experience with orange infused dark chocolate is limited, but this tiny piece of perfection hit the spot.
Surprises are not always welcome, but the wonderful ones that caress the taste buds are a gift.
Aside, But Worth Noting
Not about chocolate. Not about wine. But if you are interested in the health benefits of chocolate and/or wine you may also be interested in drinking a cup of coffee each day:
Drinking one cup of coffee a day could protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to research.
American scientists found caffeine blocks the ability of cholesterol to move from the blood into the brain. [Read]
Now all we need is that story that says ice cream is the perfect food.
Drinking one cup of coffee a day could protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to research.
American scientists found caffeine blocks the ability of cholesterol to move from the blood into the brain. [Read]
Now all we need is that story that says ice cream is the perfect food.
Get that cork away from my nose!
Really, the cork does not belong under your nose. There is nothing you can really learn from sniffing the cork that you cannot get from the scent in the glass. What you can get from the cork is from your sense of sight and touch. If the cork looks "bad" and/or appears crumbly, it may have compromised the wine.
Next time you are handed a cork, use your eyes to judge if it says anything about the wine you are about to drink and keep it away from your nose.
Yes, there will be a day when a cork will be a piece of antiquity, but not yet.
Next time you are handed a cork, use your eyes to judge if it says anything about the wine you are about to drink and keep it away from your nose.
Yes, there will be a day when a cork will be a piece of antiquity, but not yet.
Wine? Sorbet?
What do you do when you enjoy wine and dessert? Make a wine sorbet? Around here, we would suggest a nice spicy red with some dark chocolate, but...
It sounds a bit bastardized, dismissing a good glass of wine and a good dessert by combing the two, but then again there is no palette experience with wine sorbets here. Thought you might be interested in knowing wine sorbets exist (Wine Cellar Sorbet) if you want a bit of an alcohol kick to your dessert.
A rich, thick, spicy red with some clean, dark chocolate, perhaps even a raisin & nut dark...now we are talking desert.
It sounds a bit bastardized, dismissing a good glass of wine and a good dessert by combing the two, but then again there is no palette experience with wine sorbets here. Thought you might be interested in knowing wine sorbets exist (Wine Cellar Sorbet) if you want a bit of an alcohol kick to your dessert.
A rich, thick, spicy red with some clean, dark chocolate, perhaps even a raisin & nut dark...now we are talking desert.
Self-serve Wine Tasting Bar
The idea of the self-serve tasting bar is a pretty good one, even if the tastes can cost $5, $10, $50 or more. The machines have been popping up for a while.
Anecdotal: Knew a man who built a restaurant around the theme of tasting wonderful wines with these machines. After a couple of years the business has closed and the winecentric part of the business is being removed. Traditional restaurant pays the bills a bit better. Cannot image where the concept is working if it cannot work in this high-end wine consuming community. The machines were cool and the wine tasting was an educational experience, though a bit pricey.
Red Wine Drug Extends Lifespan?
A drug based on an ingredient in red wine is being developed:
For the first time, scientists have proof in human subjects that a derivative of an ingredient in red wine combats some symptoms of aging. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals announced the results here on Monday at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference.
Resveratol, naturally found in red wine, stimulates a gene known as SIRT1, which has been linked with extended lifespans in rodents. The new study is the first time similar effects have been replicated in humans. [Read]
The drug, being developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, is to help diabetics lower their blood sugar.
Why not just drink the wine? It offers far more joy than one ingredient.
Cheers. And make sure there is a glass of red wine with dinner tonight.
For the first time, scientists have proof in human subjects that a derivative of an ingredient in red wine combats some symptoms of aging. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals announced the results here on Monday at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference.
Resveratol, naturally found in red wine, stimulates a gene known as SIRT1, which has been linked with extended lifespans in rodents. The new study is the first time similar effects have been replicated in humans. [Read]
The drug, being developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, is to help diabetics lower their blood sugar.
Why not just drink the wine? It offers far more joy than one ingredient.
Cheers. And make sure there is a glass of red wine with dinner tonight.
Have a Great '08!
Good wine. Good chocolate. The opportunity to enjoy both with friends and alone. Sounds like a great '08!
BTW: A good champagne? Is there such a thing? You cannot drink champagne with the same gusto and satisfaction as wine without the bubbles, but there must be something worth an occasional special toast... We should add that to the to do list in '09; finding a good wine.
BTW: A good champagne? Is there such a thing? You cannot drink champagne with the same gusto and satisfaction as wine without the bubbles, but there must be something worth an occasional special toast... We should add that to the to do list in '09; finding a good wine.
Mint Chocolate
Yes, the purpose is to grab the attention of the impulse buyer when checking out but when you are a chocolate lover who has a weakness for mint flavored anything, what can you do but obey?
Ghirardelli had an Intense Dark Mint Bliss (60% cacao) offering and Lindt had an Excellence Intense Mint Dark Extra Fine (% cocoa?). The Ghirardelli tasted chocolaty with a hint of mint. The Lindt tasted minty with a hint of not so dark chocolate.
Ghirardelli wins this one because the chocolate was better, but there is no doubt a better mint chocolate exists. The hunting continues... Maybe an Andes...
Ghirardelli had an Intense Dark Mint Bliss (60% cacao) offering and Lindt had an Excellence Intense Mint Dark Extra Fine (% cocoa?). The Ghirardelli tasted chocolaty with a hint of mint. The Lindt tasted minty with a hint of not so dark chocolate.
Ghirardelli wins this one because the chocolate was better, but there is no doubt a better mint chocolate exists. The hunting continues... Maybe an Andes...
Old Cocoa--The Drink, Not Your Dog
What were they doing in Honduras around 1150BC? Drinking some potent cocoa drink. [Read]
In case you thought the cocoa drink was something warm and cuddly, you may be interested in learning that it was an alcoholic beverage. Perhaps it is one of those great recipes lost with time, a chocolate wine? A beer? They say it is similar to a South American chicha, which is simply Spanish for any variety of fermented beverage.
Anyone care to suggest a recipe?
In case you thought the cocoa drink was something warm and cuddly, you may be interested in learning that it was an alcoholic beverage. Perhaps it is one of those great recipes lost with time, a chocolate wine? A beer? They say it is similar to a South American chicha, which is simply Spanish for any variety of fermented beverage.
Anyone care to suggest a recipe?
Holiday Chocolate
To speak for all chocolate lovers, there is something you should know if you are going to give chocolate as a gift: Do not waste time giving a chocolate lover cheap chocolate.
A true chocolate lover is not too interested in a Hershey's Kiss, or a Hershey's Bar or most any other standard chocolate fare consumed by the masses. A chocolate lover love's quality chocolate, something a bit refined--Scharffen Berger, for example.
Yes, we know Scharffen Berger is owned by Hershey's--perhaps it is there way of atoning for the rest of that stuff they make and call chocolate.
So, if you are going to give a gift of chocolate to a chocolate lover, make sure it is quality chocolate. If not, just send a card.
If you receive the cheap chocolate as a gift, say thank you and give it to charity--it is not worth the insult to your refined senses.
A true chocolate lover is not too interested in a Hershey's Kiss, or a Hershey's Bar or most any other standard chocolate fare consumed by the masses. A chocolate lover love's quality chocolate, something a bit refined--Scharffen Berger, for example.
Yes, we know Scharffen Berger is owned by Hershey's--perhaps it is there way of atoning for the rest of that stuff they make and call chocolate.
So, if you are going to give a gift of chocolate to a chocolate lover, make sure it is quality chocolate. If not, just send a card.
If you receive the cheap chocolate as a gift, say thank you and give it to charity--it is not worth the insult to your refined senses.
Trader Joes
A lot of winers enjoy the wine deals offered at Trader Joe's (TJ). For those so inclined, we found a blogger who rates some of these inexpensive bottles: Girl Meets Grape
Unfortunately, we are not pretentious enough to rate wines but she offers a nice quick review for TJ lovers.
P.S. That three dollar bottle of Chasing Clouds Shiraz is a surprise. A good bottle of wine for $3? Yes.
P.P.S. Trader Joe's also has a respectable selection of chocolate, the perfect pairing for your wine.
Unfortunately, we are not pretentious enough to rate wines but she offers a nice quick review for TJ lovers.
P.S. That three dollar bottle of Chasing Clouds Shiraz is a surprise. A good bottle of wine for $3? Yes.
P.P.S. Trader Joe's also has a respectable selection of chocolate, the perfect pairing for your wine.
It Takes Commitment to Chocolate to See Effects
Eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day could be good for you, scientists say.
A study has found that a regular 2oz dose can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke - without any weight gain.
But before you reach for the king-size bar, beware. The effects are cancelled out if more than 30 calories are consumed each day, the researchers warn. [Read]
The effect was noticed after 18 weeks of daily consumption. Get to work.
A study has found that a regular 2oz dose can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke - without any weight gain.
But before you reach for the king-size bar, beware. The effects are cancelled out if more than 30 calories are consumed each day, the researchers warn. [Read]
The effect was noticed after 18 weeks of daily consumption. Get to work.
Cocoa Instead of Blood Pressure Meds
Any more news like this and the pharmaceutical companies are going to have cocoa banned:
Drinking a traditional cup of cocoa at bedtime can help to lower blood pressure as effectively as prescription medications, researchers say. [Read]
Drinking a traditional cup of cocoa at bedtime can help to lower blood pressure as effectively as prescription medications, researchers say. [Read]
More Chocolate as Health Food Raves
As if any of us need encouragement to eat chocolate, but it helps to buttress an argument.
Listen to the way people malign chocolate: Sinful! Decadent! To die for! There's even that popular restaurant dessert known as "Death by Chocolate." But is this any way to talk about a loved one -- especially during the season of comfort and joy?
Bite your tongue! Evidence is mounting that some kinds of chocolate are actually good for you. Here's the latest about the healthy side of your chocolate habit and taste-tested advice on what to try. Merry munching. [Read]
Listen to the way people malign chocolate: Sinful! Decadent! To die for! There's even that popular restaurant dessert known as "Death by Chocolate." But is this any way to talk about a loved one -- especially during the season of comfort and joy?
Bite your tongue! Evidence is mounting that some kinds of chocolate are actually good for you. Here's the latest about the healthy side of your chocolate habit and taste-tested advice on what to try. Merry munching. [Read]
More Uses for Chocolate
Since it is agreed by all that love chocolate that chocolate is the best thing you can put in your mouth--one of the best things--we have found a couple of chocolaty recipes:
Fudgy Chocolate Cake and some Hot Chocolate w/Kick
When does the chocolate and wine diet begin?
Fudgy Chocolate Cake and some Hot Chocolate w/Kick
When does the chocolate and wine diet begin?