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Le Chocolat

April 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Although the Lenten season may be over, it’s never too late to watch the movie Chocolat. The movie is set in a small fictional and very Catholic town in France during Lent in what appears to be the late 1950′s. Staying true to its title, the movie centers around chocolate, its mysterious and magical qualities, and the amazing self-discipline it takes to not be captivated by the dark treat. During the movie, the leading female owns the new and forbidden chocolate shop that is as decadent in imagery as it is scent. Not only does the shop owner make all her own chocolate (an ancient Mayan recipe) but she spins a Mayan wheel that is said to stop on the image that reveals her customers’ favorite kind of chocolate.

I mention this movie and the synopsis now because two weeks ago I had the pleasure of eating at a little chocolate shop – Le Chocolat –  in Naperville, IL. Le Chocolat shared many elements from the chocolate shop in the movie. Aside from the name, the quaint shop also has a huge variety of homemade chocolates, an old fashioned counter with hightop chairs, and it even has an “ancient Mayan wheel”, which sadly is just for decoration.

When I walked into the little shop, I knew instantly that I wanted to buy something…eat something…anything, everything…because it all looked and smelled wonderful. Although I did not have the opportunity to spin the wheel, it didn’t matter – I already knew my favorite – hot chocolate and mini cupcakes! The cupcakes were delicious and the hot chocolate (triple chocolate to be exact) was some of the best, if not THE best, hot chocolate I’ve ever had in the US (Barcelona, you are still #1!).

Despite having consumed nearly 1,000 calories (I’m being somewhat dramatic) and being full to the brim with chocolate, I could not leave the shop without buying something to take home. I settled on white chocolate covered lemon shortbread balls with blueberries inside. Now if that doesn’t sound heavenly (and slightly Willy Wonka-esque), I don’t know what does.

Chocolate lemon balls in hand, I left Le Chocolat in slight sugar shock, but happy as can be. Although I intended to wait until I regained my appetite to try my new purchase, something compelled me to try them. Maybe it was because they were so pretty, or maybe it was sheer curiosity (lemon and chocolate?), or maybe because, no matter how full I am, there’s always room for Le Chocolat.

 

 

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Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: An Elizabethan Christmas

December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Two years ago, I wrote about the Christmas traditions of Victorian England. Although Victorian England is one of my favorite eras, Elizabethan England – the time of Shakespeare – is a close second (minus all of the torture and head chopping). So, as Christmas is less than one week away, I wanted to share with you some of the traditions of a true Elizabethan or Tudor Christmas…..

During the time of Shakespeare, a Christmas full of overindulgence was the norm. How elaborately you celebrated Christmas often reflected your wealth and status or what status you wanted people to associate with you and your family. The mark of an elaborate Christmas was judged by the extravagance of the meal you served and the decor – how you presented the meal.

The Meal: Main dishes included wild boar, goose, turkey, and/or beef. Accompaniments to the roast meat included plum porridge, mince pies and frumenty, a pottage made from boiled, cracked wheat.  It is also possible that those who lived during the time of Tudor England also enjoyed brussels sprouts and a Christmas pudding made of meat, spices, and oatmeal. All of these delicacies would be washed down with ‘lambswool‘, a drink made with hot cider, sherry or ale, spices and apples, which when hot, exploded to create a white ‘woolly’ top. Spiced wines, wassail, and beer were also popular as the water was often not fit to drink.

The Dessert: Sugar, which was very expensive at the time, was a key ingredient of the Christmas dishes of this era. Collops of bacon, made from ground almonds and sugar, were popular, as were walnuts and other items made from sugar-plate, a substance of egg, sugar and gelatine which could be moulded into different shapes.  Leech, a milk-based sweet made with sugar and rosewater, was also a favorite; it was cut into cubes and served plain or gilded, arranged as a chequerboard.

The Decor:  Great pride was taken in how the meal was delivered to guests and attention to detail in the decor could not be overlooked. Wealthier homes would display swans, peacocks, or a boar’s head as centerpieces. Even small flourishes were important – fruits were not presented plain, but rather crystalized to enhance their colors. Gold leaf was added to lemons, other fruits, and gingerbread to deepen the richness of the occasion.

As you can see, Christmas during the time of Elizabeth I was truly a time to eat, drink, and be merry!

Happy Christmas everyone!

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Why the French Grocery Shop Every Day

September 15, 2011 By 3 Comments

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One thing I admire about French women (and there are many things) is their ability to shop for their meals every day. No stocking up for a month, or even a few weeks, for these girls. They don’t want to be tied down to food they have in the house, but rather eat whatever they fancy on any given day. Really, fresh meats, bread, cheese, and vegetables every day – what’s not to admire about that?

Unfortunately, most cities, suburbs, villages, etc. in the United States are not set up for you to quickly run to the store each day. Due to the time consuming drive and the endless selections everywhere we look, a quick trip to the market – or worse, Costco – can easily turn into an hour – so long that you’ve forgotten why you went there in the first place.

I am not advocating wasting food that you currently have in the house. But what would happen if we were to grocery shop like the French – changing our whole outlook on food and shopping – buying only what we need for that day or maybe the next? Would we enjoy our food more? Waste less? Would we be healthier?

If you’ve found a way to grocery shop like the French – even with a busy lifestyle; or if you’ve experienced positive results from shopping this way (ie becoming healthier, etc.) please share your secret du jour!

Ciao!

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Twinings’ Boston Tea Party

August 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

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In 1706, Thomas Twining opened his first tea room in London. By 1831, Twinings company had launched its first brand of Earl Grey tea, a brand and taste that would remain consistent and intact for 180 years…that is, until this year.

In April, Twinings tea, one of the most famous tea makers in Britain, launched the new blend of Earl Grey, one of the most beloved teas on the market. The original Earl Grey has a distinctive taste – black tea with the oil of the bergamot orange from South-East Asia. The new taste adds more bergamot and a strong lemon flavor.

The change in blends has caused a tremendous backlash, similar to the response toward New Coke a few years back. Many tasters have associated the new blend with “lemon cleaning products” or other not-so-tasty elements. Others have expressed their utter disgust in the new product in very unpleasant terms.

So why did Twinings decide to change its most popular brand of tea that is cherished by millions worldwide? Apparently, the company felt the brand needed to be “refreshed” after all these years and that market research reported as such.

It is unclear how data could have supported this idea which many believe was a huge mistake. Instead of paying for tasting research, Twinings might have faired better by reviewing its own British/American history. A little story about the Boston Tea Party may have reminded them that no one messes with British tea and gets away with it.

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Gelato Vs. Ice Cream

July 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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When a good friend of mine recently returned from Italy, he raved about the wonderful flavors of this amazing Mediterranean country – the pasta, pesto, wine, and especially, the gelato. Once you have gelato, you’ll never go back, he said.

Gelato….Ice Cream – What’s the Difference?

Well, for anyone who has had both, you can easily taste the difference. Gelato is denser and, often times, has a stronger flavor than ice cream. However, according to Bon Appetit magazine, the difference between gelato and ice cream really lies in the amount of fat and air found in each dessert. Ice cream tends to have more butter fat and air, making in creamier and lighter in texture. On the other hand, gelato starts with a base of eggs, and milk or cream,  yet it contains significantly less fat and air than ice cream, which gives it a richer taste and thicker texture. In other words, a little goes a long, long way. That must be why gelato cups and spoons are so little.

For a truly wonderful and simple Italian dessert, try gelato affogato style. Simply pour a steaming hot shot of pure espresso over a scoop of vanilla gelato. Buon appetito!

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