Ah, the holidays. Time to splurge with a...

Chocolate Martini
The Goods
1/4 cup Scharffen Berger unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup boiling water

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup artisan vodka (for the chocolate liqueur) Note: We recommend Charbay

Desired amount of artisan vodka (for the martini base)

The How-To
Make the chocolate liqueur: combine the cocoa powder and boiling water, stirring to dissolve the cocoa. Set aside.
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
Stir the sugar syrup into the cocoa mixture and add 1 cup of vodka. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a container with a lid.
Refrigerate overnight.
Remove from refrigerator when ready to serve, then stir the liqueur well and strain it once again through a fine-mesh strainer.

Make the martini: For each one, pour 2 parts chocolate liqueur and 1 part vodka into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a glass. Enjoy!

And for those of you who have your own chocolate recipe, check this out:

http://www.chocolateadventurecontest.com/

Ciao!

Two Words: Vegas and Chocolate

"Like jewelry or perfume. A blend, a shape, a texture. Creating a candy with precision, emotion, and passion. Give yourself the pleasure of gods."

~ Jean-Philippe Maury

My Friday/weekend got off to an awesome start this morning when my friend Debra Newby (an attorney, but we don't hold that against her!) gave me a thank you gift for referring a client to her: a box of very high quality chocolates from famed chef Jean-Philippe Maury, who runs Jean-Philippe Patisserie at the Bellagio, in Las Vegas. Cool! Looks like tonight it'll be some Prager Port and a Cool (fresh mint infused ganache, dark chocolate coated)... or perhaps a Sevillian (orange marzipan, Grand Marnier ganache, dark chocolate coated)... or perhaps... well, you get the idea. Thanks Debra!

P.S. Speaking of LV, my trip to the Big City is now only two weeks away. I'm on a strict sleep and nutrition program, have refilled my vitamins, etc. -- all to build up my reserves, so to speak, for the dash/tear/tremor/tumble through LV town. More of course on this soon....

MAD About Chocolate

O.K., so during our recent visit to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, I talked about two of the wharf's four core staples, seafood and bread (I must admit, I neglected--this time -- to talk about Anchor Steam Brewing Co beer). Now it's time for the fourth and final part of what makes the Wharf so special from a food standpoint: chocolate! And chocolate and Fisherman's wharf means a visit to Ghirardelli Square, home of the Ghirardelli Chocolate company, which has been making chocolate in San Fran since 1852. Of course they have scores of types of chocolate...along with the other candy "goodies" such as taffy, etc.

Anyway, this was/is Mad's favorite part of Fisherman's Wharf. Enjoy!

Rows of Goodness

Laffy Taffy

Decisions, Decisions

That's All, Folks

Ghirardelli Square

Ghirardelli Chocolate

900 North Point Street, San Francisco 94109

Tel: 415-775-5500

Holiday Desserts, Baby!

Yes, gift shopping is important this time of year. But so too is stocking up on holiday food and wine goodies. And nothing says "stocking up" like holiday chocolates and desserts.

Where to go? Funny you should ask! Here are three great places.

Woodhouse Chocolate

This Main Street mainstay in downtown St. Helena always has a fabulous window display. Their web site is awesome. And the chocolate? Divine!

Cavaliere's Bakeries and Cafes
Two locations: 2600 Mendocino Ave in Santa Rosa, and 626 McClelland Dr in Windsor

Cavaliere's has all kinds of special Christmas desserts, including a Buche de Noel (Yule log), a St. Honore (puff pastry filled with rum custard and raspberry), and a Marzipan Princess Ornament.

Michelle Marie's Patisserie

In the Montgomery Village shopping center, in Santa Rosa.

Awesome selection of goodies, including a Christmas cranberry tart, a three-chocolate mousse cake, persimmon pudding, and a chocolate bourbon pecan tart.

Enjoy!

Score!

Was a perfect Halloween night tonight--cloudy, cool, hint of a breeze that rustled the dead and dying leaves... Perfect weather too for, ummm, walking around. And that we did!

The cowgirl and the zombie bride

That selfish cat!

The Haul

Reese's: SCORE!!!!!!

It's a beautiful thing

Who's Your (Sugar) Daddy?

The benefits to FROTB just keep coming: all, here's an invitation to help support the Sonoma County Public Library Foundation by tasting chocolate and watching a great old-time movie. See why you should never miss an EMAF posting?!? I mean, come on: does it get much better than that?

The SC Public Library Foundation's annual Chocolate Tasting at the Rialto takes place October 17. The tasting begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the movie Singin' in the Rain at 7:30 p.m. Needless to say, there will be a huge and fascinating assortment of chocolate from places like Michelle Marie's Patisserie, Powell's Sweet Shoppe (AWESOME web site--check it out), Dinner's Ready Catering, and Petaluma's Water Street Bistro. Tickets are just $30 per person or $50 per couple. All proceeds benefit the Library Foundation. NOTE: This event sold out last year, so don't delay. To purchase tickets or to receive more information (or if you can't go and still want to make a donation), contact Melissa Kelley, who is President of the Library Foundation, at:
mkelley@sonic.net
(707) 537-8783

To get you in the chocolat mood (as if that's ever an issue, right?), you might want to rent the movie Chocolat or check out La Maison du Chocolat in Paris.

Anyway, I hope to see you at the Rialto on the 17th, and remember, this charity event is for the kids!

Paris on My Mind

Have been thinking a great about Paris of late, with my recent posts regarding escargot and Apres Vous. Anyway, here's a cool Paris pic, taken by ap during her trip there this past summer:

Paris bistro scene (again, compliments of ap):

And you can't talk about Paris and NOT talk chocolat. Mmmmmmm, enjoy!