We Spent 100 Bucks on Chocolate and other Embarrassing Admissions

OK, actually, that's kind of the only embarrassing admission. Other than that I cannot figure out how to spell the word "embarrassing.

I know, it's giving Marie Antoinette a run for her money. It's fattening. It's absurd. It's unconscionable.

But I really love chocolate. Like in a daily, shoot it in your veins kind of way. And Montreal's Suite 88 has the best choc ever. OK, it has some competition, but it stands up.

After a lovely dinner at L'Express (lobster risotto!) we walked a couple of stores north to sample the thick, salty hot chocolate beverage for which the place is famous - at least as far as I'm concerned. It was a drug trip.

Needless to say I bought one of everything in the store (and then another for M), as did Scott and Nicole, and when the bills were tallied we'd gone super nova.

I seriously - seriously - tried to make it last longer than the 2 days it usually lasts. (Fine, 8 hours, whatever.) I made it to 3. Ah, to be moderate...

Thing I Recommend

You know how I love chocolate. And French things. And salt. Well, this company helps me to cover all the bases. Apparently there's a new retail store on Dundas West. I get my stash at La Fromagerie.

Fleur de Sel

I'm one of those people who loves sweet with salt. Dutch salty licorice is a long-standing fave, though I've drastically cut down because it's a) quite bad for you and b) burns a hole in my mouth, which is already susceptible to canker sores and booboos. Another perennial fave is salted chocolate. I love it in beverages, in bonbons in bars. You name it.

Will it surprise you to learn that I am a terrific snob when it comes to all food, really, but specifically chocolate? I will not touch the commerically-prepared - which is simply insulin-raising crap. (Well, I do have a soft spot for British chocky bars; they're made with a much better quality of cocoa than the Canadian or American counterparts.)

I'm the kind of girl who goes for handmade Belgian bonbons filled with lavender and bergamot ganache, or salty caramel truffles, flown in from Denmark (the ones that go off if they aren't refrigerated and eaten within 5 days). I say, if you aren't spending 3 bucks on a bite, what are you waiting for? :-) Life is too short to eat bad chocolate. And chocolate is too important not to eat it.

Imagine my surprise on finding this, earlier in the week. (So sorry, this is the only photo in the world of it online, apparently. The product must be super new.):

I know, you're thinking, Kristin: Lindt is crap. (Indeed, most of it is, but the Excellence line is actually passable. And they do some fun flavours like Chili and 99% chocolate - I like to call it chalklate.) And if you can't get to Holt Renfrew or Suite 88 - Montrealers have all the cool stuff! - you need a little fix that's available in the quartier.

PS Hey, quick question to all: Are Twiglets Australian or British? I used to be able to get them at M&S in TO till it closed and I've been having such a craving for them for, like 5 years. If anyone could find me some I would sooooooo appreciate it.

PPS To my foreign friends, on a related topic, I'm apparently the only North American who loves Marmite and Vegemite. Loves. Esp. with gobs of melty butter.