Chocolate Sunday
 Some days you just feel the need to go out and do something just for you. Yesterday I felt that need and instead of heading for Jungle Jim’s like I might normally do I decided to stay local and look for some more sources of premium chocolate (among other things). I figured I would hit a bookstore that I had never been to before and look for some good chocolate cookbooks (they had some good ones, but I already owned them all) so I pushed on to a little gourmet food emporium figuring that they simply had to have some real chocolate. Well, they had Hachez and some Scharffen Berger but I wanted something I couldn’t get anywhere else. The did have some Koppers Chocolate Espresso Beans, though, so I grabbed some and turned back toward the North Market. |
 But along the way I had to make a little stopoff at a little shop I had not previously been aware of. Somehow they snuck a Schakolad store into the Short North and kept it a secret from me! People need to tell me this stuff! Anyway, any day I find a new chocolatier to try out is a good day. I can’t say too much about it yet (I’ve only had one so far) but the store smelled great, their selection is very good, and at only $28/lb it isn’t near as expensive as some other places (yes, I know $28/lb sounds horrifically expensive, but I’ve seen chocolate pushing up into the $150/lb range so this is cheap by comparison). I grabbed a small selection of truffles, a caramel, and a little chocolate-covered marzipan. A nice little haul. |
| But the fun didn’t stop there, oh no. I figured I couldn’t leave the North Market without getting something fun to munch on. I figured I would end up with some pocky, but instead ended up with a fat wedge of cake and a big slab of focaccia from the fantastic Omega Artisan Bakery. The cake, sadly, didn’t last long enough for pictures, but it was darn good. Almost as good as the focaccia (which I could eat all day). |
 Rounded the whole day out with a trip to Target looking for a lamp and came home with a bit of Choxie. It's one of those things where I feel guilty if I go into a Target and don't leave with Choxie. Can't really say why that is, but it's like not getting chocolate while it's right there in front of me is letting myself down or something. Yeah, it's a sickness, but one I don't mind too much. Anyway, I got the peanut butter pretzel bar which, to appearances, is one ingredient shy of being a Take 5. Hopefully, it's appropriately better. If a $2.00 Choxie bar isn't as good as a 50¢ candy bar I can get at the gas station then I've got a problem.
A good choclate Sunday. Still, I’m a bit frustrated that I cannot find more variety in Columbus (so far – it might be out there). Ah, but such is my lot in life. |
Comments
Kat Said:
What a fun shopping spree!
Posted by: Kat | May 22, 2006 10:43 PM
cybele Said:
I've been shying away from that Choxie bar ... I'm not sure why. I guess it seems a little pedestrian for an upscale bar. But then again, who am I to be snooty?
Have you ever been to Trader Joe's? I'm not sure where you live, but I think there's one in Dublin.
I really want to try EVERYTHING Koppers makes.
I'm looking forward to your Schakolad review.
Posted by: cybele | May 22, 2006 11:23 PM
william Said:
I can walk to the Dublin Trader Joe's. It's just a little further than Whole Foods (opposite corners). So much good food in walking distance. I like where I live.
As for Koppers.... I made a discovery that I'm not sure how I feel about. They use that most hated of substances - vanillin. Fake vanilla makes me unhappy (though I still dig these espresso beans a lot so it can't be all bad). I know I just saw Koppers someplace last weekend. I'm prettu sure it was either Sur La Table (which I doubt) or Harry and David. Anyway, wherever I saw them I'm just impressed by the selection of products Koppers offer. It would take a l-o-n-g time to try everything they make.
Hrm. I also didn't know we had a Sur La Table until I walked past it.
Posted by: william | May 22, 2006 11:43 PM
Robyn Said:
Damn, you're fun to shop with.
Posted by: Robyn | May 23, 2006 12:24 AM
Chocoholic Said:
I've always wondered if the choxie stuff was any good. Never tried it before, too expensive for my taste! Thanks for the post.
Posted by: Chocoholic | May 30, 2006 1:04 PM