Chocolate Obsession

I’m addicted to chocolate. It sounds trite, I know, because who doesn’t? There’s something magical about enjoying a truly luscious piece of chocolate – taking the smallest bite and letting it slowly melt on your tongue as you savor the flavors … a sensual, almost sinful pleasure. Whether it’s a rich ganache steeped with sweet Indian curry or a smooth, glossy bar of the classic dark varietal, good chocolate rarely disappoints.

So in commemoration of the just-passed holiday season and my sister’s recent visit, I write this entry in appreciation of one of the most thoughtful gifts I have received. My sister, the artistic genius of the family (I wish I could post a link here to a page with pictures of her work, but the girl doesn’t even sign her own pieces, let alone display them for others!) had long promised me a personalized piece for myself. I made no requests in regards to medium (I don’t even know the difference between acrylic and oil pastel.) or subject matter. I just wanted it made for me.

This holiday, I returned to find my ‘piece’ completed. Her selected medium: photos (sepia, personally developed in her class’ darkroom) and her subject: chocolate. It was a trio of 8x10 horizontal photos to be matted and framed in black to accent the sepia tone. The pictures themselves were interestingly not of chocolate but of chocolate books – the text, spines, and pictures (apparently she had scoured every corner of the Borders in downtown Chicago for any title that referenced chocolate).

I stared at the series of photos for quite some time, appreciating how my sister had used what I consider one of the simplest art forms to put together a classy, subtle, and intellectual display of one of my finest pleasures in life. Of course, I would be undermining the whole gift package if I didn’t mention that accompanying the photos were a selection of truffles from Chicago and LA’s gourmet, boutique chocolatiers (Vosges, Teuscher, Ethel’s, K’s) and the book ‘Chocolate Obsession,’ written by Michael Recchiuti, maker of my favorite ‘Peanut Butter Puck’ truffle.

Sitting back and typing this entry now, I have a huge smile on my face. Partially because there are still a set of those truffles sitting in my freezer (I saved them to help get me through the gloom of my first cold winter.) … partially because the mere thought of quality chocolate gets me excited and inspires me to try new flavors, chocolatiers, and personal recipes … but more because when I reflect on my holiday chocolate gift, I think of all the thought, time, and love that went into making it. And that’s what will make tasting every one of those winter truffles a truly blissful experience.