Sugar Savvy

Yoplait Whips! touts itself as “a whipped yogurt so unbelievably fluffy, so incredibly light, it’s an extraordinary experience.” They recently came out with three new flavors that are dessert favorites. It seems like they are trying to offer a healthier replacement when those cravings hit.
So do they do the trick? Can you […]

Southern California may have Disneyland, but Northern California has its own version of kid-swamped chaos: the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, just east of the Napa Valley.
Faith Kramer did an excellent article about the tour, so I decided to take it since I was staying just a few miles down the road. However, […]

If you’re ever in the San Francisco Bay Area, I highly recommend the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory tour. As much as I love European (and especially French) chocolate, I can’t complain about the stuff they make here, as they specialize in dark chocolate.
I took the tour last Thursday morning. Be sure to make […]

When I was younger, Saturday mornings usually consisted of a marathon of cooking shows on public television. Jacques Torres’ Dessert Circus was one of them, featuring the French pâtissier and chocolatier creating masterpieces that both inspired and intimidated. He made things fun and was one of the first people I saw who really […]

Where better to taste hot chocolate in Paris than in one of the premier chocolate stores? La Maison du Chocolat is one of the most popular chocolate shops, well known for their exquisite truffles. I thought it would be an appropriate end to my chocolat chaud series in Paris.
Everyone knows that things in […]

“…son fameux chocolat chaud…” (”…his famous hot chocolate…”)
This line was taken directly from Jean-Paul Hévin’s website and thus immediately piqued my interest. Anyone gutsy enough to make such a claim deserved to be investigated immediately.
Situated a mere block away from Place Vendôme (and the tempting perfection of chocolat chaud at the Ritz Paris Hotel), […]

Apparently the competition for the best chocolat chaud in Paris is fierce. After visiting Angélina and being disappointed with the experience, I began hearing whispers of other places in Paris that were rumored to give Angélina a run for its money.
Never one to back down from a challenge, I took it upon myself to […]

You probably either love or hate Valentine’s Day. Whatever your feelings are, you can’t deny the sugary sensory overload that is associated with February 14. I personally got over those little candy hearts quite a few years ago- who needs chalky pieces of sugar with cheesy messages on them? Time to grow […]

Le chocolat Africain at Angélina - does it live up to the hype?
Open almost any guidebook for Paris and you inevitably find a listing for this venerable salon du thé on Rue de Rivoli, facing the Tuileries. However, it’s not tea that draws hoards of people to this food landmark in Paris. Rather, […]

Events like Salon du Chocolat always remind me of how beloved the cocoa bean is, especially in Europe. I feel giddy with excitement when an exhibit or tasting of chocolate is offered. Somehow chocolate makes the world feel right.
So it’s no surprise that I visited not one, but two chocolate museums in my […]