When I start thinking about everything I need to get done before I head off on my Great Big Gallivant in less than a month, I get a panicked feeling in my chest. My stomach gets all knotty-like, and my throat feels tight. You see, I’m not very good at errands, particularly the kind that involve paperwork, bureaucracy, and comparing insurance options. In fact, I’m pretty much Bernard Black.
The only errand I’m able to approach with glee is that of making my way through all the chocolate I have piled up around around me. In other words, get ready for many Chocolatepaloozas in coming weeks. I hope you don’t mind.
Gewűrzhaus Dark Chocolate 70% Ancho Chilli
My spectacular brother sent me this handcrafted Australian chocolate after spotting it at Melbourne’s Gewűrzhaus Herb and Spice Merchants. I love that the wrapping includes the gentle request to “[p]lease remember to dispose of the packaging thoughtfully”. I dutifully acquiesced when the time came, watching the paper float-twirl down to rest against a bundle of free supermarket recipe booklets in the recycling bin.
Made with 70% dark chocolate and ancho chilli, this chocolate had a snap hard enough to test my finger strength, and a dark black shiny glossy surface that reminded me of the midnight-coloured pony my parents never bought me.
The aroma had the slight fruity heat of chilli, and a hint of campfires and spice. The flavour was subtle at first, then built into smoky woodsy spicy hot fudge toasted marshmallows notes. A lovely chocolate indeed.
Chocolove Chilies and Cherries in Dark Chocolate
Today’s Chocolatapalooza is all about heat in chocolates, so it made sense to review the Chocolove Chilies and Cherries in 55% Dark Chocolate that Casey sent me way back yonder-yonder. This chocolate uses both ancho and chipotle chillies, and had a spicy aroma that made me think, for a moment, of cinnamon.
From the first nibble, this Chocolove chocolate hit me with sweetness and the prickling burning heat of chillies, which were like playful little needles in my throat*. The vanilla-strong sweetness of the chocolate countered the chillies’ heat well, while also making room for the tangy dried cherries.
Another win.
* I swear I’m not a junkie.
Dolfin Dark Chocolate with Pink Peppercorns (Noir au Poivre Rose)
After my traumatic experience with Vosges’ pink peppercorn Amalfi Bar, I unwrapped Dolfin’s 52% Dark Chocolate with Pink Peppercorns cautiously. However, I was determined to keep an open mind, because my dear friend Lexi sent me this in a care package that created a million smiles in my heart. Thank you Lexi, for your ever-support.
As I tentatively nibbled the Dolfin Noir au Poivre Rose chocolate I found that, unlike the Vosges Bar, the pink peppercorns permeated the dark chocolate like a fragrant complement to its sweetness, rather than appearing as discrete and shocking crunches. The peppercorns have a distinct spice-fruit-heat flavour that balances the sweet vanilla and red-fruit notes of the dark chocolate. You know what? This chocolate works. It actually works.
Question Time: How are you with errands? Are you a gung-ho-complete-all-the-things type of person? Or, like me, do you find yourself wiping the kitchen bench in the morning and then thinking “Well done me! Time for a day-long break!”
I am like you with errands – I ignore all the stuff that really needs doing and do the fun errands. Like today – must get onto my banking – but it is very boring!
Am pleased you liked the gewursthaus chocolate – must pick up a block sometime as it is easy for me to get to – might make some good gifts. The other chocolates are not so easy to find but the wrappers are delightful
I’m glad to know I’m not alone in this! We need to Mary Poppins ourselves up a little, I think.
Dolfin was the brand that tested my willpower in Sydney airport – including this very variety
I love the look of ALL OF THESE. It may be the best chocolatepalooza ever, from the perspective of my taste buds.
I was wondering how you were going to work through all of your chocolate before you go (that thought wafted to me in the middle of the supermarket, as I was walking past the chocolate section – it seems you have successfully paired with chocolate in my mind). However. it sounds like that will be easy relative to the other sorts of preparations. I tend to approach those sorts of errands with lists and spreadsheets, but then I have an odd personality
I’ll definitely be doing some lists, but the idea of spreadsheets fills me with irrational (no, rational
) terror. Far, far too much like maths and science for my poor soul to cope with.
I love the look and sound of the first two but I’m still not convinced about pink peppercorn chocolate. I’ll have to try it. I love the glossiness and the darkness of the chocolate your brother sent you and I love chocolate with cherries and I’d like to try that third ingredient of chilli thrown in xx
I’ll be honest with you, I’ll still always opt for chilli chocolate over peppercorn chocolate. But I could at least stomach this Dolfin one!
I remember loving the Dolfin peppercorn bar too….. and the letter-like wrapping of chocolate bar two would instantly win me over.
Errands – I procrastinate like a true freelance writer but when I finally get my arse in gear, I’m a list writing, super efficient automaton. Nothing is more satisfying that putting lines through items on a To Do list. Especially when followed with a reward of coffee and chocolate.
Bernard Black. Now there’s a DVD series I need to watch again!
Yep, that’s my method too … a to do list is a wonderful thing. I find I actually do things when they are on a list … perhaps I need authority in my life to get things done?
I’ll write the list soooooon!
xo
See, that’s me too, but I need to figure out a way to become the automaton *before* the deadline is a whisper away!
Kath… I ate all your bees.
I’m like you with errands (more as I get older). Wonder why? Oh, perhaps it’s that you’re like me!
BTW Loved that Dolfin chocolate.
Genes are a magical thing!! I can deal with this procrastinatoriness, because you’ve also passed down several lovely traits to me
Yay! See, I do save the good chocolate for you sometimes.
I would eat up all these chocolates in a heartbeat my friend – they are thick, have delicious flavours and look too good
Can’t say much more, great review
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
It’s far too hot here for me to think about anything but chilli spaghetti and a glass of rosé. But I did enjoy the memories – I can only eat chocolate in winter. Am I a chocolate wimp?
As for gung-ho or last minute. Pluh-eeze. I don’t even clean until the guests are trundling down the driveway..
LOL Catherine … I need to have lots of guests to ensure I clean! (At least the essentials. The non-essentials struggle to get done).
Your house is always beautiful. xo
Oh, a glass of Rosé would be truly lovely right now, even though it’s not quite hot here.
High five for last-minute! I’ve always maintained that guests feel more comfortable if a place looks “cozy” and “lived-in” rather than straight out of a Vogue magazine
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it. I really like that bar – that fruity heat is perfect with chocolate, really. And the packaging, too. I haven’t had chocolate from Gerwuzhaus – must try! x
I like YOU. xoxo
I’m still laughing about you swearing you’re not a junkie. There are worse junkies to be than a chocolate junkie! I don’t think I’ve seen the Chocolove Chilies & Cherries & Dark Chocolate, but I can attest that there Cherries & Dark Chocolate is heaven!
Tangy cherries are wonderful with chocolate – much better than boring strawberries
Teehee, okay, chocolate junkie, but no other type of junkie!
Now you’ve got me craving spicy chocolate! I don’t know where I can get the others but I can at least get the Gewurzhaus one.
Yep, I finally blogged a chocolate from Australia
Hmm eating ones way through a chocolate stash sounds like a fun errand to me
I used to rather like running errands – although it is a lot harder now that I have a 4 month old sidekick by my side!
Oh, I’m so envious that you even liked doing errands once upon a time! You’ll get back to that
I’m much better at making lists of things to do than I am at doing the things on said lists. I’ll even write something on my to-do list that I just did so that I can strike it off and feel accomplished. I don’t know why I can’t feel accomplished without checking an item off a list. There’s just such a completeness in it, like a little “task orgasm.” What a very weird thought that was to have.
You and my mum are the same in terms of writing lists, but I think you and I are similar in terms of just wanting to tick things off. I’m very likely to write a list with things like “get out of bed!”, “eat breakfast!”, and “shower!” just so I can feel accomplished.
Task orgasm. I need more of those, I think.
A Black Books reference?! My dear, you are so many types of awesome
I am definitely the type who thinks that wiping the kitchen bench is worthy of celebration, much to my husband’s chagrin … he keeps waiting for my mother’s ‘cleaning genes’ to kick in (both she and he are at the other extreme, almost OCD when it comes to cleaning), I keep telling him it ain’t gonna happen!
“What is it, magic popcorn? Does it produce some kind of dizzying high?”
Bahaha! Just remind him that it’s far better that you’re both not the same way, otherwise you’d have arguments all the time about who “gets” to clean the shower this week!
I am convinced there’s a special place in hell for errands. That said, I do not mind food-related errands one bit.
Bahaha, that’s the only errand I love – grocery shopping! Why can’t all shopping be as delicious?
This is reminding me how much I love spicy chocolate.
Spicy chocolate and salty chocolate. Those are my two winners
Okay. Only since it is coming from you – I might try the pink peppercorn bar. I had such trauma for me and one of my kids from the Amalfi bar that I’d sort of sworn it off forever.
Ah, you hated the Amalfi one too? Thank heavens I’m not alone! In truth, if you really didn’t like it, then perhaps stick with chilli chocolate? There’s definitely still the pepper taste here.
That picture of the chocolove looks a bit like bosoms. I am imagining them all frocked up in some fancy-beautiful corseted gown. Ohhh, it’s only Monday. Why is my brain already acting like this?
Bosomed chocolate! Corsetted chocolate! Love it. In fact, if I ever start a chocolate company, I might call it Bebosomed Chocolate. I’m not sure why I added the “be” there. It just works in my head.
Ooh, I’ve been meaning to go to Gewűrzhaus but haven’t found the time to.
I actually like doing errands. The actual process of running errands itself isn’t fun but the post-errand reward (i.e. treating myself to a nice meal somewhere or going shopping) is what makes it all the more fun for me
See, that’s my problem. I have no willpower; I always end up giving myself the treat without doing any errands first.
I am good at errands only if I have a car. Otherwise they pile up on me and weigh down on me. Arrrgh just thinking about them stresses me out!
And then I think about this chocolate and I’m happy
It’s the Spay Lady way.
I like Dolfin, I like pink peppercorn in chocolate, I’m glad Dolfin has brought you pink peppercorn in chocolate joy.
I also like errands. I like spreadsheets. I like mathematics and statistics and managing monies and all those things that strike fear into your heart. Errands are something to do, at least…
I love the z in the Gewűrzhaus font. Such pretty packaging! Fear is struck into my own heart to hear that you threw the wrapper away:(
I’d rather Dolfin brought me you in chocolate joy, but I’ll take what I can get.
Can you make my spreadsheet for me? Please? Maybe if you do that, the tasks themselves will seem manageable.
I’ve had to throw the wrappers away. I was collecting all my wrappers for some vague-eventual-craft project, but a) I have not a single artistic bone in my body, and b) Mum will absolutely not let chocolate wrappers be included in what I’m allowed to store at their place in the near future
We have plans to one day cover an entire kitchen wall with the chocolate wrappers. I think I’d like to shellac them in place. It’s going to be super jolie!
Hell yeah I’ll make your spreadsheet for you;) And let’s work with Dolfin to bring me to you in chocolate joy. Because that sounds overly abstract and exciting. Especially knowing that I could just get on a bus and come meet you somewhere starting soon.
fingerscrossedfingerscrossedfingerscrossed
I totally despise having to do errands as well…just doesn’t seem motivating! After each errand, there just seems to be more and more…it’s never ending.
Eating chocolate on the other hand is sooo relaxing. I always keep a stash handy, but they’re no where near as good as what your chocolates look like! I especially like the sounds of the cherry one.
Errands are like rabbits: they multiply.
Teehee, I never had less than 20-30 blocks of chocolate on hand. I think it qualifies as a “hoard” rather than a “stash”.
Ok, so I check-out of the internets for ONE WEEK and suddenly you’re moving to my homeland?? Well, this is new and hugely exciting! Will you continue this blog as you travel? I’m very very pleased for you… my husband and I took a similar leap a year ago (quit our jobs, booked plane tickets and just threw caution to the wind) and it was the best decision we ever made. There’s no better feeling than being out in the world. Wishing you lots and lots of luck and laughter!
Teehee, thank you! Your happiness and excitement, and even more the fact that you, too, have taken such a leap and had such wonderful adventures as a result, help buoy my spirits and strengthen my heart. Hurrah!
This reminds me I need to make a trip to Gewűrzhaus. Perhaps once I’ve paid off the new couch I can treat myself to gourmet food
Golly, I feel like half of the comment on this post are Melbourne-folk proclaiming that they shall go to Gewűrzhaus soon! I has envy indeed.
Dolfin chocolate is amazing! The sea salt one is one of my favourites! I really would like to try the peppercorn after reading your review here! love your blog bc i am in loooove with chocolate
Oooh, and now I want to try the sea salt one! Thank you for your lovely words
We chocolate fiends must stick together!
Great big gallivant- that does sound exciting, I suspect I’m getting closer. I’m really not sure on the pink peppercorn with chocolate thing- and indeed I had some yesterday. I bought some chocolates from a chocolatier in Haberfield this week, and one was an intriguingly titled spiced tahini. It was robed in white chocolate and had three pink peppercorns on top- which is way too high in the peppercorn/other stuff ratio. Still the tahini centre was quite delicious- much to my surprise.
Tahini would be SO AMAZING. And hey, that’s exciting that you liked it, considering how much your dislike peanut butter and chocolate! But I agree, as a rule peppercorns should stay in savoury dishes only.
I think that’s probably a good spot to leave the peppercorns. If I ever get to eat those again, I’d take the peppercorns off the top before eating any. I do actively love every other nut with chocolate, it’s just the peanut/chocolate combo. I don’t mind tahini as a savoury ingredient but don’t like hummus if it has too much of it and indeed have gone to making my hummus with peanut butter instead of tahini like Nigella taught me to.
Aaah, I still haven’t tried peanut butter hummus! I must admit, I can’t quite mainline tahini the way I can other nut butters, but I do like it with jam on english muffins
A friend keeps telling me I need to go to Gewurzhaus for the spices, I didn’t know they did chocolate too!
And I didn’t know they did spices!
Oh, I am definitely of the latter camp. I love all these spicy chocolates, and want them now.
That’s because we’re across-the-ocean-sisterfriends.