I originally planned to write a second full Chicago post, but I’m in a chocolate mood right now. Partly because chocolate is a substance of magic and light, and partly because I have a squillion pre-travel chocolate reviews to write up and publish.
First, though, a few quick last snaps of Chicagoland.
Continuing on my frozen treats bent, I tried Forever Yogurt’s Brooklyn Cheesecake and Pink Raspberry frozen yogurt in Andersonville, which is itself a lovely area to wander around on a grey windy day.
I stocked up at Whole Foods for my trip to Cedar City, because dear heavens America is good at making candy bars that masquerade as “nutrition” bars. Clif Mojo’s Chocolate Coconut Almond bar? Oh yes. Oh a world of delicious faux-healthy sweet candy yes.
I want a garden dragon monster when I grow up.
Woot woot! My heart leaped inside my soul when I spotted this Candle Café vegan vanilla cheesecake, flecked as it was with a squillion tiny vanilla bean seeds.
To be honest, however, this Candle Café vegan cheesecake was so sweet that eating it was like being one step away from eye twitching. Perhaps my Australian tastebuds simply haven’t yet adjusted to American sugar tolerance levels? It tasted like eating hyper-sugary vanilla frosting. Has anyone else tried it?
When I entered the MAC station in one of Chicago’s Macy’s stores, all I wanted was to find new foundation. Instead, I got painted with a new face. A new face that was all the better to see The Fonz with at Salt Lake City airport, my dear…
Ayyyyy! (Not the greatest photo, I’ll admit, but I felt guilty joining the camera-wielding crowd. I will say Henry Winkler was super nice about being attacked by the throng.)
Let’s knock out a chocolate review now, yes? I’m sure The Fonz won’t mind.
Vosges Cherry Rooibos Bar
Once upon a many years ago, I went through a big Rooibos tea-drinking phase because I was reading The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Much like how reading The Baby-sitters Club as a kid used to make me want Twizzlers, even though I had no idea what Twizzlers were.
Where was I? Oh yes. Vosges Cherry Rooibos Bar with African Rooibos tea, dried Michigan cherries, and 45% deep milk chocolate.
The aroma of this chocolate was fruity and a bit tangy, but I don’t think I could have picked rooibos tea without knowing it was there. Taking a bite, the vanilla notes of the chocolate combined with the fruitiness of the dried cherries and the tea (which, according to the ingredients list, is cherry tea with hibiscus and rosehips) to make me think overwhelmingly of candy. Cherry candy.
Cherry candy, cherry spiders (or cherry floats, if you’re American), cherry ring pops (oh how I loved ring pops!), fire engine soft drinks/cocktails, creaming soda, sweet sweet sweet sweet cherry candy embedded in thick fudgy milk chocolate and a hint of tang, all wrapped up in vanilla and sugar sugar sugar.
I think Claudia Kishi would have approved.
I was just asking myself a few days ago if Henry Winkler was still alive. I guess that answers that.
Unless he was a HOLOGRAM. I didn’t touch him, so I can’t be sure.
OMG Fonz-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
AAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!
Haha you saw the Fonz. That’s cool beans
Cute makeover!
Ayyyyy! I’m sure he gets that a lot but it still wouldn’t stop me from doing it. Yum to frozen yogurt – I’m eagerly awaiting when it gets warm enough for me to grab some!
Evs bought me some Reece’s pieces today – so good, but I had one bite and it was eye-twitching territory.
I was so proud of everyone in the crowd for not saying that. If I were him, I think I’d smack anyone who did.
Peanut butter M&Ms are better than Reese’s Pieces.
(And coconut milk ice cream sandwiches are even better.)
The MAC store is my favorite!! I go in there on weekends when I’m bored and let them give me make overs.
Such a different culture in America! In Australia, I tried that once and all I got was a very cranky layer of foundation before being sent on my way. I love it here!
Ooh such a pretty face too but not a better one cause you’re already a pretty cake
I want a dragon in my garden too!!
Aw, I’m a pretty cake! I love being a pretty cake! Smoochies to my Angle Babe Garden Dragon!
Ayyyy my dad talks about Fonz, so cool that you saw him
Loving the chocolate square shots, has me wishing I wasn’t famining right now!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Babe, eat some chocolate.
Claudia Kishi was always my favourite as she used to stash (wonderful sounding) junk food everywhere. Love it. I always wanted to know what a Ding Dong was?
Ayyyyyyyyy?
I think Ding Dongs, Twinkies and Ho-Hos are much of a muchness. Claudia was too cool for me.
Please don’t tell me you were a MaryAnne fan?
Ha, Ho-Hos
I think I remember feeling most aligned with Kristy as a kid (and her bossiness), but I would rather have been like Dawn or Claudia!
Do want cheesecake-raspberry frozen yoghurt. And cherry rooibos chocolate. Want!
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have someone do your make-up every time you had to go somewhere! You do look lovely Hannah despite the sugar over-load. Ahhh, the Fonz. Happy Days was my favourite show when I was a teenager. I watched it religiously. xx
The actor folk I’m hanging with at the moment get a bit of that, I think! Thanks Charlie
My mum and I both develop an affection for rooibos tea when we read the Ladies’ Detective Agency books
In truth, though, I think I’d rather my rooibos in chocolate than in tea. This block looks lovely, as does your make up, as does your basket of goodies (at least Perth has the coconut milk component, but the rest – oh, one day!).
Does Perth have the mini coconut milk ice cream sandwiches? SO GOOD, particularly when spread with the Biscoff cookie spread
*Sob* No. I live in hope though and regularly check freezer sections of promising supermarkets!
Wow, you’re replying like a NINJA right now!
(I’m at intermission of Titus Andronicus in the Adams Theatre in Cedar City, woot!)
Well, theoretically you see, I’m working. But it’s Sunday and so the proportion of work to procrastination is not looking good! I’ll leave you to our intermission now though – I’m sure you have other people to reply to than me! I hope you’re enjoying the show
LADY HAS NO HANDS AND BLOOD EVERYWHERE WHAAAAT.
Oh dear, this reminds me of an epic fail that I had. I made a vegan cheesecake and it was gross
Can I ask what was in that? Mine was cashews and coconut oil :S
This one was tofu-based. Personally, I don’t adore the vegan cheesecakes that rely on coconut oil; I’ve had the most success using majority fruit with some coconut or nuts. What seemed wrong about yours?
I’m not sure if the coconut oil was off or not but it tasted…ok like vomit! I promise!!
Oh no, then the coconut oil must have been rancid! Vomit should definitely not be a flavouring, ugh!!!
And you recognised him? Well done.
Not sure that this chocolate is up my alley.
Absolutely! Even though I’ve never really watched Happy days. One hilarious thing was the woman next to me pushing her ten-year-old-ish children forward, saying “just tell him you know that he’s famous and you want his autograph!” Ugh! He was very good about that one, actually. He talked about some childrens books he’s written to them.
I would have been excited to see the fonz – and I think some travel photos and some chocolate adulation is perfect for a chocolate called wayfaring chocolate!
oops I mean a blog not a chocolate called wayfaring chocolate (but if you ever create your own chocolate, your blog name would be perfect too)
Teehee, I love that you even noticed that, let alone corrected yourself! Proofreaders unite!
Last night I saw a car with the license plate ‘BSC 7.’ And I got really excited and started stammering about the Babysitters Club. And then I got even more excited and started rattling off BSC member names, eventually proclaiming “there were 7! there were 7!”
I liked this Vosges bar. Aside from the yummy caramel bars, I thought this was one of the best to be well-flavored throughout and true to its name and description.
The Fonz is wearing a shirt over a shirt! He looks silly:) But nice.
Wow. You sound like a crazy person. I LOVE IT.
I was so surprised that I liked this Vosges! It was the last in my stash because I’m not usually too keen on fruity chocolates. It was a bundle of win, though.
I think The Fonz can wear whatever he wants, probably.
If I remember correctly, I identified the most with Mary Anne, but that may only be because Janine wasn’t actually a member of the club, so I guess she doesn’t count.
My best friend and I always felt like Kristy and MaryAnne… because I was quite bossy and she quite shy as kids.
I totally never got a boyfriend, did I? That speaks to rather a lot.
I/Kristy, that would be.
Shut up Hannah.
aaaaaahhh the fonz!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
I want a garden dragon as well!
The chocolate looks very good. Cherries, mmmmmm
I’m sure you’ll have one eventually.
The Fonz! I’m surprised at the youth of the people thronging around him, you wouldn’t think they’d know Happy Days any more. I like the garden dragon too. And what a pretty make up they did for you. I had a Dior makeup done in Houston last year- it was hysterical-more drag queen than pretty.
They didn’t know him, at least not the kids I saw. Their mother told them to approach him and “just tell him you know that he’s famous and you want his autograph”, which is a bit dodgy in my opinion!
Aaaah! I know what you mean! In 2009 I had a makeover at a Macy’s in DC and also looked like a drag-queen/clown.
Hi Hannah! looks like you are having a blast! I ran into Vosges chocolate in their NYC shop and I am in love! ok… is bacon… we can ignore that part for the moment. I wouldn’t pick what rooibos tea taste like.
Keep the adventure going!
The Vosges Mo’s Bacon bar was one of the first I ever tried – I think I had it four or five times during my time at UVA
Also, wheeee! So lovely to hear from you!
Ahh, I love Chicago! We are headed up that way again soon!
Sooo preeeetty! MAC does an ok job of accommodating we ladies of intense paleness. I still haven’t found a perfectly pallid makeup match though.
Bahaha, I know! No matter what make-up counter I go to, no matter whether it’s Australia or America, I always leave with the palest foundation available. Ghost ladies unite!
I saw the Fonz a few months ago just strolling around my office. Quite the trip so far!
What is the peanut butter banana chocolate bar?! Sounds divine but I dont recognize the box. I want it!!
Looks like you continue to have a wonderful time Hannah! Mac is great, I only wear their blush.
It’s the new Vosges line! Sadly I actually ended up putting that back, as I feared for its survival being trundled around in my suitcase in the heat. However, today I bought four different chocolate bars, so my logic isn’t very consistent…
I think I now have Mac foundation, bronzer, mascara, and eyeliner
oooh I just bought some of that so delicious coconut milk, zing!!! I miss American & their huge array of crazy “health” foods.
Heidi xo
Oh my gosh, it’s in Australia?? I didn’t end up buying that kind but here in Cedar City I’ve had Almond Breeze’s almond and coconut milk, which is CRAZY good!