This morning, I stepped out into the brilliant sunshine of a gorgeous above-freezing Toronto day, paused to buy an enormous coffee so that I’d blend in with 97% of North Americans (this is one heckuva caffeinated continent), and then jumped aboard a streetcar with an episode of Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! playing on my iPod.
Upon discovering that the streetcar’s route was being arbitrarily curtailed at Bathurst St, I hopped out and switched my iPod to music, because there is nothing better on a sunny crisp morning than dancing on the street en route to signing a sublet lease for a place that, as soon as you saw it, felt so perfect within your soul that you still can’t quite believe you get to live there come January.
So that’s my life update: as of today, I have keys for not only my solo December sublet, but a house for early 2013 that I’ll share with two wondrous womenfolk and (be still my heart!) a weighted digital keyboard. It’s on a gorgeous street in one of my favourite areas of Toronto, and I dream of one day going up the stairs Mary Poppins-style.
Now let’s talk chocolate.
Green and Black’s Dark Chocolate with Crystallized Ginger Pieces
The super-observant amongst you might remember this chocolate from my snowflake post, while those who’ve known me a long time might recall that I usually screw up my nose at crystallized ginger. So why did I willingly buy this Green and Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate with Crystallized Ginger Pieces? What changed my mind?
This did:
The Ginger People’s Peanut Ginger Chews. They’re pretty much the greatest thing ever (right, Lisa? Well, next to fuyu persimmons, pomegranates, and dipping a spoon into first the peanut butter jar and then a bag of mini M&Ms). And they’re single-handedly responsible for changing my mind about crystallized ginger.
That said, I didn’t love this Green and Black’s chocolate. Despite being dark chocolate, and despite ostensibly having a hefty heat-kick from the generous helping of ginger in every bite, this was far too sweet for my tastes. Sweet in a one dimensional, throat-searing way.
I haven’t minded finishing the bar by melting it into oatmeal, though.
Theo Chocolate Salted Almond 70% Dark Chocolate
Whee, another Theo Chocolate review to add to my collection! Courtesy of the fabulous Ariana! Salted almonds! Exclamation mark!
As it’s already 9pm and I’ve got Canadialand job boards to check for new listings, I shall leave you with my original and unedited tasting notes for Theo Chocolate’s Salted Almond Dark Chocolate.
Organic. Fair Trade. First flavour notes are toffee, muscovado. Texture is thick, with a slight grain. Chocolate = subtle, mellow, enticing, salty tangy kick. Almonds PHWOAR SALTED YES THEY ARE, ooh so crispy! Super strong roasted almond flavour, almost a smokiness, gooooood.
Raspberry notes and tangy edge to the 70% chocolate, definitely red fruity acidity, bit of lemon, but not detracting from the salted nutty depth of the almonds. Which are SO CRISPY. Very salty. Not my favourite dark chocolate base, but two thumbs up for the nuts. But, really, when aren’t nuts a good thing? Exactly.
Good luck with the job search! I’m sending my job positivity your way……. NOW!
Love the little seductive ginger man. Hah, that almost makes me love ginger just by looking at it:)
I hadn’t even noticed the picture on the packet! It’s totally a peanut/ginger Lady and the Tramp moment!
(…and we caaaaaaall it Bellaaaaaa Notte!)
I love ginger in all its forms and G&B was a pretty regular go-to for me in Oz. Nowhere to be found here, unfortunately.
The salted almond block sounds ……. droolingly heavenlike.
I’ve never much liked G&B myself, I must admit, although their cherry chocolate was the first fruit chocolate I ever found myself returning to buy again… so perhaps I like them more than I realised!
Mmmmmm now I want chocolate
Congratz on a wonderful sounding sublet!
Good luck with the job search!
Thank you Janet! Hit me up if you hear of any good jobs going…
What area are you interested in, Hannah?
I’d absolutely love something in the publishing/editing/writing industry, but am also open to work such as I was doing in Australia, which was NGO/advocacy – consultations, focus groups, large-scale projects and reports, government submissions…
Forget the chocolate … A weighted digital keyboard! I do hope you give it a good workout.
I’m so excited! Though I’m definitely going to ease back into playing when the housemates are out. It’s been a while! (I wonder if I could find Reina del Cid sheet music…)
hhehehehehhee is it childish of me to be giggling at the mr ginger and ms peanut picture?
I hope that you’re doin well <3 With your determination, anything's possible for you!!!!!
Hey, it could just as easily be Ms Ginger and Mr Peanut, or Mr Ginger and Mr Peanut, you know!
And thank you. I wish I could believe that as much as you do! x
Hooray on the sublet!!
Did I tell you where it is? I think I just realised I haven’t actually emailed you back, although I wrote the email in my head days ago…
Well, thank goodness you haven’t changed *that* much – Green & Black’s not being your favourite seems entirely right
I am so thrilled you have accommodation sorted for not only this month but the next. You’ll be calling Toronto home before you know it!
Until the end of April, actually! I’ve been calling it home for weeks already
I’m behind the times. Must read back to find out why you are leaving Canberra!
Oh golly, just a little! I left Australia on the second of August! Teehee!
Nuts are always a good thing. Always. Especially salty ones
Do you have a certain South Park song in your head now too?
Yup.
Hmmm I’m not too excited about crystallized ginger either (Y U SPELLING LIKE AN AMERICAN?!) but salted almonds? Yes, please!
Ahahaha, I love that you picked up on that! My computer, despite being set to Australian English, always changes it to “z” automatically. I usually switch it back, but deliberately didn’t this time because it says “z” on the package so it’s kind of right in this case.
I do love an above freezing gorgeous Canadian day…they always made me smile, too! Amazing how as soon as it gets to 5 degrees you feel like it’s Spring in Australia! The salted almond chocolate looks great!
I would never imagine dark chocolate to be described as overly sweet but damn if you haven’t gotten me into the chocolate mood
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Well, when you think about it, Lindt Excellence is only 47%, which is the same cocoa percentage as good quality milk chocolate. “Dark” can still mean “lots and lots of sugar”!
I hope you’re going to take video of the Mary Poppins moment!
Well, I’ll have housemates, so…
Amazing and lovely and glad you have abodes sorted out. Ah the ginger-dotted chocolate. Look, if you ever need a second opinion I am here, willing and able. And quite a ginger fan. I’m drinking some now in fact, but sadly chocolate-less.
Lies! You’re not here! I wish you were (and not just so you can eat the chocolate I don’t want), though.
Well oops yes I’m not ‘here’ I’m here! But I’m mean I’m available. I’m actually sitting in a cold mountain apartment wearing a big hat xx
I’ve always wanted a big hat. The big floppy day-at-the-races kind.
There are many things that I’ve always liked about your writing and your food but now knowing that you listen to wait, wait, don’t tell me, we’re twins from different generations! Love that show.
This fills my heart with joy. Twin hug! x
Yay this post made me smile a lot! You’re rockin’ the sublet hunts – I still haven’t found one (maybe because secretly I kind of like living at home?). Ginger People candy are the greatest – have you tried the apple ones? Délicieuses.
Hey, nothing wrong with living with your parents a little longer, if they’re happy to support you and you like ‘em!
I currently have the Spicy Apple, Coffee, and Peanut Ginger Chews in my stash, but I must say I definitely prefer the peanut to the apple ones.
Salted almonds, ahuh, yes please! I luurve how you start your day with a kick ass soundtrack that would make any bootay shake their tail feather! I could literally see you doing just that ST!!!
Bahahaha! I love that you know I’m not at all joking when I say I dance in public. I also sing, walking down the street. I don’t understand people who don’t jive and jingle when good music comes on!
I love ginger chews! Or as we called them back home, ginger candy.
Always great for a sore throat!