Thursday, October 30, 2008

Let's Talk Chocolate

For some strange reason, I've found myself eating a heck of a lot more chocolate than I normally do.

It's become an almost nightly ritual for me. I go find a bar that I've hidden away from the little people and then gorge myself on the closest thing to a Reece's that I can find in France. Luckily for me, Kitty brought a stash of Hershey's bars with her several trips ago so I've been able to rekindle my American love of all things covered in peanut butter.

Hubster isn't too convinced by my choice of chocolate. He thinks the Hershey's bars taste like plastic.

"Yeah, but covered in peanut butter, who cares," I reply!

I've decided to take it upon myself to find out the truth of the matter. Does European chocolate really taste that much better than American chocolate, as Hubster and others contend?

I remember the first time I had European chocolate. It was when I was about 10 and I was on vacation in Europe with my family. I think we were in Copenhagen airport when my sister and I bought one of those massive connection of triangles that make up a bar of Toblerone. She and I sat completely enthralled as we ate each triangle, slowly letting the chocolate melt in our mouths.

(It was at that point, though I didn't know it then, that I would start my life long endeavour to transport all kinds of bizarre food across the ocean, bringing joy and pleasure to my taste buds wherever I may reside.)

Chocolate. What's a woman to do?

Thinking only of the benefits of science and the world at large, I decided to retest my mock Reece's concoction with different kinds of chocolate. I started with a Milka bar. And then a Nestlé's. And then with another Hersey's.

And you know, it turns out they all taste good with peanut butter.

The most interesting thing I've discovered in my research is that Kit Kat is offered by both Hersey's and Nestlé. I guess I'm going to have to ask Kitty to bring a stash of those over so I can do a side by side comparison.

I'm currently searching for lab assistants for this test. The presumed side effects are possible weight gain, chocolate stains around mouth and fingers, and a bizarre addiction to milk. All interested parties can apply in person at the Birth Control Bed & Breakfast starting today.

All volunteers will be allowed to keep any unfinished chocolate unless I eat it first. And for the record, this test is "BYOPB." (Bring Your Own Peanut Butter.)

19 comments:

magali said...

Your study seems biased: you are only talking about milk chocolate...
We Euros are best at dark chocolate!

But I must admit that I have a craving for Mint Kit Kat, only found in the UK (and around Christmas apparently).

Do you ship samples for people not visiting in the near future?

Dig said...

HEY YOU (aka Grandma) in ENGLAND!!! Can someone send me some Mint Kit Kat that I can send to Magali?!?!?

Don't you worry, Mags. I'm on the case! ;)

Kitty said...

How do M & M's rate?

Dig said...

M & M's: Not bad on the chocolate list, but you end up getting peanut butter all over your fingers and hand. Small price to pay I suppose!

kissmekaty said...

Peanut Crunch by See's beats everything else hand's down!!!

RHB said...

Count me in. I can't believe that you have Hershey's bars from Kitty from several trips ago! I can't keep chocolate in the house for over a week. And yes, European chocolate is tons better than American. But, I think we all crave what we grew up on- so enjoy your Hersheys bars and when I get back to the States, I'll send you some Reeses!

Jenimal said...

Dig dig dig... if you are getting PB on your hands while eating the M&M's you are doing it wrong...
Take lid off jar, fill lid with M&M's (I prefer dark) take spoonful of PB and dip in the M&M's eat... no PB on fingers.. when you are done you can let the pups lick the spoon...

Sue said...

Hershey's has also now developed kisses with PB inside...yum! Our personal fav is a spoon of PB and the traditional nestle semi-sweet choc chips. By the way, I'm in on the chocolate study. Is there free airfare involved?

Kitty said...

Looks like chocolate and peanut butter are as popular as laundry racks!!

chateauview said...

Oh my! ... I had lost my password on this blog, but when it came to a discussion on chocolate i was obliged to reinitiate access.

My heart is heavy when i have to break it to you non-French (Swiss are accepted into the inner circle of real chocolate) that by the terms and definitions of scientific experiment you cannot test something that does not exist my dear Karen, thus I declare the findings void (unless of course you start to subsitute the case studies with REAL chocolate in which case I'll be round in 45'and merely delusional fantasies of a desperate craving from a pregnant woman :) Chocolate in the USA!!!??? In fact the European poicy makers are even debating that Nestle and Cadburys are allowed to call their .... "stuff" ... chocolate!

So having married a French man there are some standards one must have in life (i know marrying a french man means I dropped some) but having a discussion around "stuff" as if it is anything close to the HOLY GRAIL of truth and ecstasy of the real thing is sacriligious to my existential being (something else one discusses a lot in France) and the meaning of my life - Real Chocolate (coming in a little ahead of my kids and red wine! My kids will eventually fly the nest the chocolate will remain - on my thighs mind!). I bid you good night poor beings who are still stuck on "candy" but I thank you for not eating the real thing and keeping the production levels just right to satisfy my glutton needs. I' off now to finish my Lindt bar of Irish coffee whiskey - I have now died and am floating in heaven!

Marie deVerges said...

Karen - Austrian chocolate is very delicious especially when eating it in Austria. When pregnant for my first son, I craved vanilla frozen shakes from a specialty store a good distance from our home. Can't even remember the name of the store but the shakes were great. I also craved Strawberry drinks with chocolate ice cream from our local former drugstore. Love, Aunt Marie

Marie deVerges said...

Karen - Austrian chocolate is very delicious especially when eating it in Austria. When pregnant for my first son, I craved vanilla frozen shakes from a specialty store a good distance from our home. Can't even remember the name of the store but the shakes were great. I also craved Strawberry drinks with chocolate ice cream from our local former drugstore. Love, Aunt Marie

ckweirath said...

I'm shocked that Kelly hasn't posted anything being that she lives for chocolate.

I'm a big fan of Sue's idea of the jar of PB & chocolate chips. I've done that before.

All this talk of chocolate is very timely - I'm supposed to run in the inaugural Hot Chocolate 15K this weekend sponsored by Hersheys. I can't wait to see the goody bag!!!

Diane said...

Sue and I had some delicious hershey's with almonds after lunch today. YUM.

Sue said...

We now have a ton of Halloween Candy in this house. Do you want me to send you a pound or two??

keb623 said...

Peanut butter also tastes good when spread on a chips ahoy chocolate chip cookie and dipped in milk.

I think chocolate should be declared a food group!

Shelly said...

As a nightly chocolate addict myself, I say that European chocolate wins hands down. Anything from the USA, other than Ghiradelli, tastes like wax. Speaking of cravings, congrats on the new addition to the family!

Dig said...

Boy, just need to post about chocolate and look at all you fabulous people coming out of the woodwork!

I think I've touched a nerve! LOL

Kitty said...

And no one has mentioned Chocolate chip cookies. With or without a teaspoon or two of peanut butter added to the batter. (Oh yes, the batter...) Anyway, keep this secret. Don't let the Europeans know. . .!!