Thoughts, Tips 'n Travel: Chocolate

Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts

Saturday, 14 February 2015

News and Tips #6 - Valentine's Edition - February 14, 2015

February 14, 2015
Valentine's Day Edition

In this issue:
1. Bite into the best cruises for chocolate lovers
2. Find romance in Venice: Aman Canal Grande (and beyond) - Smith Travel Blog
3. Dos and Don'ts on La Saint-Valentin in France - Comme une francaise (video)
4. 10 Most Romantic Cities in Europe - The Tourist of Life
5. Valentine's Day proposals - Will you marry me? - WestJet (video)
6. Top Spots for Romance this Valentine's Day - Johnny Jet

Bite into the best cruises for chocolate - USA Today

Chocolate lovers may have their appetites satisfied on cruise ships - whether their tastes run to rich truffles, melting cakes of 'loaded' chocolate drinks.

Many lines offer you a nighttime chocolate on your pillow and feature chocolate desserts nightly on dining room menus. If you want more you can pre-order a round of chocolate strawberries delivered to you cabin (a nice romantic gesture).
Read more...

Find romance in Venice: Aman Canal Grande (and beyond) - Smith Travel Blog

Want to impress your beloved? We mean squeals of delight, adoring looks, maybe even a few delight tears? To get the desired effect whisk them away to Aman Canal Grande in Venice (George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin's jaw-dropping wedding venue) and then to some of Venice's most romantic spots. Housed in a 16th-century palazzo, this poised Venetian escape epitomizes La Serenissima's seductive charms...
Read more...

Dos and Don'ts on La Saint-Valentin in France - Comme une francaise - (video)

10 Most Romantic Cities in Europe - The Tourist Life

My idea of a romantic city is small, cosy, lots of music, lots of places to eat romantically, to be able to wander and be amazed and to find the peace you can't find at home. It was hard to create this list as Europe has so many romantic cities that measured up to this criteria. But after a couple of hours I finally figured it out. Here is my top 10 of romantic cities in Europe.
Read more...

Valentine's Day proposals - Will you marry me? WestJet (video)

Top Spots for Romance This Valentine's Day - Johnny Jet

Bring on the romance! While couples are getting close today on Valentine's Day, they are apparently getting closer in New York and Cancun.
There's a new survey out by Allianz Global Assistance ranking the U.S. Valentine's Day destinations with New York stealing the number one spot followed by Las Vegas and Chicago, respectively. Other U.S. destinations ranking in the top 10 were San Francisco, Seattle,...

Chocolate has been around for centuries. In Mayan and Aztec societies it was a luxury used in a drink, and was so highly valued it was considered a form of legal tender. The Aztecs viewed chocolate as a source of spiritual wisdom, energy and increased sexual ability.

From the Americas, the appreciation of chocolate spread to Europe. Chocolate house started to become social centers. It was recognized to have medicinal value and was concocted with various herbs and plants to fight various ailments. In the 1800s doctors used chocolate to cure a broken heart.

In its beginning chocolate was consumed as a beverage. In the 1800's many things happened to increase the popularity of chocolate. Mass production, and increased access to sugar made chocolate more affordable. The idea of an edible chocolate came about mid-century by adding melted cocoa butter to the chocolate liquid. John Cadbury, the English chocolate maker, whose company is known for its cream filled Easter eggs came up with the idea of an putting chocolate candies in a heart shaped box for Valentines.

The various forms of chocolate has expanded around the world since that time.

Here are some chocolate treats from around the world....

Chokludboll (Sweden)

Bhan Choc Bot Nep

(Vietnam)

-chocolate sticky

rice cake

Lamingtons (Australia)
-a sponge cake covered in chocolate
and then coconut

Brigadiero (Brazil)
-a chocolate
treat

Chocolate halwa (India)
-yes, there is a chocolate version of this
Indian dessert

Chocolate baklava
(Turkey)
-often thought to be
a Greek pastry
baklava is Turkish
in origin

And to chase it all down.....

Mexican hot chocolate (Mexico)
-the Aztecs used to add chilies to theirs,
cayenne will do the trick

And for something a 'little something extra'...

Bailey's Hot Chocolate
(Ireland)

ENJOY!

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

Chocolate Make the World Go Round

Today is Chocolate Covered Anything Day. Here are some chocolate covered 'anythings' from around the world....