CHOCOLATE ...
For the past 16 days I have either been away from home or had house guests.
It is always a bit of an adjustment when they first get here and then, just as I start to relax and enjoy myself, they all leave ...
Today I face an empty house.
Jessica & Aidan were here visiting the first week (they drove down the same day as Mike & I came back home after our short visit to Canada.
We were so busy having fun the entire week they were here.
If Aidan doesn't look real happy it's probably because he wasn't.
It was early, cold & he was the only little kid on the tour.
Once we got him pumped full of chocolate he started enjoying himself ...
First we went on a 'Chocolate Indulgence Tour' of Seattle. Jessica found this company, Savor Seattle Food Tours on line and they were great.
Jessica, Aidan & I went on the tour and here is some of what we saw and sampled along the way ...
First stop: A Chocolate Cocktail ...
At Oliver's Lounge, located in the Mayflower Hotel, we were treated to a yummy combination of coffee liquor, dark chocolate liquor, and rum.
Although Prohibition was abolished in 1933, some states enforced “Blue Laws” that prohibited certain aspects of alcohol sale and distribution. Until 1976, Seattle enforced a Blue Law that stated that lounges could not be viewed from the outside to avoid tempting passers by with the sight of bartenders mixing drinks. Oliver’s Lounge in the Seattle Mayflower Hotel became the first “Daylight Bar” and featured floor-to-ceiling windows that displayed the lounge activities to the street.
We were definitely warmed up & ready to go…
Dark Hot Chocolate
Aidan was treated to a thick & creamy dark hot chocolate to warm him up ...
Yum!
Next, Triple Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie from the Dahlia Bakery.
The Dahlia Lounge, Dahlia Bakery, Lola and the Serious Pie are all Eateries own by Tom Douglas, a famous Seattle Chef & Restaurateur.
I have seen both Serious Pie (Pizzeria) and Lola (Mediterranean / African Food) featured on the Food Network.
Aidan & Nana
The morning of the tour was sunny but COLD & breezy.
I ended up going to Old Navy and buy the long sleeved blue t-shirt that you in this picture.
Aidan wore his hat up most of the walking tour.
Tour Group
We then wandered over to the Chocolate Box.
There were about 16 people on our tour.
You can see Aidan & I up at the front in the corner.
Thankfully, even though it was cold - it did not rain.
The Chocolate Box: Where all things Chocolate converge ...
And, I.mean.all.things.chocolate!!
I bought Mike a Mo's Chocolate Bacon Bar. It consisted of dark, dark chocolate and real bacon bits!
It tasted surprising good proving the old adage that 'EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER WITH BACON ON IT"
The Chocolate Box had just about anything & everything chocolate.
Next, we visited '106 Pine' which is a very, very wine shop owned & run by the folks who run the Chocolate Box right next door.
They fed us yummy chocolate cupcakey concoctions and ...
U' mm ....
Dark Chocolate & Lime Gelato.
So good.
Beyond description ...
Our Tour guide was very funny & informative.
She carried around this bright pink umbrella so we could spot her easily when we went down to the Pike Place Market.
At the market we stopped off at The Confectional for some incredible Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake following the
'Worlds Best Spiced Hot Chocolate ...
The cup may appear small but I tell you, they sure knew how to cram a WHOLE LOTTA taste and WOW into that couple of sips ...
Then it was off to the Kukuruza, Gourmet Popcorn shop.
They had many, many different kinds of 'gourmet' popcorn but in the end - I think I still like regular old movie theater popcorn the best.
Next we visited Frans Chocolates.
Very upscale, Very Chic chocolates.
By the time we hit Fran's we were all on Chocolate Overload (yes, it's possible) and so we each carted home a bag of yummy chocolates for later.
The tour cost $44.95/person (including Aidan).
Was it worth it?
Absolutely!!!
We had fun, ate some incredible chocolate, and had a great time! Well worth the money.
Tomorrow ... Day Two, Painting!
Now go Eat Your Chocolate!
N