Let's Have a Chocolate Fest!

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

Yesterday, I was a radio guest on the Donna Seebo Program. This charming host read a poem I used in my new book The Healing Powers of Chocolate. The poem is moving and she read it with conviction. It was a good moment and it touched me...

The author of the chocolate poem is geologist Jim Berkland. Thus, I called him this morning and shared the news. After all, I am his biographer for the book The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes. And, he has been a dear friend and mentor to me (a surrogate father type of figure in my life) who I've known for more than 20 years. Our bond is dogs (this was a great link between my late dad and me), cats, quake predictions, earth changes--and more--including chocolate.

I recall during a past book tour, we were en route back to Lake Tahoe from Reno's Barnes and Noble bookstore, and we both wanted to stop at The Chocolate Factory. They closed their doors one minute before we got there and did not open them to us--two devout chocolate lovers. It was their loss--we would have spent a more than less. So, I want to share his timeless chocolate-related poem with you.

Chocolate Sampler

Dark chocolate I like a lot;

Milk chocolate's too tame.

It's not like when I was a tot

And ate sweets with no shame.

Then chocolate chips could pass my lips

As fondly as a kiss;

Hot cups of cocoa in sweet sips

Produced a state of bliss.

A scuffle for a truffle would

Endanger a loss of a friend.

I ncer could eschew a chew

Or carmelic blend.

They say The Olmecs harvested the bean

And treasured it to no end.

Columbus brought it to the Queen

To start a royal trend.

The nectar would be taxed so high

The peasants could not pay

Nobility would shut their tea

For cocoa every day.

Now Single-Origin's the prize

For devotees I've heard;

The Swiss and Swedes would say likewise

Since they have gotten word.

There's Baker, Hershey, Lindt and all

Competing with the best;

I savor competition's call...

Let's have a chocolate fest!

In The Healing Powers of Chocolate, accepted by The Good Cook Book Club (I include more than 50 recipes from well-known chocolatiers, chefs, cookbook authors, and Hershey's.) Today, I made homemade fudge and used Ghirardelli chocolate chips (60% cocoa content). Instead of walnuts I chose almonds, almond extract, and European style butter, and fresh half and half organic milk. It is a spin-off of the French Silk Fudge created by the National Confectioners Association. Yes, I am happy with the different taste with fresh changes. It's made my day complete.

Today, after a to die for swim (the pool was empty) and a rejuvenating private hot tub (again), I sold a chocolate book to a chocolate lover. And, I found the complete Healing Powers series in the gift shop at the resort hotel. (It sold out before Valentine's Day.) All in all, it is a good day for a dedicated chocolatarian at heart.