How do you feel about chocolate? I’m a bigger fan of cinnamon. It’s not that I’d turn a piece of chocolate cake down–oh no, I wouldn’t! — but if I had my choice, it would be cinnamon and sugar. Still, I’d never been to a chocolate maker and was interested to see how chocolate was made in famous Modica, Sicily, known for its delicious chocolates. And, there would be a “chocolate tasting.” I mean, who could turn that down?
Where we went
When a place is written up in the New York Times, you know it has to be at least somewhat interesting. No guarantee, of course. Not that I’m cynical or anything.
But when we entered and saw all these pieces of flavored chocolate, it got our attention.
In preparation for stepping into the kitchen, we had to suit up. (Both my husband and my gay husband are in this photo. They’re the guys smiling, does that help?)
A lovely, long table to work on.
Sure enough, chocolate was poured.
After this step it got shaped.
But while this was going on, here is what REALLY got our attention:
A cake was being made.
But not just any cake. Look at all those pistachios!
A lot of kiwi peeling was going on.
Some careful slicing. Artistic.
The creation began to take shape.
And there it was, in all its glory. I mean, elaborate glory.
To be honest, hardly anyone was watching the chocolate guy, because we were all riveted on the cake.
But I cannot tell a lie. We did taste this lovely chocolate and some people even bought some.
It was so damn hot I figured it would all melt, so I wasn’t one of them.
Perhaps you’d like to hear part of the guide’s talk? And see a big friggin’ chunk o’ cocoa? If so, CLICK HERE.
Oh my word that cake looks amazing! I’ve got a similar cake cued up with pistachios on the sides like that too. Can’t wait to make it now! Thanks for sharing!
I feel pretty strongly about chocolate. So strongly in fact, that I am actually sitting here in my office reading this with a chocolate scented candle burning. I had smell-a-vision for this post!
A friend of mine went on a chocolate tasting excursion throughout Manhattan. She said that
after she ate so much good chocolate, she could never again enjoy a Hershey bar. Tasted like
wax. And no, I’m not burning a Hershey bar in my office. 😉
Can I be your girlfriend husband for the next trip? A knockout cake. And as for chocolate, having lived for 7 years in Paris, I know what real chocolate tastes like and the Mars bars are not it.
What a very cool experience! And that cake is gorgeous beyond gorgeous. I think I’d be the oddball watching the chocolate-maker though.
Chocolate is our family’s passionate favorite. When oldest daughter was in high school, she did a month-long internship at Sharffen Berger. Learned to make ganache in Alice Medrich’s kitchen from Alice and John S. When she finished her internship, they gave her a HUGE box of all kinds of their chocolate…about $400 worth! We ate, drank, and baked with Scharffen Berger chocolate for a few years.
If I were to attend a chocolate tasting excursion I would think I was in heaven. I totally love chocolate and believe it is one of the main food groups. I love the photos of your post. They are totally inviting. I live close to Hershey PA and anytime I go there I am enchanted by the smell in the air and the fact that the lamp posts are “chocolate kisses.” I would love to go to Sicily and go on a chocolate tasting experience – thank you for bringing me as close as I am going to get.
Shout out to cinnamon here! In Chicago there’s a place called the Spice House that does cinnamon tastings. Kate and I went and it changed our lives. Well, maybe not our lives, but I was delighted to taste the differences between the different types of cinnamon. Add it to your travel list. http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices-by-category/cinnamon
Salty is more my weakness — but that chocolate looks amazing. And so did that cake with the pistachios. Now I could make myself sick eating too many of of those. Love nuts. Fattening ones.
That looked like a lovely evening. Glad you shared.
What fun! I would rather participate in this kind of tasting adventure than go wine tasting any day! And this from someone who calls herself Ms Barstool! Thanks for sharing your lovely travel memories. It’s been fun reading about them. And now, for some reason, I need some chocolate…
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Carol, one year we went to that big Chocolate show in Perugia! Now THAT was fun!
Yums!
Oh my word that cake looks amazing! I’ve got a similar cake cued up with pistachios on the sides like that too. Can’t wait to make it now! Thanks for sharing!
They’re big in Sicilia!
Like you, I’m fond of chocolate but wouldn’t necessarily kill for it…but that cake! How glorious!
Fun to watch the process….
Nothing could have made me happier than waking up just now and seeing that sign! As a chocoholic, this is like a dream come true 🙂
I’m all for good health!
This would be my favorite part of the trip…love chocolate…and I want to post the sign in my kitchen!!
And you should!
I feel pretty strongly about chocolate. So strongly in fact, that I am actually sitting here in my office reading this with a chocolate scented candle burning. I had smell-a-vision for this post!
A friend of mine went on a chocolate tasting excursion throughout Manhattan. She said that
after she ate so much good chocolate, she could never again enjoy a Hershey bar. Tasted like
wax. And no, I’m not burning a Hershey bar in my office. 😉
Crack me up, will ya? LOL
This looks like my kind of adventure Carol. I’ve always LOVED chocolate!!!
We need some skinny chocolate!
Can I be your girlfriend husband for the next trip? A knockout cake. And as for chocolate, having lived for 7 years in Paris, I know what real chocolate tastes like and the Mars bars are not it.
No but there IS a place for the Milky Way…just sayin’.
Oh, man! I wondered if you would get to a chocolate tasting! Heaven on earth!!!
It was cool.
I’m not a huge fan of chocolate either. I like my snacks saltier but every now and then I have to have a little. This looks like great fun!
Fun to watch!
What a very cool experience! And that cake is gorgeous beyond gorgeous. I think I’d be the oddball watching the chocolate-maker though.
Chocolate is our family’s passionate favorite. When oldest daughter was in high school, she did a month-long internship at Sharffen Berger. Learned to make ganache in Alice Medrich’s kitchen from Alice and John S. When she finished her internship, they gave her a HUGE box of all kinds of their chocolate…about $400 worth! We ate, drank, and baked with Scharffen Berger chocolate for a few years.
I’m afraid I would have consumed it in days.
If I were to attend a chocolate tasting excursion I would think I was in heaven. I totally love chocolate and believe it is one of the main food groups. I love the photos of your post. They are totally inviting. I live close to Hershey PA and anytime I go there I am enchanted by the smell in the air and the fact that the lamp posts are “chocolate kisses.” I would love to go to Sicily and go on a chocolate tasting experience – thank you for bringing me as close as I am going to get.
Ya never know…
Wow. That’s one amazing cake. But I’m such a choco-holic I wouldn’t have been able to take my eyes off of that long table!
I coveted the work space.
Amazing…
And I REALLY REALLY want some chocolate now.
I’ll bet you do!
Shout out to cinnamon here! In Chicago there’s a place called the Spice House that does cinnamon tastings. Kate and I went and it changed our lives. Well, maybe not our lives, but I was delighted to taste the differences between the different types of cinnamon. Add it to your travel list. http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices-by-category/cinnamon
Oh I want to go there.
That cake…. I am drooling. Your video of the chocolate tour was very cool and yes, what a chunk of chocolate.
I’m not sure the cake tasted as good as the process looked….at least not to my taste.
Salty is more my weakness — but that chocolate looks amazing. And so did that cake with the pistachios. Now I could make myself sick eating too many of of those. Love nuts. Fattening ones.
That looked like a lovely evening. Glad you shared.
I like salt, too.
Cake and chocolate watching and sampling, there is nothing not to like!
That’s true of Sicily as a whole!
What fun! I would rather participate in this kind of tasting adventure than go wine tasting any day! And this from someone who calls herself Ms Barstool! Thanks for sharing your lovely travel memories. It’s been fun reading about them. And now, for some reason, I need some chocolate…
Call me odd, but I’m not a big fan of chocolate. Now cheese, that’s another story.
What a work of art! And a great experience.
im a recovering chocoholic so I love that kind of tasting. The cake looks delish, too!
I super duper wish I’d been on this part of the tour with you! Thanks for the vicariousness.