My Love for Chocolate

Thanks to my bestfriend who knows my love for chocolate, I now have a new addition to my library: Scharffen Berger's The Essence of Chocolate.



It actually talked about how Scharffen Berger started. Reading it made me appreciate their products even more. I had some free time last week and experimented with one of their recipes: chocolate sorbet. The finished product was so smooth in the mouth that it tasted almost like a piece of frozen chocolate bar. The great thing was that it was fat-free. Yes, fat free. This will be my newest chocolate treat.

Bacchanalia

Recently I had a privilege to dine at Bacchanalia, a contemporary American restaurant in Atlanta. It was truly an experience I will not forget (next to Rome's Quinzi e Gabrieli).

The entire dining experience, from beginning to the end, was truly enjoyable. It's a four-course prix-fixe menu. The chef threw in a lot of complimentary items in between the courses, like soup, pastries, cookies. We even had a complimentary peach and buttermilk smoothie. Yes, buttermilk.

Everything they served was like a taste explosion in the mouth. I would have never thought of some of the pairings. The gingersnap cookie paired well with the peach buttermilk smoothie. Poached pears went well with my flan.

The timing of each course was perfect. We didn't have to wait too long nor did it feel like we were rushed. Portions were just right. We ate enough to savor each course without feeling stuffed. Service was excellent. Even though it was a dressy restaurant, it did not feel "stuffy" inside. The ambiance was on the casual, laid-back side.

I'd definitely try to hit this place again... maybe when I get a bonus. :)

1198 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, Georgia
404.365.0410