DOVE TAKE ME AWAY

Anyone, and I mean anyone, who knows me, at all, knows that I am a choco-holic.  I could be the poster child for any nearly all chocolate companies. [Although, quite frankly, I not particularly fond of the crunchy ball that comes out in December for the holidays. I forget what those are called.  Rochet?] It's my only vice and I will never give it up.  I will be that 'cheater-eater' even with regards to good health.

Upon walking in the door of the offices of a new project the first and only request that comes from me is to keep my top left hand drawer stocked with dove chocolates.  Milk or dark; it doesn't matter, as long as there is a piece for me to pop into my mouth to keep my inner tranquility and my co-workers'. Depending on the circumstances at hand I could easily pop 2-3 pieces, one after another, into my mouth.  The craft service person and I become instant friends!

I have to say that wherever my travels lead me the search for the best chocolate around always takes precedence. Several years ago while working in Paris I had the pleasure of tasting the best hot chocolate EVER at Angelina's on rue de Rivoli.  And, I will say, it is the best.  The last time I was there and overindulged with a *croque monsieur and a chocolate chaud I couldn't leave without buying a bag of the chocolate mix to make at home. Being able to duplicate this flavorful delight made me so happy that it didn't matter how ridiculous the cost for just the one bag.  However, to my dismay, the 'making it at home' ritual did not prove possible for duplication. It is good, but not the same.  The flavor, presentation and atmosphere from the cafe are definitely needed to complete the experience. [*croque monsieur is the best ham and cheese sandwich made on the planet.]

At home, I have hidden stashes of dove chocolates in places that even I don't remember.  I feel the need to do this because I have offspring who also indulge the dove chocolates and/or m&m's.  There is Hershey's syrup for my coffee, Ben & Jerry's Phish food in the freezer and again, dove milk chocolate and m&m's.  AND, in case of extreme emergency, I can nibble a few semi-sweet chocolate bits from the bag that is on hand in case I need to make cookies; eating the batter only, of course.  I mail the actual cookies to everyone else to curb their stress.  Those cookies, btw, are affectionately called, "stress cookies,"
and have traveled internationally.

There you go....I'm all set.  And, right now, I am eating Oreo's.  Let's not go there.