Chocolate, with Bacon

Sounds strange, right? I thought so, too, but a still, small voice, located somewhere between my brain and my stomach reassured me, and goaded me into trying it. "How could it be bad?", it said confidently, with a small rumbling of hunger to accent its point. "After all, accidental syrup spills onto your breakfast bacon just make a good thing better. How different are syrup and chocolate?"

I couldn't argue. Sweet and savory often make a great combination. I'm not an over-the-top chocolate fan generally, but I like it. And I love bacon. Baconing up anything sounds like a good idea to me. So I tried an eight dollar bar of gourmet medium dark chocolate with bacon pieces scattered throughout.

It was proof that you could add bacon to drywall spackle and have a hit at the Aspen Food and Wine Festival. Bacon illuminates everything good in chocolate. The salty complements the sweet on a basic level, and the smokey notes of meat cradle nicely in the bittersweet dark of the chocolate. It was easily the best (and most expensive) chunk of chocolate I've ever eaten, and I'd recommend it to any chocolate lover. The manufacturer of the bar I had was Vosges Haut-Chocolat. From what I can gather, they removed the "e" in order to make room for the bacon. I'd be more than happy to eat Chocol if it meant even more bacon in the mix.

Ummm...Chocolacon. How about these beautiful looking desserts?

Chocolate, my way.

I'm not your typical chocolate lover, I'm more particular about the kinds of chocolate I desire. I'm not a big fan of dark or bitter chocolate. I like milk chocolate and prefer something like nuts or caramel added to it. I know all the chocolate lovers hate me now, how can anyone be so picky about chocolate?! I do love it and crave it as much as the next person, but I just crave it a certain way, I just like what I like. Last night I was craving a Butterfinger on the way to the 711. And for the first time I got a bar and did not even let Jason see it as I eat the whole thing up. I horded the Butterfinger, my desire was that strong.


I feel everyone should try out a gourmet chocolate bar every once in a while, they have different selects in the candy isle at the grocery store and at some upscale grocery stores, like Eddies, they have even more selections. They are so amazing! I also love truffles and fudge in small doses.

A Meal to Die For

Jason's entry only focused on one aspect of Victoria's Gastro Pub of Columbia, while I can't help but add how every bit of the meal last night was extraordinary. They really out do themselves there, every aspect of the meal was eloquently plated with mouth watering uniqueness. We met Jason's childhood friend Eric there, and let's just say the meal was on him and no expenses were spared. Everyone needs this kind of meal at least once a year. We had four appetizers and yes the duck fat fries covered in gravy and cheese were the best! The mussels and asparagus fries were up there too.

We each had our own beer sampler, they have hundreds of beers on tap so the sampler was the way to go. Each of us got a different sampler which consisted of five small glasses. I got "The Lighter Side" selection and they were all amazing. Now next time I go there I'll know which beers I love.

We then ordered three entries. We eat and drank slowly as we had great conversations, so the ability to keep eating rolled along smoothly, which is strange for me since I usually get full pretty quickly. I got the grilled lamb with cilantro yogurt cous cous and the boys each got the flat iron steak with sausage glaze served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. Their meal was outstanding and my lamb was not too shabby.

We even got desert, I guess when the food is this good you can't help be devourer it. We shared a praline chocolate layered cake and a fancy bread pudding. Both were very good. The whole meal really ranks up there with one of my top meals ever, I highly recommend Victoria's Gastro Pub.

http://www.victoriagastropub.com/