What A Birthday- a suprise 40th party!

Well, my beautiful wife does it again!! I love you Amy!

I love my family and I love chocolate.
Happy Birthday to me!

I really don't like surprises and birthdays are only terrific if you consider they are a natural excuse to eat more chocolate cake.


What I never expected was a Chocolate Themed Surprise Party that would be the feature in a national magazine!! I think all of my family and friends were just as surprised and we all were delighted when munching on "everything" chocolate from all over the world.

Rosie hired designers and decorators and chefs to make it the best of birthdays- chocolate style.

Thanks also to Heidi and Rosie for a grEAT night!!

Greatest Dessert Restaurant- Finale in Boston

Finale Dessert Company Boston
When I was in college, I wrote a business plan on creating a national chain of dessert restaurants. For over 20 years I have traveled the world searching for someplace that may be close to that dream. Now, I have finally found this place in Boston's famed Back Bay. Finale is a true gourmet dessert restaurant that lets you watch the pastry chef finish amazing desserts right in front of you. Get the Molten Chocolate Cake, it looks beautiful and tastes great.
Hats off to Paul Conforti and Kim Moore for having the same idea I did ( they created their plan at the Harvard Busines School) and for actually pulling it off! BRAVO!

A Great Cookie- The Tim Tam

I do like the name, Tim Tam, and really love this great product.
http://www.arnotts.com
Australia’s favorite chocolate biscuit. Tim Tams have two light crisp chocolate biscuits, sandwiched together with a chocolate cream center and smothered in milk chocolate.
An associate of mine brought a bag back for me from her native Australia. At the time, I had to find an Australian importer to get more. Now the manufacturer can send them to you direct via their web site.

(Update 2/2005): I recently found Tim Tams at a movie theater in Dallas, if you can believe it- much easier to source now

(Update 11/2010): Now available from Pepperidge Farm at Target stores, October through March- see 11/25/10 blog.

Greatest of All Time - XOX Caramel Truffle

XOX Truffles

I had my first XOX "Oh-My-Gosh" Caramel Truffles at this great little chocolate store off of Washington Square in SF. And these are unbelievable...

Chef Jean-Marc Gorce and Casimira Tobilla have created this small oasis for truffles and it is truly inspiring. Well worth a walk- this is an absolute must if you are in the Bay Area.