Chocolat
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Schokoladenmuseum: The Chocolate Museum of Cologne – Part 2
My visit to the Schokoladenmuseum – Chocolate Museum – of Cologne continued with a look at the earliest known peoples who processed and enjoyed this rich treat. Food of the Gods The Aztecs and Mayans of Mesoamerica didn’t just use cacahuatl or kakaw, as they each respectively called it, as food. For them, it also became a currency and a sacrifice to the gods. So great was its use that they developed their own stone cacao grinders. And, as I shared in Schocoladenmuseum – Part 1, these would be mimicked in the industrial age by huge, automated machines. Luxury Item In the 17th-century, Spanish invaders of South America introduced hot…
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Schokoladenmuseum: The Chocolate Museum of Cologne – Part 1
On the shore of the Rhine in the heart of Cologne, resides an attraction that is sure to delight all ages. For what was once the customs office building that served a bustling port, has now been transformed into the Schokoladenmuseum – The Chocolate Museum. A Chocolate Journey Through Time Fittingly, the architecture of the northern end of this refurbished building now resembles that of the bow of a ship. And, it also offers visitors a cacao-scented journey through the history of chocolate. I paid my first visit to Cologne this spring to visit a new friend I had made last summer while on A Rowing Tour of The Meuse.…
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Galler: A Belgian Chocolate Factory Outlet
I could smell the chocolate before we even opened the door. Its luscious scent wafted around us as we approached the entrance of the Galler Chocolatiers Factory Outlet. It gently guided us inside, we willing participants in this little shopping spree. My companions and I had just finished a week-long rowing tour of northern France and southern Belgium. And now we were being shuttled by one of their fathers to his home in Liège. Here we would spend the night before going our separate ways. But first, it was time to partake in what I gathered was somewhat of a local family tradition: chocolate shopping at the Galler factory outlet.…
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Market Day in Bruges – Chocolates
After strolling through the farmers’ market in Bruges’ Grote Markt – Market Square – then picking up a few little treasures in the lovely Home Linen, my next stop was Chocolatier Dumon. This lovely chocolate boutique is located in a beautiful, historic building tucked in just behind the restaurants of Market Square. One of its charms is that, upon entering, you immediately go down several steps to get to the main floor of the shop. Another set of steps a little further in takes you to the lower level where you will find a wide array of chocolates and other sweet treats tied up in packages with colourful bows. This…
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SOMA Chocolate-maker Extraordinaire
I was in the mood for a sweet treat earlier this week so popped in to one of my favourite Toronto chocolate shops: the award-winning SOMA Chocolatemaker. Since I was in the east end of downtown, I chose their boutique in the historic Distillery District. If you’ve never been, it is definitely a must-see while in Toronto. What was once the largest distillery in the world, is now a pedestrian-only area filled with wonderful boutiques, bars and restaurants, nestled among beautiful, Victorian-era, stone and brick, industrial buildings. It even has its own version of the Paris’ love-locks! The Distillery is a lovely place to while away a leisurely afternoon any…
