Chocolat Milano

Upon entering the storefront, our eyes were drawn to the cute, wooden sign above the espresso bar. And then, as the crowd slowly inched towards the gelato bar, my eyes were filled with container upon container of gorgeous gelato. I instictively gasped and grabbed Mike's arm. He responded with wide-eyes and a nod. We knew something delicious was about to be presented to us.

Wanting to try each and every flavor, I could not make a decision for the life of me. But I finally decided on Nutella, café, and dark chocolate. Mike ordered two cafés for us as I secured a table, photographed the gelato, and admired the chandeliers. Amazing gelato, strong cafe, and a cozy storefront. Mike and I loved this place so much, we purchased our only souvenirs from Milan on our way out - two espresso cups and saucers, complete with the name of the shop and the cute cow!

Chocolat Milano

http://www.chocolatmilano.it/home_en.htm

Via Boccaccio 9

Milan, Italy

Mulled Apple Cider

A fall wind is whipping through the dark, crowded streets of Manhattan this evening. The chill makes me want to seek shelter under my puffy down comforter and stay huddled there for the remainder of the day.

But it is even more comforting to mull some apple cider on the stove top, allowing the spices to fill the apartment with their familiar, homey scent. Twenty minutes later, I can wrap my hands around the mug containing the fragrant, warm liquid.

One sip and I am warmed down to my tippy toes.

Pasticceria Marchesi

Pasticceria Marchesi, one of the oldest pastry shops in Milan, was among our best finds while in Italy. Each morning, Mike and I elbowed our way up to the small, packed espresso bar.

I loved starting the day with a smooth cappuccino, while Mike preferred a strong café. But we both thoroughly enjoyed the flaky, buttery cornettos, brushed with a barely sweet glaze.



The interior of the shop is a dream for any lover of sweets.  Old-fashioned shelves house jars and jars of candy, while dark wood display cases encase hundreds of perfectly prepared pastries.



Outside the shop, the display windows are equally as beautiful.  The treats are showcased for only one day, as each morning we returned to fresh pastries and new window designs.



So, if you find yourself in Milan, be sure to stop by Pasticceria Marchesi for a sweet start to your day.



Pasticceria Marchesi
http://www.pasticceriamarchesi.it/
Via Santa Maria alla Porta 11A
Milan, Italy 20123

Home Again

After ten lovely, relaxing days spent in Milan and Barcelona, Mike and I returned to our sweet, little apartment nestled snugly among the Manhattan skyline.

Our vacation provided days filled to the brim with breathtaking architecture, long walks fueled by our morning cafés, delicious food, creamy gelato, and many, many bottles of wine.

I have so many photos, restaurants, and recipe ideas to share with you all from my trip.  But I will take today to readjust myself to the time zone, sort and begin editing over 2,100 photos, and laze about with an endless supply of coffee and soak in this last day.

Mast Brothers Chocolate

A few weeks ago, I ventured to Brooklyn with Mike and our friend Victoria to finally tour the Mast Brothers Chocolate factory.

I have wanted to take the tour for quite some time now, but it kept getting placed on the back burner for a variety of reasons.

As soon as we turned the corner to North 3rd Street, the overwhelming smell of chocolate consumed our nostrils.  

A few moments later we would discover the specific source of the smell - they were roasting cacao beans right in their tiny storefront!

At every opening of the convection oven door, a thick cloud of steam rose into the customers and danced its way out the open front door to the city streets.

Right next to this intoxicating aroma, employees were busy hand wrapping each chocolate bar in its very own gold wrapper.

You just can't help but think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

After learning a bit about the company and the current five locations from where they source their cacao beans, we were allowed to peek into the back room and try a handful of unhusked, unroased cacao beans.

There were machines which separated and organized the beans into nibs and husks...

...machines which ground the nibs into chocolate and more machines which tempered the chocolate into a silky, smooth existence.

Finally, for the best part of the entire tour - the taste testing!

We tried a tiny square of each chocolate base.  It was truly amazing to taste the differences in each little piece.

Afterwards, we made our way to the retail counter to taste each of the chocolates containing add-ins.  My hands-down favorite?  Fleur de Sel.

So, if you find yourself in Brooklyn and the strong scent of roasting cacao beans happens to blow your way, follow it to Mast Brothers Chocolate

Don't forget your free husk!

Mast Brothers Chocolate

http://www.mastbrotherschocolate.com/

105 North 3rd Street

Brooklyn, NY 11211-3927

(718) 388-2625