Vermont Shortbread Company Prez Visits the Vermont Chocolate Show

Wow, five days have passed since I visited the Vermont Chocolate Show at the Stoweflake in Stowe.  The past week has been a whirlwind of amazing tasting experiences for me as I flitter across the state visiting the restaurants that will be featured in my advertorial for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.  The eating part has been a challenge (I'm full!), but the chatting and hearing people's stories never gets old for me.   Food people are my kind of people: full of sensuality, passion, and purpose.  Since my life's purpose is "to observe and record", this freelance assignment is my dream gig. 

Now, on to the chocolate show.   Hmmm...do I start with the Gorgonzola truffle (its perfect salty sweetness topped with a walnut blew away my preconceived notion about the cheese and chocolate combo being utter sacrilege) or the chocolate martini made with Vermont Sunshine Vodka?  Or chatting about seasonal berry flavors with my new pals, Patty and Gary from Island Ice Cream out of Grand Isle? 

Let's start with a photo.  I shot this one while sitting on the grass and admiring the light blue forget-me-nots and sipping my chocolate martini. 

The highlight of my afternoon was hanging out with Suzanne Podhaizer, food writer and downright lovely human being from Seven Days and listening to Steven Almond, author of Candy Freak, talk about his feelings about white chocolate and Twizzlers. He seems to feel as I do about flavored coffee. "It's just wrong," is my mantra on the flavored coffee issue.  However, I do not agree with Steve on Twizzlers and Mounds bars.  He is not fond of them and presented his feelings in that deadpan, serious, earnest way that reminds me of my brother or my copywriting and marketing pal's sense of humor: hilarious in a not-trying-hard, slightly self-effacing way.  I love that. 

I had heard Steve on an NPR interview oh...maybe a year or two ago and bought his book immediately.  Sheepishly, I have not read it yet, but after hearing him read some selections from it, I know I must pull it out and spend an afternoon enjoying a trip down candy memory lane.  It doesn't seem like a long read; just a fun one. 

Later, Suzanne and I chatted with Steve and his dad about local restaurants we love, bombarding them with our recommendations.   That's when I realized what I got out of the day.  How very lucky I am, that in this rural state, with its tiny population, there is such passion about food, so many restaurants, such a commitment to sustainable agriculture and locally grown products.  Here I was at a chocolate show on a beautiful sunny spring day, eating Gorgonzola truffles and hanging out in casual conversation with passionate, intelligent food producers and observers from all over the state.

Finally...doing what I love and doing it in a big, but quiet, pensive way, never forgetting the journey I've taken to this place in which I now revel.  The shortbread chick is a lucky girl. 

Comments

[Michael at Eddiesenergy.com]

You are right on the money. The passion for great food in Vermont is incredible. I went out to dinner with some family and friends last night down on church street and just couldn't decide where to eat because there are so many great places. We ended up eating at Bove's, and getting a free taste of a dessert soon to be on grocery store shelves--read my blog for more on that. It was awesome!

Have a good one!

Michael

[Chris]

Ann you are too funny! I feel the same way about any foofoo flavor added to my coffee!
What is the name of Steve's book? It sounds fun:)
Chris

[Dina at Wordfeeder.com]

Oh my, I want to go THERE. I would have crouched in the bush there with you.

We were at a wine tasting festival last weekend that made me think of you. I think (know) you would have enjoyed yourself. Although some of the wines, I will say, were more foo-foo than flavored coffee.

Say, where is that, Holland? ;) How are there tulips growing in June??

(Thanks for tipping your hat to my humor although now I feel pressured to say something hilarious.)

Keep posting stuff like this - it's highly enjoyable.

Dina