Perugia and Chocolate Kisses

"What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate." -
                                                                                                        Katherine Hepburn


                                                                                                                
I love chocolate.
Let me start with that. Dark chocolate to be exact. I eat milk chocolate if I happen to be faint from chocolate deprivation.
Kind of like a chocolate dehydration.
Someone once said, “Forget love; I’d rather fall in chocolate!”
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I can understand the sentiments. Good dark chocolate rarely disappoints. 
Chocolate is one of those foods that allow a collection of sensations to trigger our pleasure. The sight, the velvety texture, the intense aroma and unforgettable taste of great chocolate connects at all levels. And while we are on the subject of the senses and relationships,here's a tip on romance.  I'm saving you 80 dollars at the therapist's office. Give the person in your life a little chocolate and you are giving them a little love. Eat it together. Just for the love of it. Pair it with a little wine. Hey, make life good.

In May, we took a trip of a lifetime by traveling to see Italy. Among our must see cities to visit was Perugia. What a hidden treasure Perugia is with its Roman history, one of the oldest universities in Europe, spectacular cathedrals and unsurpassed regional cuisine. Oh yeah, and it’s chocolate.
Chocolate is such a big thing there in fact that the city hosts an annual chocolate festival called Eurochocolate.
We have a good friend that lives there and a few years ago, she introduced us to Perugina chocolate.
I will write more about Perugia and our friends there in my next blog post.
Since the Perugina Chocolate Company was formed in 1907, their chocolate has become known around the world. Unwrap one of their dark chocolate bars and savor the rich aroma. Bite into the bar and experience the smooth texture and flavor. Their slogan is “L’arte del gusto”. The art of taste. And they have that art down in their dark and white chocolate.
And even milk chocolate if you insist.
Their most famous product is the Baci chocolate. “Baci” means "kisses" in Italian and their confection is filled with hazelnut. A delicious pairing of flavors. Baci comes wrapped with little multilingual notes containing sagely sayings on love and life. At their facility you can tour their museum, walk their factory and see their chocolatiers working at their craft. And you can even attend a chocolate school there where you too can make chocolate creations yourself under the tutelage of master instructors.
Sure, sure. Chocolate has its health benefits. Some might feel as if it’s important to justify eating this delicacy. There’s the antioxidants that increase our vigor, the Theobromine that enhances our mood, even the boost in our serotonin levels that turn us into happy people.
All these reasons merit eating this wonder food.
But in the end, I just love chocolate. That’s why I eat it.
And some great chocolate is made in Perugia.
Now go and kiss somebody with a Baci.

Unfinished Business:
First of all; I need to advise you about the bidet. When you travel to Europe you will discover a water dispensing apparatus called the bidet. Idea never caught on here, it seems. Now, a bidet is not a drinking fountain. I’m just saying. You may arrive in Italy after a 13 hour flight and feel parched. In fact, downright dehydrated. You may get to your hotel room and realize, “Wow! I’m thirsty!”
Long flights will do that.
But just remember, a bidet is not a water fountain. It may resemble one, but it’s not. Do not drink from it. I’m just saying.

Second of all; I need to make a correction. Roberta in Cinque Terre was kind enough to remind me that the name of her Panificio is Sacchelli. Il mio errore, Roberta. Scusi. A Panificio is an Italian bakery. At these Italian bread shops you'll find different types of pani or breads. Roberta has signature breads and pastries that are awesome. She is awesome. When you are in the neighborhood, stop by. Say hello. And pick up a loaf.