Posted May 23, 2011 - 11:16am by Jenise Celestin
Chicago Chocolate Tours - Uplift Through Chocolate!
On Saturday afternoon, my mom, aunt and sister joined me on a Chicago Chocolate Tour downtown. I realize this is a bit further from the North side neighborhoods we usually talk about here, but I just couldn't pass up raving about my experience. Plus, they do offer a tour in Lakeview, so there's still a local connection...AND there are some health benefits to chocolate...AND we were walking so we got some fitness in along the way!
If you're not familiar, the Chicago Chocolate Tours are guided walking and tasting tours of select chocolate shops in various neighborhoods around town. They highlighted five shops on our tour - Teuscher, more cupcakes, Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter, Sarah's Pastries and Candies, and Argo Tea. (Ok, I'll admit they lost me a little on the Argo Tea choice because all of the other stops seemed so high-end, unique and exclusive, but the rest of the tour totally made up for it.) Samples at all locations were delicious - including champagne truffles, chocolate croissants, mini chocolate cupcakes, chocolate peanut butter candy, and chocolate mint tea - but the standout visit for me was definitely Hendrickx at 100 E. Walton. At this stop, we actually walked into the kitchen/prep area and heard from one of the owners about their ingredients and philosophy. We learned about the 18 hours it takes to perfectly make their croissants, the huge loaves of rustic bread that weigh 7 pounds and only contain four ingredients (water, flour, yeast, and a little salt), and the real Belgian Waffle, known as the "Liege waffle" in Belgium. We also sampled several amazing items, one of which was a bread filled with white chocolate - to me, it actually tasted like a fresh, cheese danish. I'm not typically a white chocolate fan, but this bread was heavenly.
Our tour guide also highlighted some of the health benefits of chocolate (dark chocolate primarily) - including rich antioxidants which promote heart health and cancer prevention, as well as the mood-boosting attributes...BONUS! I'm looking for a spot on the North side to host a program where we can celebrate chocolate, wellness and indulgence (in moderation)...where should it be? Send in your submissions!
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