“sweet necessities.”
dark chocolate with key lime crunch.
I am one of those people who require a near daily supply of chocolate. Few other desserts, aside from ice cream, hold much interest to me. [Ok, ice cream and pie. I heart pie.]
At childhood birthday parties, my distaste for cake resulted in an ice cream sundae bar, allowing me to celebrate the coming of another year with a dish of cool chocolate, topped by chocolate chips, and chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate fudge, and original chocolate M&Ms. Too much chocolate? Is there really such a thing?
Now comfortable in my twentysomething version of adulthood, the devotion to chocolate still holds steady. And so, before leaving Maine, my sister and I took a stroll to the local candy store, where the walls are lined with everything from strawberry cheesecake jelly beans to milk chocolates wrapped up to resemble boxes of Crayola crayons. I ignored the sweets and went straight for the chocolate bars, as I typically do. The summer-y green called out to me just enough to inspire the purchase of this key-lime bar.
I love when food has a story behind it. Placing a green-specked square on my tongue, I can picture the case of chocolates, the colored candy in the background, the kahlua and brandy truffles around the corner. I can hear the cashier’s East European roots scenting her English with a little extra flair. I can smell the sugared indoor air.
Perhaps chocolate shouldn’t have such gravity. It’s just a sweet. Just a tiny dessert. Just food.
But I believe food is always more, and these few post-dinner bites: they were childhood, the ocean, and Ogunquit, Maine.
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that looks amazing! i’m with you, nothing beats a deep, dark chocolate [+ ice cream, too] :]
food has some SERIOUS gravity. like cupcakes. they talk to me sometimes. it’s scary. anyyyyway, i love food memories, obviously. that’s what a food memoir is, i guess? yeah, i’m gonna have to write one of those some day. after i travel the world and eat my weight in sweets and local treats, of course. wanna join me?
Amen, sister! Except for my chocolate isn’t “near daily”, it’s “at least twice daily”. I wish I coudl find something with key lime flavouring here in Australia!
This was such a well-put, beautiful post. I love time-traveling with my taste buds, it’s one of the strongest sense memories.
Chocolate + key lime? That is an ingenious combination that I don’t think I’ve ever tried! Looks amazing!
I’m with you – chocolate is a necessity. And ice cream. While I love pie, I could probably skip that one.
It’s always a treat to find a wonderful old-fashioned chocolate shop, with the smells wafting through the door and windows. Heavenly.
This reminds me of all the lovely candy shop treats I would get after a long beach day! Thanks for the beautiful thought.
Maggie
mybreakfastblog.com
I love visiting candy shops while on vacation. Quintessential summer :)