Hot Chocolate!

Local chocolatiers have sweet treats for Valentine’s Day

By Isadora Pennington

Love and chocolate, it’s a match made in heaven. The sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of modern day chocolates makes it a popular gift for sweethearts, especially around Valentine’s Day. There are plenty of ways to enjoy chocolate, whether presented in a heart-shaped box, mixed into hot drinks, baked into a cake, or individually wrapped and on the shelves of your local convenience store.

Though the history of chocolate is not without its blemishes, its popularity has only grown since its humble origins. The earliest records of cocoa-based beverages trace all the way back to the Mayans, who made bitter, frothy beverages using ground cacao seeds mixed with spices and wines. This drink has evolved into the drink we know as “Chilate” and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Mayans also believed that cacao seeds were a gift from the gods, and would bestow wisdom and strength upon those who drank it. The seeds were so valuable that they even were used as currency.

These days, chocolate is virtually everywhere. It’s accessible and affordable, which has made it a staple for many special occasions such as holidays. For those among us who share a deep affinity for all things chocolate, one of the best places to visit is a chocolatier. This month, I visited a few of my favorite local makers, who have great sweet gift ideas and are also perfect for a day date.

Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate

Kissed Mermaids Bar – dark coconut milk chocolate with vanilla-infused sea salt and crunchy cacao nibs, $9.50 99 Krog Street NE xocolatlchocolate.com or (404) 604-9642

diAmano Chocolate

Mango Passionfruit Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, $4 each, $18 for six, $36 for 12, also available in dark, milk and white chocolate. 1100 Hammond Drive NE, Sandy Springs diamanochocolate.com or (770) 730-9770

Jardi Chocolates

Forever Love – chocolate, cherry, with a cordial center – and Bleeding Love –chocolate, blood orange and caramel. $11 for four, $20 for eight, or $28 for 12. 3400 West Hospital Ave. #102, Chamblee jardichocolates.com or (470) 240-8353

By Megan Volpert

Welcome to a new interview series where I discuss food with citizens of Atlanta who are prominent for non-food-related reasons. Let’s get to know our most high-profile residents a little more personally, shall we? For this inaugural installment, I spoke to Alicia Philipp, President of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Since 1951, the Community Foundation has provided trusted, expert philanthropic services to connect donors with knowledge, issues and services. Philipp has led the Foundation’s grant-making, fundraising and collaboration efforts for almost 40 years. Under her leadership, the Community Foundation has grown from $7 million in 1977 to more than $919.8 million today.

How do you like your eggs cooked?

►Scrambled, well, with cheese

What are your two favorite things to put in mac and cheese, other than the mac and the cheese?

►Peas and hot dogs (at the same time)

Where’s a good place to go for a business lunch?

►The Commerce Club

Wine and beer, or the hard stuff, or none at all?

►None, sparkling water with lime

What is your favorite food city, other than Atlanta?

►Baltimore - I love the crab cakes!

What is your guilty pleasure snack food?

►Utz’s Potato Chips, to my knowledge only sold at the Kroger in Decatur (and select others) – a Baltimore/Philadelphia delicacy!

What are your feelings about red velvet cake?

►It’s not my favorite, but I don’t hate it. It’s a necessity for Valentine’s Day.

Is there any food so disgusting to you that you just won’t eat it?

►Raw oysters. I’ve tried to like them, but I just don’t.

Are you any good at gardening?

►I am learning and doing more of it on my daughter’s organic farm in Portugal.

Who does most of the cooking in your house? Who cooked while you were growing up?

►Growing up, my father did most of the cooking. I rarely have to cook because I’m out for most meals. When my daughter was younger someone asked what her Mom did for a living and she said “eat” because I was always talking about breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings. The amazing array of Decatur restaurants are my go-to choices.

How is the Community Foundation impacting what we eat in Atlanta?

►We are establishing a for-profit, social enterprise known as Better Life Growers in the Mechanicsville community. It’s an aeroponic lettuce and herb growing operation that will provide living-wage jobs for 25 local residents and will supply local institutions like hospitals, universities, wholesale distributors and retailers. Currently, 98 percent of the lettuce consumed in Georgia travels 2,500plus miles from California or Arizona.