Theo Chocolate

Chocolate. Is there anything more essential to life? I've encountered one or two people who say that they (gasp!) don't like chocolate. But alas, I love love love it. Over the past two years, I have made monthly pilgrimages to Theo Chocolate in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Technically, this is a chocolate factory. As you walk by, you often feel like you are living in the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the classic children's book by Roald Dahl. The smell of cooking chocolate wafts through the windows, and you wonder what is going on inside behind the building's red brick walls.

But wait - it gets better. Attached to the chocolate factory is a retail store where they sell their chocolate bars, caramels, drinking cocoa, and other goodies. And heaped in every corner are containers full of SAMPLES. Unlimited, unguarded samples consisting of broken up chocolate bars in flavors like dark chocolate sea salt, mint, orange, and hazelnut. So you can literally try over 10 kinds of chocolate and, if you're like me, go back for seconds of your favorites. Last Christmas, Stuart and I bought a dozen or two bars and sent them out to friends along with our holiday cards. For a $7 fee, you can also participate in a tour of the factory and see all of the behind the scenes magic. 

 

 A (blurry) look at one of the sample containers

A wall of chocolate - and check out all the sample containers! If you are cheap, live nearby, and have no shame, this could literally become your (free) everyday dessert.