El Azteca

On my way to an appointment yesterday afternoon with K., my boot camp drill sargent, I stopped into Goldleaf Chocolatier on Union Street. Indulging in a chocolate fix prior to being weighed and having one's thighs measured isn't the smartest idea, you say? Bah! Live a little, throw caution to the wind, tempt fate, I say. (And, perhaps, secure a ready excuse just in case those scales and pincers let you down.)

While two little girls alternately pondered their after school selections and kicked one other, their tired father pretending not to see, I perused the chocolates on display. From thick blocks of fudge to truffles galore, the thing that caught my eye was the Azteca. Though thin, this bar weighs in at 72% pure chocolate and boasts a shimmering layer of gold dust and a carved design reminiscent of the ancient civilization for whom it is named. In further tribute, the Azteca's flavor is enhanced with mole and chile chipotle. I was sold.

At first bite it was a bit dusty, usually a sign of age, but a second bite convinced me it was the goldleaf - the sensation of chocolate tickled my tastebuds, and was followed by a small dose of heat as the chile kicked in. Delightful.

And, apparently, merited: I've lost 8 millmeters off my thighs since November (trust me, it's a lot). Maybe I should have brought K. a chocolate!

Goldleaf Chocolatier, San Francisco, 2250 Union Street, 415-922-5711

Comments

[Mom]

You see, I've always professed that chocolate was the universal cure-all!