The (Extra) Bitter End

Today marks a sad day for Scharffen Berger Chocolate fans as it was publicly announced in the San Francisco Chronicle that the factory here in Berkeley will be closing.

I already knew this before today since I work right next to the factory and the restaurant exclusively uses Scharffen Berger Chocolate.

Chocolate is a luxury, and we are reminded of it during these difficult economic times. Another example is during World War II when chocolate was a rare sight in Europe. I was reading some of the comments on sfgate.com regarding the article and there is every opinion under the sun about this factory closing. (Note that there will still be Scharffen Berger Chocolate, but will be produced in a factory in Illinois. )

I keep thinking about all the accounts of artisan chocolate makers that I've read or listened to. It's not about the money. It's about creating something that you are proud to call your own. It's about doing something that you are passionate about. Anything made in its purest form doesn't always come cheap.

I am glad I had a chance to work here and learn so much more about chocolate. It took me a while, but I think I finally learned how to really taste it.

How I will miss the smell of chocolate as I walk in to work, the flocks of people passing by our cafe as they go for a tour, but most of all, I will miss the people: I will miss my brief chats with the folks in the retail store as I pop into buy a few bars. I will miss talking with the employees as they come by for coffee or a chocolate scone.

As for me, who knows what direction the cafe will go. Wherever it goes, I will continue what I am doing and continue doing it well.

Inauguration Day

I saw these on my trip to New York. I thought it would be appropriate to post it today. We are watching the inauguration now (recorded off of our DVR.) Both B and I had to work today, but I got to hear the ceremony the old fashion way: the radio.

Tomatoes Revived

So how does a tomato plant survive?

That's what happened to my hothouse tomato plant that I bought last April. It produced some very delicious tomatoes. Unfortunately, most of them were stolen by the Berkeley killer squirrels (as I call them.)

So when a furry culprit took my absolute last tomato? I gave up. (The worst part is that the stupid thing took a bite and left the rest of the tomato on my patio.)

I stopped watering it and let it go to the summer heat.

For months I left it sitting on the patio. I kept thinking about getting rid of the dried up plant. Then the first rains came in October and I did not want to handle a muddy potted plant. So I waited. When it stopped I finally went out to the patio, a new garbage bag in hand, ready to entomb my dead tomato plant.

I was shocked to see that from the dried and shriveled stems of this once lush plant, grew stalks of green. It was alive! I couldn't believe it and I got right back into taking care of it, though I've moved it to a sunnier part of the patio.

And today, on (suprisingly) warm January day, there are blossoms.