Travel Writer Inspects Chocolate Venues for a Chocolate Lovers Travel Guide

You Silly Rabbit...Balloons, and rabbit ears and handmade chocolates, oh my...

Have fun with chocolate! Photo: Chocolate

(CARSON CITY, Nv.) - Pet lovers and chocolate lovers are not necessarily one and the same. Chocolate is toxic to dogs but definitely not their owners. Americans consume about 11.7 lbs of chocolate per person annually .

CeliaSue Hecht, travel writer and dog owner, has combined her two loves and launched a new blog with interesting treats for both dog and chocolate lovers. Her blog is at: celiasue.wordpress.com. She will also launch a Chocolate America Travel site in the near future.

She is shopping for a publisher. Given that Americans spend more than $7 billion a year on chocolate, nearly half of the world's supply, she believes there are millions of chocoholic readers who would love to purchase a chocolate travel guide series that will show them where to go to take tours on chocolate holidays, vacations and special occasions.

During her search for chocolate venues such as factories that offer tours and samples, unique shops, and festivals, she came to Ashland, Oregon and found that Shakespeare ain't got nothing on the chocolate biz. Will brings about 100,000 tourists to the city every year while chocolate revenues between Dagoba, the Ashland Springs Hotel Chocolate Festival, Harry and David. Chocolate consumption in Oregon is at an all time high!

The Maya Indians first discovered the delights of cocoa as long ago as 600 AD. CeliaSue first discovered The Silly Rabbit Chocolate Company, a new chocolate venue in Ashland, in August 2007.

"I didn't know what to expect. What I found: Chief chocolateer B. Sterling infuses each chocolate with a wonderful sense of humor, good taste and fresh top quality and often locally grown ingredients. B is a graduate of Ecole Lenotre School of Fine Cuisine in Paris) and has twenty years of creative excellence in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland. B was named the Pastry Chef of the Year Award from the James Beard Association.

"Each tasty treat is homemade, imaginative, innovative, plus they offer free samples every day. B gave me hot chocolate to drink. I know what you are thinking, but this was nothing like the hot chocolate you get at the ice skating rink. This hot chocolate is made with real Xocaitl, just like the Mayans used to drink. Mixed with French dark chocolate cocoa powder, Jacksonville, Oregon wildflower honey, choptle chili pepper, Mexican chocolate, and salt, there are no words to describe how utterly delicious this drink that has a bit of a kick!

"I don't even like white chocolate so the next sample really surprised me. It was made with wild jasmine flowers, white chocolate, local Jacksonville, Oregon wildflower honey and lavendar, alaea, a sundried fish from Hilo, Hawaii… so many flavors rushed into my mouth, the aromas swirling all at one time. Are you getting the picture that this is not your every day chocolate. Chocolate heaven. On a scale of one to ten cocoa beans, Silly Rabbit's is a MUST VISIT twelve."

For more information email: info@sillyrabbitchocolates.com or call: (541) 482-1970 or visit:
youtube.com
dailytidings.com
ashlandspringshotel.com