Di Overton

I swear I did not know until I came in to post this blog that the previous post was about chocolate, which will prove my point - read on.

Is it just me or is there a lot of chocolate around? I do LOVE chocolate and I have noticed of late just how much you can do with it. Since us Brits and the Americans have discovered the benefits of real chocolate, instead of that fatty muck we used to only have access to, we are seeing a massive amount of chocolate related art and design. Here, I’ll prove it:

The Bottega Veneta Website has been designed in all shades of chocolate as has their Autumn and Winter 06-07 collection. Delicious.

At the moment, in Paris, Salon du Chocolat is underway. A veritable feast of chocolat. This dress is from the 2005 Salon du Chocolat Fashion Show and is decorated with white chocolate roses. Good enough to eat.

Laduree is the ONLY place to sit and sip a hot chocolat when in Paris. The packaging alone is superb. Excuse me while I dream.

Gayles Chocolates in the US is full of quirky chocolate items but with a lot of style. These shoes are a favourite of Kristopher Dukes.

The book and the film Chocolat was and still is a huge success. The feel good factor of that film is second to none.

Sculpture from chocolate abounds. It is today’s ice sculpture. Look at this huge one by a French Chef that elephant is life size. Turn all the lights off. In the UK we have a company called Food is Art, that actually designs and makes chocolate rooms, no kidding, see for yourself.

I bought this artist’s palette in Josephine Vannier, Paris, last Christmas, for my son. Everything about it is chocolate. When I went into the shop to buy it I pretended to be indecisive just so I could stand and smell the chocolate in the air for longer than was necessary. Again this is a full size palette not a minature version.

I’m off now to get some chocolate. Sweet Dreams.