By Mike Carter
So thinking about some early memories of chocolate, I am reminded of going to Mabry’s store as a kid in Vancouver, Washington. I was maybe ten years old and they used to have these little bars called “7-Up” which had seven kinds of little chocolates in them. 7-up, there was one piece that was a chocolate covered Brazil nut, and one that was like a chocolate covered section of an orange slice candy. I always have had a thing for nuts, especially cashews. Mom would send me to the store for cigarettes and she would give me a dime for a candy bar. Yes, a dime. I don’t think these little 7-Up bars were around very long.
I inherited the chocolate tooth from my mom who liked all things sweet and on Friday nights would beat homemade fudge with a wooden spoon, in a Revere Ware copper lined one quart saucepan, while watching T.V. in the living room. We would take turns beating and it took some time, like an hour. Your forearms would get a nice little workout. Yea, chocolate is always an essential ingredient and one of my top 10 essential foods. I don’t like being chocolate deprived and there was this one time in junior high after not having chocolate for four months, dieting all through wrestling season, when my little sister was selling these boxes of chocolate covered almonds for a class fundraiser. I took a whole box and devoured it in a closet in one sitting. I think it was like a pound. I hid in the closet. Guilty pleasures. I always had a sweet tooth and, by the way, pecan pie is foremost on my list.
Living this past year in Hawaii, I got to see an actual Cacao tree which has these red-cinnamon colored pods that grow from the tree. These pods look like a pointy cucumber and are five or six inches long. Inside these pods are the little chocolate beans. They have to put up these big fences around the chocolate trees or people will steel the pods. If you go to the Ho ‘omaluhia garden you can see them. It is on the windward side of Oahu close to Kaneohe. It is a REALLY cool garden and it has lots of one of a kind trees, like the amazing blue marble tree. I think they have two chocolate trees in the garden. And if you get there, also try the Roselani brand chocolate macadamia nut ice cream, which is to die for and has a strong dark chocolate flavor and a very creamy texture. It is a little pricey at 9 dollars for a half a gallon, but sometimes you can get it on sale at Foodland for 4.50/half price. Best ice cream ever, to die for.
Actually, the best ice-cream here is Haupia, which is a very tasty coconut custard ice cream confection. Amazing stuff. The last month I lived there, I ate nothing but ice cream. Other favorite chocolates, well Mr. Goodbar is also on my top ten list, but it is hard to match my mom’s Friday night fudge. Grandma Carter also made some great fudge around Christmas time and she also made Divinity, which I miss. Chocolates I have known. And chocolates I have remembered.
Also cool are the little bars of Madeira Mexican chocolate which we can get in Seattle and you break off a chunk of these and mix with milk and sugar for amazing hot chocolate. I don’t go in for the high percentage chocolate bars like 60 or 70 percent —is a little much and too bitter for me. And what is the name of the little chocolate shop at Pike’s Market where you can get the bacon chocolate? Seattle Chocolatier or something like that. It is on the Seattle Food tour if you get there. Beer, bacon and bratwurst. These are my three essential nutritional building blocks.
NOTE: Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is one of the five main botanical gardens on Oahu. Ho’omaluhia means to make a place of peace and tranquility.
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About Mike: Mike Carter has been living in Kaneohe, Hawaii for the last year, working at Hawaii State Hospital. He will be returning to Seattle next month, and would like write a memoir of his year in Hawaii. Inspired by WRITING TOPIC — CHOCOLATE, the latest Writing Topic on red Ravine, Mike joined Bob, Teri, and QM in a Writing Practice on the topic.
Mike,
Great post–a veritable chocolate tour. I love how you unashamedly announce your “own” food groups, your personal nutritional needs. Have you read “Candy Freak” by Steve Almond? You were maybe twins separated at birth.
I was happy to be reminded of the 7-Up bar. I used to eat them, too, though there was one chunk that was filled with jelly. Yuck. I had to throw that piece in the trash, which killed me. I used to spend time thinking what else they could have filled it with.
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Teri, I liked that about Mike’s Writing Practice, too. How he listed his fave food and food groups. I love that you mentioned Candy Freak.
Mike, I have never eaten a 7-Up bar. But after your description and Teri’s comment, I don’t know if I want to try one!
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Thanks Teri;
Yes the jelly glace thing was rather disgusting, although I think I actually did consume it-orange or a raspberry flavor? Have not read the “Candy Freak” book. Maybe they could have used coconut. Actually they have these coconut flavored M&M’s here-probably on the mainland too? Any olther favorite candy bars from your youth. My mom was also in the Big Hunks- me too. Are these still out there?
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Thanks QM;
Yes you don’t want to go there-the 7Up Bar that is. I was trying to remember the reference to Stein writing in a book called “how to Write- and Read- a Sentence” Can’t remember the author who teaches law at University of Arizona. He talks about Sterne and Hemingway in his chapter on the style of corresponding? writing versus the subordinate style. He touts this book as a companion work to “Elements of Style.” There are some interesting tid bits about her in Hemingway’s “A Movable Feast.” She told him he would never make into the New York Post, or something like that.
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Hi Mike,
Thanks for your post, your memories and those descriptions of ice cream. Luscious. I especially appreciate, though, your description of fudge making. My grandmother’s was the best – of course – but the group effort, my mom, my sister and I, on Sunday afternoons, produced some pretty good fudge. But then, no matter what happened, it was always still chocolate. When the fudge was made, my father popped popcorn in a big Revere Ware frying pan. Then it was time for Sunday night tv. I don’t remember any of the programs except Ed Sullivan. Thank you for jogging my memories.
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hi mike,
i like how you describe how much you love the choco and the ice cream,i love both of them too.
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