one up chocolate bars Poll of the Day

It's so incredibly pleasant to know that nowadays, nobody thinks of hedonism - that is to say, the pursuit of the pleasure of the senses - as all that bad. Decades ago, any act that gives you sensual (it need not be erotic; sensuality should not be limited to sexuality, as its roots come from "sense", which may very well be limitless in possibilities of experience) pleasure is thought to be sinful and is immediately frowned upon by most. Nowadays, even the word "sin" had shed its negative connotations and has instead become something positive, something that so entices people. Advertisements of food, especially, claim sinful goodness in terms of the quality of the item they're selling. And we are compelled at the very idea that the mere act of wanting may be dangerous, but at the same time oh-so worth it.

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Food is, of course, at the top of the list of guiltily hedonistic pleasures that are often indulged in by people. Admit it: every once in a while, you would sneak into your room with about five bars of chocolate and savor the indulgence for hours (or under five minutes, depending on the type of day you've had). It is very obvious, actually: very few things in the world could encompass as much of the senses as even a bite of chocolate - particularly the specialty chocolates. The rich brown colors are pleasing to the eye - even more so if the chocolate is molded into an exquisite shape. The flavor is sweet, milky, bitter, or all of the above, depending on your preference - and the play of flavors in itself is very much decadent. The scent is mildly caffeinated, and has a habit of moving beyond your olfactory senses and seeping into your brain, bringing you to a state of anticipation. The texture changes in your mouth, going from firm to soft to sticky. And the sound of a chocolate bar being bitten into or even broken (by hand) into smaller pieces have a sharp snapping sound that wakes you up, that makes you pay attention. A bar of chocolate is simply the most perfect of all sensual experiences.

This being the case, it's rather surprising that few people in the world actually know how to properly experience a bar of chocolate. Sure, chocolates have been eaten, snacked upon and revered by many people for hundreds of years now, but for the most part, it's all been a matter of biting, chewing and swallowing chocolate bars. That is also enjoyable, of course, but there is an art to fully and completely enjoying a bar of chocolate. Eating a bar of chocolate is potentially a very serious business, as the experience of chocolate often (especially for the women) marks the line between feeling better or feeling worse.

That being said, THIS is how you should eat a bar of chocolate:

Step One - Obviously, you unwrap your bar of chocolate. BUT! Don't do it too quickly, nor too slowly. Unwrapping your bar of chocolate too quickly might damage the outer texture of the bar (it may not seem to matter, but a perfect bar of chocolate honestly does make a difference). Unwrapping it too slowly will melt the chocolate, thus diminishing the enjoyment of biting into the bar.

Step Two - You can do this two ways: you can either snap your chocolate bar into smaller pieces OR you can bite it. When you snap your bar of chocolate, make sure every piece you break off is small enough to fit your mouth; break off a mouthful of chocolate at a time, because if you break up the chocolate all at once, it will melt too fast. When you bit into your chocolate, on the other hand, make sure that you don't chomp on it with your teeth; rest the bar of chocolate lightly between your upper and lower incisors and lever the bar downwards. The chocolate makes the most exquisite sounds that way.

Step Three - While it isn't completely wrong to chew your chocolate, the best way to taste a bar of chocolate is to allow it to rest on your tongue where it can melt. The effect is best if you sit in a cool, quiet spot where no one can disturb you, where the chocolate is least likely to melt, and where you can close your eyes. Remember to inhale and exhale through your nose, and to really taste the chocolate one up chocolate bars in your mouth. Concentrate on the feeling of melting chocolate, and note that the flavor and the scent becomes more pronounced as the texture changes.

Step Four - When you swallow your mouthful of chocolate, don't do it in one go. Rub your tongue against the roof of your mouth and swallow the almost-liquid chocolate slowly, little by little. This way you will not be so immediately deprived of the flavor of chocolate before the next bite (or the next bar). If the bar is not just made out of chocolate (if it has nuts, nougat, caramel and the like), make sure to chew them slowly AFTER you've finished swallowing the chocolate.

Step Five - Repeat from step two until you run out of chocolate.

Of course, EVERYONE has they own way of eating a bar of chocolate. But this is probably the best way.

Everybody loves chocolate and everybody loves gift baskets, therefore it's not surprising that chocolate gift baskets are so popular. If you want to give somebody a gift for any reason, then a basket filled with chocolate is an excellent choice.

Since they are available at different price ranges, you won't have to worry about exceeding your budget. The most important thing for you to do is to select some chocolate that suits the recipient's taste. Some people will eat any kind of chocolate, while others are pickier.

There are so many types of chocolate candy: dark, white, peanut butter, chocolate popcorn, chocolate-covered cherries, mint, licorice, etc. If you're unsure of what to get, go with a basket with an assortment of candy so that the person you're buying for will be able to pick out what he or she likes.

Another thing to consider is whether or not you want to go with cookies. Some people absolutely love chocolate chip cookies. Some stores will let you put together a basket yourself by choosing a variety of cookies. Make sure you order from a bakery with a good reputation so that the cookies will be fresh out of the oven.

For a holiday, you can go with gift baskets with specific themes, such as Easter or Valentine's Day. Easter baskets are filled with bunny-shaped chocolate; Valentine's baskets are filled with heart-shaped chocolate, and so forth. Some companies will let you send a personalized greeting card with the basket.

Sometimes the baskets contain more than chocolate. They can contain other snacks as well, such as popcorn, crackers, trail mix, seeds, etc.

After the contents, the most important thing is the arrangement. Everything should go together beautifully. You don't want to give someone a cheap gift that looks like the chocolate was just tossed in the basket carelessly. Everything should be arranged nicely. The ribbon and packaging need to be perfect. Just because the recipient might be in a hurry to tear the package open to get to the yummy chocolate doesn't mean that the packaging should look cheap.

Speaking of the packaging, it doesn't necessarily have to be a basket that the chocolate comes in. It could be another type of container, such as a box or plate. Some deluxe towers include a mixture of plates and boxes, each filled with a different type of chocolate or other delicacy.

As long as you keep these thoughts in mind when shopping for chocolate gift baskets, you should be able to pick out the right one for your friend or relative. You'll surely choose treats and candy that they will really enjoy eating.