This Feeds Me Hungry Musings of a Gastronomic Gypsy – NC-based freelance writer Victoria Bouloubasis

From bean to bar at Escazu Chocolates in Raleigh. Photo by D. L. Anderson.

Chocolate has a convoluted history tantamount to the saga and intrigue of a tragic heroine. Powerful men throughout time, be it Aztec kings or Spanish emperors, pursued her with vigor–an elusive object deemed precious, indulgent. European conquerors claimed to discover cacao in a world they assumed to be new, cheapening her title as “food of the gods” and stripping her sacred seeds from indigenous hands.

Now, many local chocolatiers honor these roots of cacao, creating a historic, delicious tribute to what is now a globally revered staple beyond just the dessert plate.

Read the story, featuring Cocoa Cinnamon, Escazu Artisan Chocolates and Elemental Chocolate, plus a list of more local purveyors.