Comfort Food, Abby Cohen

CHOCOLATE, Chocolate, chocolate...

I have friends who throw a gathering called The Fabulous Annual Chocolate Party, although, it is usually simply referred to as the chocolate party. The meeting of friends has continued to evolve and grow over the last 20 years. Yes, the chocolate party turns 21 this year and is old enough to drink alcohol.

The party changes as it grows and, like everything else in life, will occasionally throw you a curve ball. For instance, two friends have produced two small children who are already showing a need to rebel. Obviously, the parents weren’t expecting a pair of conformists, but no one would have predicted this. Their youngest child prefers vanilla! Well, it takes all kinds to make a world. 

So, in the interest of catering to their younger child, as well as other people, my annual invitation to the party included the announcement that in addition to the massive array of chocolate, there will be a table with a selection of vanilla confections. Shocking.

Perhaps, it will be a good thing. I know you won’t believe me, but there is such a thing as too much chocolate. Every year I promise to restrain myself; that I will only sample the things that look most appealing, and that some things I will only take a morsel to taste as I’m filling my plate. 

It never works. I am always left feeling satiated with any number of things still left on my plate while I sit there stupefied from a surfeit of chocolate, surrounded by any number of people with similar expressions on their faces.

Of course this doesn’t always stop me from going for seconds on some tasty treat I really liked. It definitely doesn’t stop me from nibbling as I help cleanup. After all, what would be the fun in cleaning up from the chocolate party without giving another taste here and there?

Next year, I will do better. Next year, I will pace myself. Next year, I will try it all. An impossible goal. But everybody needs to dream a little, right?